Talk to Me Tuesday #2 - Series vs. Stand-Alone

Tuesday, January 11, 2011






Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!
This week's question: Do you prefer series or stand-alone novels and why?

It seems to me that there's a trend in the YA market today for authors to start series, rather than stand-alone novels, and I've been wondering a lot about this lately. Seriously, what is the last stand-alone fantasy or paranormal book that I've read? While I don't read too many contemps these days, even the ones I do read seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Take, for example, Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. I loved that book. The characterization, the plot, every little point led up to a tumultuous and climactic end. Granted, the end made me want to kill myself pull my hair out, but it made me think, and even more - it made me feel. Now, enter the sequel, Return to Paradise. Can I just say...disappointment much? No, the writing isn't bad, but we lost everything we gained from Maggie and Caleb in book one. Suddenly, we're on this new path that feels rushed and overbearing. I really wish I hadn't picked up the sequel.

Then there are series like Harry Potter, which we all know I'm clinically obsessed with. Seriously. I want to live in Hogwarts. But there is a reason to my madness, or insanity, if you will. In creating the first book, J.K. Rowling proposed a series and a chance for us to journey with her characters. She gave us the opportunity to grow up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, allowing us to know every detail of their lives so we could grow up in this imaginary world with them (I know, I wish it was real, too.) Each book had a clear purpose - show us Harry's progression, give us more of the background, and lead up to the final and ultimate battle of good vs. evil. That, in a nutshell, is pretty much the epitome of a series for me. Other series that worked for me were Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Mortal Instruments series. Obviously, there are more, but those are the ones that immediately spring to mind.


Some of your fellow book bloggers weighed in on the issue, too, saying what they thought of series and standalone novels.
Ginger from GReads says, "I like both, but I prefer series because I get more from the characters and the story. Everything isn't wrapped up so nicely."
Sarah from That Bookish Girl says, "I think it really depends on the book. Sometimes books work better with a clear, quick start and finish and sometimes they are better drawn out."
Misha from My Love Affair With Books says, "It depends on the book. If I loved the book, I like to see more of the characters and the story. But to be honest, I lack the patience to wait. Waiting for the next book in the HP series used to drive me insane!
Linds from Bibliophile Brouhaha says, "It honestly doesn't matter so long as the story is solid, whether it is a story throughout the series or a stand alone. I will say that I hate when a book originally is a stand alone, and it feels like the characters have come full circle, only to have a publishers/author later make it into a series. It messes with the story and distorts the message of the book."
And therein lies the main issue for me. I think there is such a pressure to create a series these days that we lose sight of the characters and plot that were originally created. Whether it's a series or a stand-alone novel, I don't want to feel like I'm being pulled unwillingly along. Shiver is a prime example for me. I think that book one could have been it. I feel no need to read past that. Basically, I want the same thing if it's a series or a stand-alone book. I want great characters, a fantastic adventure, and I want to feel like I went somewhere and came full circle. 

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

38 comments:

  1. Great topic! As I said before, I like both. It all depends on the story & the characters. I totally agree with your comment about Return to Paradise. I was so, so excited for that story because I loved Leaving Paradise so much - and then I was utterly let down. You're right, it should have ended with book 1.

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  2. I love series simply because you don't have to let go to quickly but like Shiver each book should be able to stand on it's own. Wonderful topic!

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  3. It depends for me as well. I think there are a lot of books out there that would have been better as stand alone books but I love it when a book leaves you craving more and there are like 3 more of them! It's true, there don't seem to be very many stand alone YA anything other than contemp. But that's actually what I am currently working on, is a stand-alone YA dystopian :)

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  4. I totally agree about Harry Potter. Even though the wait for each book drove me insane , as I said (lol),it was only because how crazy I was about the series. I started reading it when I was 11 and read the last book when I was 17.The wait was always worth it. I think apart from LoTR , HP is the best series I have read.

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  5. I like both. Sometimes though I feel like certain books should have ended at one.

    Example: The Dark Divine, totally needs a series but Halo, probably doesn't need a series.

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  6. Harry Potter's not real?! No!

    The thing I hate about series, is the waiting. I hate getting into a book and left with this cliffie, then forced to wait a year to figure out what happens. That, and I read so many books in a year that I need to re-read in order to not feel lost in the sequel.

    I love series, I really do, but sometimes I want a story that wrapped up in just one book. Just give me a great story in one little package, at least every once in a while. As a fan of contemporary YA, I read a good number of stand-alones, but even now, those are beginning to become more series oriented.

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  7. I think series are what definitely bulk up the TBR pile. And, as you said, a well-done series is awesome - something to look forward to. But most series are made to sell books. They don't need to be a series, especially when each book is short, and doesn't have a conclusion. I'm all for minor cliff hangers, but EACH book needs to have closure of the main plot line, and leave openings that make you want to know what happens next. J.K. Rowling is a master at this -- not many others are...

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  8. This is definitely a great discussion question! I think it's the most I've rambled on for in any of my posts, hah. :]

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  9. I'm partial to series, but even within the series I like the books to stand alone and be a complete story even though they link back to the book before it and set up the book after. I don't like when series feel forced, as though the plot line wrapped up in the previous book but now something new and odd has popped up for the characters to deal with in order to keep the books going. I think for me a prime example of that would be the Sookie Stackhouse series. I adored the first 6 or 7, but then she just kept adding random plotlines that didn't seem to make sense and I stopped reading.

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  10. I think it depends. There are some series I love, because I just cant get enough of the characters, the writing or everything and I definetely love reading more, but there are sometimes when is just too much, too many books or a second one wasnt even necessary. Sometimes they prove me wrong and they´re good second or third books but sometimes you just can tell when they write just to sell more and to make money and I really hate that.
    So, in general I prefer standalone books but a couple of series once in a while.
    Great Topic!

    -Mariana S
    http://smartgirls-read.blogspot.com/

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  11. I like a series of stand alones. In other words, no cliffhangers, but you are looking forward to visiting those characters when the next book comes out. So, I don't mind an opening, but the storyline that was started in one book should end in the same book. Well, that is my preference anyway.

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  12. Tough question! It all depends on the book. I think books that start out as a series develop at a slower pace, and characters are eventually more fleshed out. In stand alone books, character depth can be achieved, but in a shorter amount of time.

    However, I don't like when a stand alone suddenly becomes a series. I feel like the book was wrapped up, reopened, and then stretched out into something else entirely,

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  13. Yes, I totally agree with you. There are so many series now that it seems like a stand-alone is unusual. I love series like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson where each book is a complete story but also builds on each previous one to create this big conclusion, but... most series aren't like that. When a series is good and is a series for a reason, I LOVE it, but mostly I crave standalone books these days.

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  14. My thoughts exactly, Melissa. Thank you!

    I believe it does have a lot to do with pressure, plus everyone is looking for the next Twilight Saga, not realizing that the spell has been broken.

    What is a more disturbing trend are all those dang cliffhangers. I'm sick of them. It's a shady plot device that does not give credit to the writer or the readers.

    Also agree with you on Shiver. I haven't read the next book because I've heard it backsteps the story.

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  15. Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I gave you the Stylish Blogger award! You can claim it here http://crazy-bookworm.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award-x4.html

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  16. Fantastic topic and great meme Melissa! Definitely a tough question as I think it all depends on the book, characterisation and how the story is told. Some authors tend to make the mistake of dragging a story out for too long, when the book could have worked as a standalone novel. With series, I tend to force myself to wait for the author to complete it in its entirety because I'm not a huge fan of cliffhangers and many series tend to end off in that way. Of course, the positive is that the story of the characters continue in next instalments of book series whereas standalones don't have that.

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  17. I can't say that I prefer a series, because sometimes they spread the story too thin and mess it up. But I can't say that I prefer stand-alone books either, because a lot of times I finish one wishing I could have more. :) So, yeah, it really depends.

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  18. I like book series... when they are really justified.
    Some books would have been totally good without a sequel. Some times it's really disappointed to know that there is another book... and another one... and oh another one!

    Not to mention that it cost a lot of money!

    But as you say, some series really work. Harry Potter, Hunger Games... I can't imagine these books without their sequels.

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  19. I like series when its plot is developped in an interesting, original way. A series gives an author far more room for presenting the characters and their story with all these lovely details which make it truly a masterpiece. On the other hand some authors seem to write/plan a series just to rake in. Usually the first book is good, the second - ok and the third barely passable or even worse.

    I might be now booed but I think JK Rowling wrote the last book of the HP series just because she wanted it to be done and forgotten, not because she had anything interesting to say. In fact some fanfics were better than Deathly Hallows.

    A stand-alone book is also good - it makes you save money (as Pisinat already noticed too) and when you finish you know it's definitely over.

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  20. Fascinating topic! I was actually thinking about writing a discussion post on the same topic for my blog.
    I do love series, there's one that I started called The Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent Dyer, which is about 60 normal sized books long. I don't know if I'll ever get through it. The appeal of series is the familiar and beloved characters but when there's another book just written for the sake of it, then it takes away the enjoyment of it. If every book you read was part of a series, you'd never be able to read them all! One of my favourite authors told me that her publisher wouldn't let her write a sequel to a stand alone book because not as many people read sequels, which I found quite interesting.

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  21. Great answer. Personally, I prefer series for paranormal/fantasy/dystopia genre as I often crave more the amazing world created but when it comes to realistic fiction than stand alone novels. I linked up this week :)

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  22. I love my series... especially if I love the characters. There are times when I read stand alone books that have great characters that I'm just not ready to let go of. I want to read more about them! Although I agree with you that it is important to have the series come full circle and not just carry on and on for no reason.

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  23. I totally agree about it boiling down to whether or not it's a good story with strong characters. That's what I'm looking for, whether or not it's a series or stand-alone that tells it best! I haven't read Leaving Paradise but I've heard good things about it - good to know ahead of time about Return to Paradise, although it's unfortunate that you found it disappointing :(

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  24. Eeeexcellent topic! I linked up! <3

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  25. I love series when I enjoy the characters but I'm not a fan of cliffhangers. HP did a great job of a satisfying conclusion but leading us toward the bigger story. Many series these days seem like they're weak and watered down in order to stretch out the story into more books. That will irritate me.

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  26. Great question! I just found your blog, and I like it alot. Thanks for doing this. I prefer series!
    jbdownie5@yahoo.com

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  27. Series can be amazing and super exciting because it gives you something to anticipate and look forward to. There's nothing like loving a cast of characters and being able to experience them for multiple books. I find that this doesn't happen often though with me. I'm guilty of starting multiple series but not finishing them in a timely manner. I tend to just move on to another book that I'm excited for instead.

    Sooooo...all in all, I like both BUT I still prefer stand alone novels. I feel that today, publishers are really banking on the whole series concept because of their growing popularity and in all honesty, I find that many of the books that get turned into two or three books would have been fine as just one.

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  28. I guess I love series if I discover them when they've all already been published, but I have a love/hate relationship with them when I'm reading them as they come out.

    If I like a book a lot, then a series is great because it gives the author more room to work with and time for the characters and story arc to grow. But...my memory is pretty bad, so it's frustrating to have to wait a year or more between books.

    Some books also feel too forced as a series and it would have been better if the author had written a standalone or a duology instead. Some books feel like they have a lot of filler because the publisher wanted the author to stretch a standalone book into a trilogy. I don't like that.

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  29. I have no problems with finished series but if the series is just starting, I want the novel to be like a stand-alone and not end on a blatant cliffhanger (which I've seen). The other problem with series that are ongoing is that I forget what happens in previous books, especially if the time difference between releases is really long.

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  30. I prefer standalones. But if that standalone is really great, of course I want more. I think the key is, if a book is part of a series, it needs to be able to standalone as well. No evil cliffhangers!

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  31. I prefer standalone books because I feel it takes a really spectacular author to make a series work. For example, I loved the first couple of PLL books but after book four the whole series kind of fell apart. Though, series like Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments and Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy work for me, and I know I would be so sad if they weren't series, and that applies to several other series as well. So, basically, it depends on the author and the premise of the book if I would prefer a standalone or a sequel, in my opinion. Oh, and another negative parts about series: cliff hangers!

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  32. Now that I know you are doing this, I'm so participating next week. But, for this week I'll leave a comment. I have a current debate about this going on in my head. There are so many fabulous series out there. And if done right, they make you fall so madly in love with the characters that you feel honest to goodness, a bit depressed, when the series ends (ex: Vampire Academy, Weather Warden, TMI, Harry Potter, etc...). However, then we hit series like Alyson Noel's The Immortals which was good at book 1, but was horrible all books following. It ticked me off almost. To the point of regretting reading the series at all. The characters changed, everything seemed to change. It was upsetting.

    I think that there is so much someone can do with a series. You can see so much intense character development, you can see such amazing plot lines. But then, you can also read a sequel that makes you almost not like the first as much (been there, done that). It's sad almost. And, a lot of contemp fic that I come accross is NOT a series. I enjoy them sometimes. Because sometimes I need something light that won't depress me when I'm finished because I need to read the sequel NOW or I've invested into five books and the characters feel like they've all died because it's over.

    So, in the end. I think that it's nice to have both stand alone and series. It feeds all the emotions I feel on both sides. That of needing an undying connection to my characters and that of just needing to be entertained. Sometimes a girl just needs simple and sometimes she needs heart wrenching complication.

    Jen
    In the Closet With a Bibliophile

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  33. Honestly, I am so sick of series. I wish authors would just write a freakin standalone, or like Lenore said, wish that they could write series books that do a good job of standing alone.

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  34. Great discussion! I like both series and stand alone novels. Like other people said, it depends on the book and unfortunately, I have read a second book in a series that should have been a stand alone. In series books, cliffhangers and waiting a year or more for the next book to be released kills me!

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  35. This is a hard one for me. I love some stand alone books. However, series have lots of time to develop, change, and surprise. However, I never read a whole series one after another. It normally take me a year to get to the next in the series. LOL! Ok, not that long but we get it.

    Great idea for a meme.

    Black Disaster Fairy
    A World of Personality 

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  36. I love series, but I loath the current trend of ending the book in a series with a cliff-hanger. Once I'm dedicated to the characters and world a cliff-hanger is okay, but when it's done on the very first book I feel forced to get the next book and that really irritates me. So for me, well written series with complete plot arches in each book are definitely a favorite, but that seems to be harder and harder to find so I'm really starting to read a lot more stand alone novels then series these days.

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  37. Great question!

    I’m a series girl :) I develop an unhealthy attachment to the fictional characters in my books and I always need new adventures with them. I know other book loves can relate where as non-readers would label me unstable ;)

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  38. Such a great topic Melissa! I think series are easier in adult fiction, for some reason. Like the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost---simply yummy! The Vampire Academy series, TMI, and HP are the best-done YA series, IMO. And I'm SO WITH YOU on Shiver! But don't let Natalie hear me say that...

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