Monday, October 24, 2011

Series or Stand-alone...what's your pleasure?

I have often heard around the blogging world that people are sick of series, yet it seems more authors are writing series and bloggers are gobbling them up as fast as the authors can write them.  So what is it for you?  Do you prefer series or stand-alone novels?  What makes you pick up a new series?

For me, I'm a really moody reader so it all depends on how I'm feeling at the moment.  Sometimes I want to get lost in a new world and see the characters through their epic journeys, while other times I want something short, sweet and wrapped up all in one book.  I really can't define why I pick up a series or a stand-alone novel and I guess, when I ultimately look at it, I don't prefer one over the other. 

But enough about me...what about you?

18 comments:

  1. I love series, but if they go on too long to the point where you can't keep up with them (i.e the Clique series), then that's something I might give up on. Some series' do the many books thing well, like the original Nancy Drew books.

    On the other side of the coin, I love stand alone books, but it has to solve all the problems that arise in the book.

    But my favorites are companion books. When characters and places and other things overlap to make a trilogy of books that can be stand alone, but work amazingly together.

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  2. @ Julie--Great point...companion novels seem to be the best of both worlds.

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  3. I am a very moody reader like you! It really depends on what I'm feeling like but I'm also impatient. So when I start a series, I get anxious and angry when the next one isn't out for me to gobble up lol. That's why I usually wait on a series that looks good until it has one or two books out so I can keep myself satisfied. Sometimes though that first book is just too good to wait for the others. The Passage, Eragon, Divergent, Delirium and The Hunger Games are a few of the ones I didn't wait for the others because they rocked so much! Great post!

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  4. @ Jade--I completely agree that sometimes it is nice to wait until a couple of books are out in the series so you can read the books one right after another. I also understand the first book in the series looking so good that it is a must read asap.

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  5. I think it depends on the story. If there are characters that I want to keep following, then I'm happy with a series - as long as it's good. Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series is one that I never want to end (end though it will). But at the same time, some of my favorite books are stand-alone. I think people just get tired of trying to keep track of all the different storylines, especially when the books come out like a year apart. There are series that I started, but I've totally forgot about. I don't know, I think it varies on a lot of different things.

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  6. @ Christy--I think you hit it on the head when you said "it varies on a lot of different things." It's really hard to pinpoint exactly why we choose the books (series or stand-alone) that we do.

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  7. I like series if I like that characers, otherwise not so much. Series allow for much more character development and world development but sometimes series are dragged out way too long! Well written standalones are my favorites, but sometmes they seem too rushed. I do like companion books!

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  8. @ Katie-It does seem in series that you really get to know the characters and the worlds more so it is important you like the characters. And that you continue to like the characters or like you said they just seem dragged out.

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  9. I don't prefer one over the other either. If I'm loving a series, it's characters and if there's reason for the story to carry on over X amount of books then I'm happy. Sometimes I get in the mood for something familiar so I'll pick up the next book in a series or re-read a favourite (series or stand alone). Like Christy said, I think it depends on different things.

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  10. @ Jennifer--I like to reread a favorite (be it a series or stand-alone) when I need the comfort or when I'm in a reading slump.

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  11. I don't mind a series at all -- unless the individual books have no endings but are just cliff hangers for the next installment. I hate that. Each book should have its own conflicts that are resolved within that volume as each volume leads toward the final resolution of the over-all conflict.

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  12. I like both. But only if the books in a series are complete. No massive cliff hangers or just stopping instead of ending.

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  13. @ Lisa and Sarah--I like complete books in a series too. I feel like so many these days are not only doing huge cliff hangers but they are just ending in the middle of a story.

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  14. I love reading a series when I can get my hands on the books quickly. Having to wait months in between each story drives me a little batty and then I forget important details.

    One off books are a nice relief sometimes... in saying that, I'm often left wondering how the characters are getting on. Especially when I've fallen in love with the main characters :)

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  15. Most of the book I read are part of series. I love when the characters grow and mature throughout a series. For some reason I am reluctant to read stand alones.

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  16. @ Melissa--I like when the whole series is out too. I feel like after I finish one of the books I'm dying for the next one, but when the next one comes out I've forgotten little bits of information that seem relevant.

    @ Nicole--I enjoy seeing the characters grow and mature. Maybe instead of stand-alone novels companion novels might be a good mix for you (if you ever want to branch into stand-alones).

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  17. Actually, I really enjoy series, especially if the characters are ones I want to get to know and hang out with. BUT, I strongly believe that each book in a series should be able to stand on it's own. It really annoys/offends me when an author ends a book in a series with a cliffhanger. I think it's the biggest ploy ever and it actually makes me lose interest in the story.

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  18. @ Missie--I hate it when a book in a series cannot stand alone too. It makes me think the author actually only wrote one book but wanted a three book deal out of it and just chopped it off at random places.

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I love love love hearing your wonderful thoughts! Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.