Do you think a series can ever be too long?

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Taylor Razzani
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Re: Do you think a series can ever be too long?

Post by Taylor Razzani »

I guess it depends on the author and the series. I think a series can definitely go on for too long if everything seems repetitive. However I am still a big fan of the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly. It is usually the same premise with a couple curves and new characters thrown in, but every time I finish one I start counting down the days until the next one. So far he's released 13 books and I haven't gotten sick of it yet!
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Post by Prisaneify »

Sadly, yes, I think a series can absolutely be too long. If the book starts off by restating the original storyline for the first 3-5 chapters (Looking at you Evanovich!!!!) then it needs to end. People are getting bored by that time and you lose those loyal readers that loved the character at first but now just read because they feel guilty not giving it up. Also, if the characters aren't progressing, at all. You need to keep the stories fresh and make sure there is more going on then the latest murder or robbery.
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Post by artemis822 »

For the most part, I haven't read a series yet that I think has gone on too long. I tend to have the problem that the series ends too soon, for one reason or another.
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Post by Foxley »

It probably depends on the series. I remember feeling intimidated by how many books are in the Disc World series and not wanting to pick it up, feeling like that would be a huge commitment.
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Post by Vinamarie »

Yes I think a series can be two long. Personally I like series with about 2-5 books after that I get really bored.
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Post by Gannon »

Taylor Razzani wrote:I guess it depends on the author and the series. I think a series can definitely go on for too long if everything seems repetitive. However I am still a big fan of the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly. It is usually the same premise with a couple curves and new characters thrown in, but every time I finish one I start counting down the days until the next one. So far he's released 13 books and I haven't gotten sick of it yet!
Hi there Taylor. I only just noticed this post. I too am a huge fan of the Charlie Parker novels and have never grown bored of the series. I think it's because I love the characters, and the way that Connolly keeps the supernatural element of the books always there, sometimes lurking in the background. He has just released the latest " A Time of Torment" and I can't wait to read it. :)
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Post by Taylor Razzani »

Hi there Taylor. I only just noticed this post. I too am a huge fan of the Charlie Parker novels and have never grown bored of the series. I think it's because I love the characters, and the way that Connolly keeps the supernatural element of the books always there, sometimes lurking in the background. He has just released the latest " A Time of Torment" and I can't wait to read it. :)
Always a pleasure to encounter a fellow fan :D I feel like that little bit of the supernatural element helps each book stay unique. I've come to realize I kind of don't like Charlie Parker, but if a character in the book doesn't like them I get all defensive of him, we have a complicated relationship :lol:
I went to preorder it and it says it comes out in August here...I try not to think about it.
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Post by Gannon »

Taylor Razzani wrote:
Hi there Taylor. I only just noticed this post. I too am a huge fan of the Charlie Parker novels and have never grown bored of the series. I think it's because I love the characters, and the way that Connolly keeps the supernatural element of the books always there, sometimes lurking in the background. He has just released the latest " A Time of Torment" and I can't wait to read it. :)
Always a pleasure to encounter a fellow fan :D I feel like that little bit of the supernatural element helps each book stay unique. I've come to realize I kind of don't like Charlie Parker, but if a character in the book doesn't like them I get all defensive of him, we have a complicated relationship :lol:
I went to preorder it and it says it comes out in August here...I try not to think about it.
It is out here now and I am going to pick it up today. I think I will jump into it as soon as I finish "Dictator", which is my current read. The blurb makes it sound very interesting, lets hope it's good. :)
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. - Mother Teresa
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Taylor Razzani
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Post by Taylor Razzani »

Gannon wrote:
Taylor Razzani wrote:
Hi there Taylor. I only just noticed this post. I too am a huge fan of the Charlie Parker novels and have never grown bored of the series. I think it's because I love the characters, and the way that Connolly keeps the supernatural element of the books always there, sometimes lurking in the background. He has just released the latest " A Time of Torment" and I can't wait to read it. :)
Always a pleasure to encounter a fellow fan :D I feel like that little bit of the supernatural element helps each book stay unique. I've come to realize I kind of don't like Charlie Parker, but if a character in the book doesn't like them I get all defensive of him, we have a complicated relationship :lol:
I went to preorder it and it says it comes out in August here...I try not to think about it.
It is out here now and I am going to pick it up today. I think I will jump into it as soon as I finish "Dictator", which is my current read. The blurb makes it sound very interesting, lets hope it's good. :)
It has to live up to our praise now :lol: I just ordered it off UK's Amazon, and it's cheaper than if I would wait to get it here. This seems too good to be true haha. Can't wait to read it, it sounds as good as the previous 13 books!
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Post by Gannon »

Taylor Razzani wrote:
Gannon wrote:
Taylor Razzani wrote:
Always a pleasure to encounter a fellow fan :D I feel like that little bit of the supernatural element helps each book stay unique. I've come to realize I kind of don't like Charlie Parker, but if a character in the book doesn't like them I get all defensive of him, we have a complicated relationship :lol:
I went to preorder it and it says it comes out in August here...I try not to think about it.
It is out here now and I am going to pick it up today. I think I will jump into it as soon as I finish "Dictator", which is my current read. The blurb makes it sound very interesting, lets hope it's good. :)
It has to live up to our praise now :lol: I just ordered it off UK's Amazon, and it's cheaper than if I would wait to get it here. This seems too good to be true haha. Can't wait to read it, it sounds as good as the previous 13 books!
Just got back from BigW and I have it in my hot little hands right now. :)
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. - Mother Teresa
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Post by Firedrake »

I enjoy a good series, but sometimes they can indeed go too long. I read my way through the Tarzan series as a kid, but noticed that partway through, it became "Tarzan finds the lost city of the week in the African jungle" and most of the characters I'd come to like vanished. That was probably my first experience with the shark and that jumping thing.
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Post by Kimberly33 »

I completely agree about the Stephanie Plum series. I still loyally bought and read each one but the series really did become stagnant for me.
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Post by Jolyon Trevelyan »

Yes i do
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Post by JCate09 »

I agree with a lot of the previous posts. I love book series, especially when the books create not only fascinating characters but whole new worlds for me to delve into. But the presentation limits it. When the books main plot because repeatative with only detail changes, I can't continue to read it. This also goes for generes as well. I've noticed this with Lesbian romances as well as others. The plots are the same the but the details change. Les romance tend to do the following:
Main two Characters: one masculine, one feminine
Masculine: Has had a trouble past, dosnt think they deserve love
Feminie: Has been hurt in the past, is afraid of love
They meet, fall in love, get togther, are happy for a chapter. Some kind of trouble happens so they split up. Work through said trouble and live happily ever after.
Funny thing is I still read them regardless of their predictability.
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Post by Kia »

JCate09 wrote:I agree with a lot of the previous posts. I love book series, especially when the books create not only fascinating characters but whole new worlds for me to delve into. But the presentation limits it. When the books main plot because repeatative with only detail changes, I can't continue to read it. This also goes for generes as well. I've noticed this with Lesbian romances as well as others. The plots are the same the but the details change. Les romance tend to do the following:
Main two Characters: one masculine, one feminine
Masculine: Has had a trouble past, dosnt think they deserve love
Feminie: Has been hurt in the past, is afraid of love
They meet, fall in love, get togther, are happy for a chapter. Some kind of trouble happens so they split up. Work through said trouble and live happily ever after.
Funny thing is I still read them regardless of their predictability.
I find the same issues with romances in general. I tend to still read them in between other novels though because they tend to not require a lot of brain power to get through. So I can happily speed through it to give myself a rest from the other, more intense novels I read.
"Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it."- Rafiki
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