I was just daydreaming in class today (something I do very, very well) about how my reading system has changed over the year. I had this rule, you see, that I wouldn't read a series until all the books were out (like reading the Twilight series right after Breaking Dawn was published), or until the second-to-last book was out (reading the Percy Jackson series with just the last book to go).
The reason? Pretty much the anticipation... if I got started reading a series and I had to wait like over a year for the next book to be published, I seriously would go slowly out of my mind. I can't let the story go! I will seriously stay awake at night wondering "what's going to happen next? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?!?"
But now...I'm kind of going back on my own rules. There are several "first books" that I have in my TBR pile
Now, I've kind of moved away from waiting around for all the books in a series to come out before I start reading... although I still try and hold off as much as I can. I'm trying to wait to read the Hunger Games series until closer to August just because I heard through the grapevine there's a CLIFFHANGER! At this point, the only reason I won't read a book (and I do have to "Just Say No" to a couple of them) is if there are content issues I've heard about, or if they're a genre that doesn't excite me.
Also, this may be really stupid, and/or it may reflect the inner "teacher" in me and the need to make lesson plans, but I actually set up a reading schedule - for the month of May, I have like 4 or 5 books blocked off that I'm going to read in a certain order.... c R a Z y ?
Do you set up any "rules" or guidelines when you read? Is there a procedure you follow when you pick what book you're going to read, or what you'll read next...?
19 shout-outs!:
Haha, I'm actually waiting on reading Catching Fire because of the dreaded cliffhanger too ;)
Other than that, I don't usually have any rules...I just read whatever sparks my interest!
I'm actually the type who likes to wait to see what happens next in a series. I hate reading series books back to back. I don't really have any rules to reading though other than I have to read books in the order I bought them or else I'd end up having books I bought months ago unread.
Hi Amelia..I certainly never set a rules. maybe i have very limited books on my shelf so i cant be so picky.. =(
I've been putting off Catching Fire too--mainly because of how I felt after I finished The Hunger Games. I obsessed about it for several days, and I know that's what will happen again if I read Catching Fire before Mockingjay comes out. I'm tempted to just wait so I can read them back-to-back.
I don't think it's crazy to schedule what you're reading next. I have basically done the same thing--put several books that I want to read next in a pile in the order of when I want to read them. :) It helps me keep sane with my insane TBR pile to make a smaller TBR pile. LOL
HAhaha!Wow. This made me laugh. I do not have reading rules. Lolz. I pretty much read things randomly. I totally get what you mean with series and stuff, but I always seem to find something else to take my mind off of my obsession. XD
nope iv'e never had any rules, even like within a book you know when someone say' omg i totally saw that coming? i don't think to much into what' going to happen because that way you've ruined it so i just flow with the story thats how i prefer it, me and rules dont go to well together lol:P
I never, ever read two books at once.I just can't do it.
I try to read only during the night(unless I can't put the book down!), because of the quiet.Noisy neighbors!
I tried to have a system, like reading 5 YA books, then reading 5 children's books, then 5 fantasy etc. so I wouldn't get bored of one genre.Yeah, it didn't work!
I don't mind cliffhangers so much.They add to the excitement!
Great post!
I tend to do things just to torture myself, so I read series and then die a litle everyday until the next book comes out! I agree with the above comment, I can't read more than one book at a time. And I used to have a schedule for reading, but lately I never know when I am going to get a book in the mail, and the new one is sometimes more interesting than the ones I have. So I just read whatever I feel like. But I do have a sorta "lesson plan" of when I do my postings. lol
I used to have all kind of rules but with my ever-growing list I might need to change them in the future. I would re-read all of a series before a new book came out but now that I have several series that I read I would be spending a year just reading books I have already. So I narrowed it down to a few and even those re-reads may go away next year!
How cute. I love that you set up a reading plan.
In my regular life, I am a big list maker etc. But in reading, I am a nonconformist. I let the road and mood take me.
Your post made me smile, you’re not crazy at all (or maybe we’re all crazy- the more likely option) I make LOTS of lists and one of my favorite one is to make a reading list for every mounth and then again for every season (and yes- for every year). I guess it’s a bookish thing haha :)
I read whenever I can, which is never often enough. :)
I used to try to do the same thing with series but have given up. I plan ahead what I read to an extent, just because otherwise it gets hard to choose with such a massive TBR pile!
I don't think I have any rules. Maybe I do and don't realize it. But if I start a series I feel like I have to at least read the second book, or even keep up with the series as there may be something I am missing if I don't. :) I do keep notes though. I use little colored sticky notes so I can go back and look at my questions and try to remember if they were answered in the read. Great post idea!
If I am getting into a big science fiction series, or something like that, I do generally like to wait until all of the books are out so i can read them right in a row. Besides the fact I don't like waiting, if it is a big, long series, I tend to forget if I wait a long time in between. That's not to say I haven't broken that, but if two books are out and the third/final book is coming out soon, I wait.
My only other little rule I have is to finish what I start. I cannot remember the last time I just gave up on a book. I always read to the end!
I'm the adventurous bookworm so no rules.
I don't wait for a whole series to be out. Sometimes I do reread a whole beloved series after reading the latest release-- not a regular series though.
Years ago I never read more than one book at at time but in the last 10 yrs or so I can have 3-4 going with no prob-- right now I have Gone as an upstairs bed book and The Lightning Thief as a downstairs snack book. Both have been car books on alternating days-- depending on my mood.
Ooh...I wish I set guidelines when I read.
Wait, I guess I do have one. At times, I specifically palm a book with the intention of reading like a writer. I try and learn from the authors structure, beginnings and endings, and everything in between.
No, I don't think you're crazy. I understand where you are coming from. I have to read a series in order. If I have book 2 and find out it's the second, I wait until I get my hands on book 1.
The only time I didn't do this, actually worked to my advantage. I would have never continued the series after book 1 because I didn't like the heroine. She was not the girl I read about in Book 2!
I also schedule my read but that's because of review copies, which I am trying to cut down on. I always have a loose plan for my reading :)
Oh, and as far as anticipation goes, I will sneak peek at the book I'm currently reading. I have ruined a few books that way, although I do continue to read them.
I never purposely avoid a series until all the books are out, but I've picked up plenty of series mid-way or when they're done and been very grateful. Some authors are easier to read one book at a time because while the story may not end, the book at least does (cliff-hangers really annoy me).
I block out reading times too. Though, mostly I just know that my work energy tapers off around 2:30 -3:00 and I don't have any other responsibilities until after 5:30 so I like to block off that time to read in the sunshine.
I found your blog through the hop via Emily @ Emily's Reading Room. You've got some cool stuff going on. I like your Friday Finds section a lot.
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