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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Reading Binges

I love to read, don't you? It's my favorite form of entertainment, ranked well over movies, TV and even music. Like many readers, I have my auto-buys and my favorite authors. And then there are the series'.

Oh, man. The series. The only thing better than reading a book by one of my favorite authors is revisiting my favorite characters again in a new book. Eve Dallas. Harry Potter. Stephanie Plum. They're like old friends we get to hang out with again whenever a new book is released, aren't they?

I love those visits. My only problem is that as soon as I see a new release is about to hit the shelves, I want to go all the way back to the first book and read forward - to revisit each one. By the time the seventh Harry Potter book was out, the binding in book one was trashed from reading so often.

Even though I know I'll spend more time re-reading all those earlier books in the series, I love them better than stand alones, I think. I love writing them, too. My first two books, Double Dare and Does She Dare? were connected, as were my fourth and fifth - Coming on Strong and Going Down Hard. Its great to be able to add that extra layer of familiarity, of being able to hang out with characters again or the fun of writing deeper, over-arching plots that multi-books allow.

So how about you? Do you ever go on reading binges? Do you start a series and have to read it from book one all the way through to book number whatever has just been released? Or is that just me?

Tawny Weber writes hot, spicy stories for Harlequin Blaze. In January 2010, her novella, YOU HAVE TO KISS A LOT OF FROGS, was out in the Blazing Bedtime Story anthology and her next full length Blaze,, RIDING THE WAVES, will be out in September 2010. Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com

17 comments:

Helen said...

I remember each time a new Harry potter book came out I would re read the rest of the series LOL but with my romance books I have a few complete sets of series on the TBR pile so as I can sit down and read them from start to finish the only thing that stops me is the there are so many fantastic books released each month that when my order arrives I want to read them all it is sad i really need to retire so as I have more time to read.
I am so looking forward to September Tawny Riding The Waves whoo hoo love the cover

Have Fun
Helen

Virginia C said...

Hi, Tawny! Hubba-Hubba Hunk on the cover of "Riding the Waves" : )

Books are my binge. Book buying and book reading, and thinking about more books to buy and read. I tend to "binge read" by genre and type. This past week was a "category romance" week, and boy was it fun! I read one or two category romances each day--what a blast! Today, I am pondering my choices. What will it be this week?

I have been collecting book series. I like to read the books in order, and since I have all the books in these series, I will from time to time "series binge"!

practimom said...

i had started doing that when i first started reading again, but the more series i start to read the less time i have to do it before a new one comes out. then the fact they i may have 6 new series books come out in 1 month, i normally go back a re-read my favs of the series right before the new one comes out. i wish i did have time to re-read every one in the series before a new one came out.

Estella said...

I never re-read a book on purpose.
I start with Book one of the series and read them as they come out.

Tawny said...

Hi Helen :-D

I can't wait for you to retire and be able to read more, too *g*

I hear you on all the fabulous books out each month. Its challenging, but a great challenge to have, trying to read everything :-)

Thanks on the cover kudos :-) The art dept at Harlequin is tops, isn't it? I just love the feel of this and its so perfect for the story. Surfer boy meets astrophysicist LOL

Tawny said...

YAY for Book Binging, Virginia :-D I love that kind of binge.

And rock on with the category romance binge :-) Who'd you read??? What was your favorite?

I do the same with shorter series, btw. If they are 3 books or less, I wait until they are all published and read them from start to finish in a weekend. Its harder with the ongoing series like Eve Dallas and Stephanie Plum, since they have no end in sight (yayayayay!!!!).

Tawny said...

Practimom, there's never enough reading time, is there!!

Rereading favorites is always good, though :-) Just a fun little reminder of the characters before we dive into a new story.

and wow - 6 in 1 month. That's a lot of favorite series *g*

Tawny said...

Smart reading time-management, Estella *g*

Do you really never re-read stories, though? Like, no favorites you hold onto to revisit later? Do you have a keeper shelf?

I'll admit, I have books on my keeper shelf that I haven't read in 10 years. But I'm never giving those babies up because I loved the stories and know I'll have time to visit them again. Some day *g*

Virginia C said...

Hey, Tawny : ) I read a mix of older books and current releases. I buy new books online, and also from retailers and book stores. I regularly haunt thrift shops, yard sales, and online sources for older books. My category binge this week was made of wonderful reads both old and new. Each one lived up to its "category" and its book blurb. All very good. The one that surprised me the most was "Preacher's In-Name-Only Wife" by Mindy Neff. This book was a 2002 Harlequin "American Romance" release. This was my first title for this author, and I will definitely look for more of her work. Even though the hero is indeed a preacher, the romance is fully-developed, and both sweet and spicy. It's part of a book series called "Bachelors of Shotgun Ridge". Most enjoyable : )

Paula R said...

Hey Tawny, I love series. I do tend to go back to the beginning when I new book comes out. I re-read Eve and Roarke's story several times. The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr was an auto reread as well as J.R. Ward, Showalter, Karen Hawkins, Leslie Kelly, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, Julie Leto, Rachel Gibson, yours, Gena Showalter, Lori Foster, Tori Carrington, and many more. The re-read helps me to reconnect with old friends, and it is always great to catch up with them in new releases too.

Thanks for the link, pointing us here. Have a great rest of the evening.

Peace and love,
Paula R.

Tawny said...

Hey Virginia :-D What a great reading week!! I haven't read Mindy Neff before but this book sounds fabulous :-) I'll have to check it out.

Tawny said...

Hey there, Paula :-D I'm glad to see I'm in good company in my series binging. And hey, I love your auto re-read list *g* Thank you!!!!

Have a fun night! I'm visiting my parent's this weekend so I'm cozy and full of homemade cinnamon rolls.

Tawny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Virginia C said...

Preacher Dan in "Preacher's In-Name-Only Wife" gives new meaning to "Praise the Lord"! As Dan says when the heroine reminds him that he's a minister: "I'm also a man." What an understatement! I am now the newest member of his congregation : )

Tawny said...

ROFLMAO Virginia ;-)

Virginia C said...

Yes, Tawny, the Lord does move in mysterious ways. Several times while reading about Preacher Dan, I shouted out "Hallelujah!". When I finished the book, I actually stood and passed the collection plate in my own home : )

Laurie G said...

I don't have to read them in succession. In fact, I read them as I buy them. They're usually spread out to far for me to keep tract of them and I don't have the patience to save them up to read them together.

I rarely read a book a second time. I have too many first time reads to get through.