Welcome to Bookish Blatherings, a Bad Bird Reads feature where I ramble about bookish or bloggerish things and hopefully you will join in on the discussion.
This is going to be a short one today. I had this question on my mind for a few weeks now. I have been running into this ‘problem’ a lot lately and it is driving me insane. I have read a few ‘bad’ books recently, and I noticed that no matter how much a book annoyed me I want to keep reading and continue series. There is something about certain books and series that keep me coming back for more even when I don’t like them very much or I have given the previous book(s) a not so good review. Why in the hell do I do this? I have no fucking clue. And it’s driving me bonkers.
For example. I recently reviewed Enlightened by A.L. Waddington. I liked the first book, but even that one was a little odd. Then with Enlightened, it honestly was not good. There was almost no plot, the characters stopped being likable, and the drama was so stupid that I wanted to bang my head against the wall. But I want to continue this damn series. I am for sure reading book #3. Why? Why am I doing this to myself? What is it about this series that keeps me roped in? Where the hell did this obsession for not so great series come from?
Many of you said in the comments that you have had this experience or something similar. I was wondering if you could share. I need to know I am not alone. I want to know…
Why do we keep reading no so great series or books?
Have you ever enjoyed (or felt addicted to) a book that wasn’t very good?
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Christy
Yup, that’s how I was with the Twilight series. This was way before I started blogging, so I’d rant to people around me. They’d ask why I kept reading. All I could say was “I don’t fucking know!” lol. More recently, I was like that with The Clann trilogy by Melissa Darnell. Grr. It’s hard to explain why I get that way with certain books/series. It’s weird.
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, yes, Twilight. That’s how it as for me too. I totally forgot!
Braine Talk Supe
Hmmm, good question. Benefit of the doubt? Second chances? Masochism?
Jennifer Bielman
Masochism. Has to be. 🙂
Marni J
This reminds me of Shadowland, book 3 in the Immortals Series by Alyson Noel. I picked up and put that book down more time than I can count as did my daughter, who was around 17/18 at the time. She gave up. I finally plugged through and I think it was because I loved the basic idea of the plot and I wanted to keep going. All the books after that I breezed through. Now, this is also a series that I loved that I’ve heard many did not. That’s OK with me though, not everyone likes the same thing.
Jennifer Bielman
I actually like loving books other people don’t. Makes me feel special, like I have a secrets. lol.
Preethi
This happens to me sometimes too. The most prominent of those is the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. I really really hated the first two books(the Warlord wants Forever and A Hunger like No Other). It was eerything I detest in a book- arrogant bastard heroes and silly heroines. Being someone who hates anything even remotely BDSM or arrogant, both these books rubbed me the wrong way. But, I totally have no idea whatsoever why I continue to read the series. I’m now reading the nineth book of the series. I can’t really say I’ve warmed up to them, but may be a bit used to it?! Still, I feel like I’m torturing myself by reading more of those books, but I’m not able to stop feeling this need to finish the series or know what happens (even though KNOW I’ll probably end up rating the next book 1 or 2 stars only) . So, have I felt addicted to a series that I felt wasn’t very good? Totally yes. Do I have any idea why I do that? Absolutely no idea whatsoever!
So there, you are not so alone after all!
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I felt like that with A Hunger Like No Other, but I still gave it 4 stars because I was oddly obsessed! I have no idea why. I kind of hated it too.
kimbacaffeinate
Sometimes there is a thread or character that keeps me coming back. Since I started blogging and trying new genres I have been more keen on DNFing and stopping series. I usually but meh books that I am still curious about on a list, and if the next book comes and I am still curious than I go for it..otherwise it is time to part ways.
Jennifer Bielman
It is still hard for me to DNF. I don’t know why.
kimbacaffeinate
Don’t feel bad about that Jennifer. I was 46 before I could finally do it. :snort:
Lupdilup
Good question! And yes I have, and I can’t pinpoint exactly why; although, I’d say that most of the time is because I want to know what happens, in other words purely out of curiosity.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, that little bug of “What is going to happen next” can be a killer.
Julie
I think if the book is part of a series, we almost try to forgive a bad middle book if we think the next one will be better. It isn’t right though, cause often I’ve noticed if a book series starts being bad, it just stays bad. But we want closure I guess heh, especially if it is a short series (trilogy for example) rather than a 10 book series.
Jennifer Bielman
I agree, us giving slack to bad series books isn’t really fair.
Molly Mortensen
I’m the same way! I just can’t give up and quit when I don’t like a book. I think it’s the same reason I don’t push stop on a bad movie, I’ve invested this much time, I’m going to find out what happens. (Or maybe it’s just my OCD) But it has to be truly awful for me to stop.
Jennifer Bielman
I am the same way with books and movies. It’s so bad.
Olivia
I completely understand what you mean! I read bad books sometimes and can easily DNF them, but sometimes I keep reading and just write up a bad review and I don’t even know why >.> I understand the frustrated feeling, but sadly I haven’t found a way to break away from it yet!
http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/11/dnf-hilltop.html
Jennifer Bielman
Yup, I am in the same boat at this point too.