Good question for this week... do you prefer series or stand-alone books?
As a whole, I prefer stand-alone books (even though I am writing a series... is that odd?)
Maybe I am simply not reading the right series, but I find them to be similar to movies and their sequels... the first one is usually awesome and the second (or third or fourth) is usually unnecessary. I find this more in books where there is not really a continuation of the same story, but rather more of a brand new story using the same characters... the kind created simply so there can be a sequel. There are certainly exceptions to this, mainly when the entire story cannot be told in one book, such as Harry Potter, but overall I prefer the story be completed in one novel.
As a child, however, series were my life... I was a Sweet Valley Girl and owned almost every book in the Twins and High series. The difference between these and some other series, though, is they can be read as stand-alone books. You can pick up any of these, read it, and never have read the one published before or after and be fine. The same goes for Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and similar titles. Granted, if you did read all of them you would be more bonded to the characters, but it is not required to follow or enjoy the story (as opposed to, say, Harry Potter where you must start at the beginning).
So... have to say I prefer stand-alone books... which do you prefer?
I like both. I like stand alones because they have a tidy conclusion (usually) and I like series. Read My Bookshelf to find why.
ReplyDeleteI was (and might still be...) in love with the Sweet Valley High books. I had almost all of them too. They were sooo good! and I loved Nancy Drew too!
ReplyDeleteI usually like stand-alone better too! If the series is long I will read the first few then want a change. By the time I am ready to go back to the series I will be confused on what happed previously!
ReplyDeleteI read Sweet Valley, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Babysitter's Club, etc! I loved all those books, but I definitely read stand-alone books now. I have quite a few friends that read young adult book series, but I've never tried any of them. I'm more interested in history and other non-fiction! Good post! :)=e=
ReplyDeleteI usually prefer stand alone books, the Mitford series being the exception.
ReplyDeleteFor Young Adult fiction, I tend to enjoy series. However regardless of genre, I find that when I get to book three in a series, it's the turning point: it either becomes a repackaged version of an earlier story, or new plotlines and characters emerge. Series that place familiar characters in standalone stories seem easier to manage because you don't have to read them in order and the individual books are self-contained. I think a lot of it depends on the writer as well.
ReplyDeleteStand alone books I find are usually better than series books. As a kid, I definitely read the Babysitter's Club series though...and the Sweet Valley Girl ones.
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