Books in Series

Does it seem like almost every book is part of a series? Well, except for maybe horror, it sure seems like it.

I don’t mind series, as long as each book has an individual story and it ends with that book. Then I go and read one that leaves me hanging, leaving me screaming for the next book, which I hungrily buy once it’s out. Some authors are so evil, it’s gotten where I won’t even consider reading the first book in the series unless I know the series has ended. Case in point: Richelle Mead. I loved her Vampire Academy series, really LOVED it, but thank GOODNESS I started it after the last book had been released. She would have driven me NUTS and is the number one reason why I haven’t started on her next series. Once that one has ended, THEN I’ll read it (and I really want to read it, but know better than to put myself through that).

It’s bad enough that television shows have cliff hangers at the end of the season. Do I really need it in my books? No, I do not.

Yet, I read series all the time. Currently: JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood AND Fallen Angels), Lynsay Sands (Argeneau Vampires), Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake), Laurell K.Hamilton (Anita Blake), Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse), Allison Brennan (Lucy Kincaid), Tess Gerritsen (Rizzoli & Isles), and Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson), to name several. For the most part, the story is contained in these series. Usually. Of course, by now, I’m so engrossed in the series, it’s too late. They hooked me.

Before 2008 (and Twilight), I rarely read a series (Dark Tower series by Stephen King is the only one I can recall - which, by the way, frustrated me, too). I don’t know if it’s the new way of writing or if I was too absorbed in horror to notice (because before 2008, that’s about all I read).

Reminds me of when we moved to Ft. Monmouth, NJ in 1982. Bruce Springsteen was very popular there. I had never heard of him before. Was he popular because he was a hometown boy (Asbury Park is just down the road from the army post), or was he suddenly popular everywhere? I couldn’t tell!

Just as I can’t tell about book series. I’m sure they’ve been out there all along and I just haven’t noticed them until I started reading more.

Do you enjoy reading series? Do you like them leaving you hanging, having an overall story where you wonder if it will ever end? Or do you like it where each book is unique, each story begins and ends with that book?

J J J

By the way, I did chicken out on Friday night’s game. It was not only cold out (in the 40s), but windy, too. That pretty much decided it for me. I like going to a baseball game when it’s warm and I can enjoy sitting outside. Sort of how it was on Sunday. We made it to the 2:00 game and it was very nice out (70 degrees). Too bad the Dragons lost, though. Oh well, guess I can’t have everything (although I do try!!).

Have a good day!!

 

Stacy