On one hand, a sequel or a series is sort of a cop-out for an author. It’s easy to revisit old characters, to create another adventure or another chapter in their lives. On the other hand, it’s giving readers what they want, and it is perhaps more of a challenge to keep the characters fresh as they grow.
I think as a reader it’s easy, too. Our minds easily slip back into the pattern of that town, those characters, that author’s writing style. It’s comfort food, pure and simple.
There’s nothing wrong with macaroni and cheese. There are several varieties — homemade, slightly gourmet, or cheap and simple. Each serves its purpose by filling a hole or a need.
Series do that, too. The fulfill our desire to know more, to allow the characters to live on and to grow. Though I do find them to be easy reading, not as much of a mental challenge as expanding our parameters as a new author or a new subject matter will do, there’s no doubt that when I think of my all-time favorite characters, they most often come from beloved series: Harry Potter, Anne (read my review of Anne of Avonlea that I posted on my blog, as I returned to that series a year after first delighting in Anne), Father Tim, the Penderwick sisters.
Carrie would kick me if I didn’t mention Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden (in light of the Children’s Classics Mystery Challenge that we are hosting here), and in fact Trixie, her brothers, and her best friend Honey were a big part of my growing-up years. But did they grow me? Did they stretch my view of the world as a good book does?
My 11-year-old bookworm, Amanda, would definitely count series as some of her most-favorite reads. I am glad that knowing that there’s another book to read helps her decide what book to read next, but I also
Do you agree with me that series are a sort of comfort food — easy to digest, but perhaps not as “nourishing” as books that push us to explore something new? What are some of your favorite series?
Jennifer admits it. Right or wrong, she’s a bit of a reading snob in her own mind. She blogs at Snapshot.
Annette W says
What I like about a series is that I know what to expect…as in, I know I will like the book!
Lauren says
When I finish a good book, I am sad to see the characters go. I feel like I am leaving behind a good friend. One thing I like about a good series is that I can hold on to my friends a little longer. I wouldn’t want all the books I read to be part of a series, but I do like them every now and then.
jean says
I’m not sure that a good book always has to stretch our view of the world. That’s a great thing for a book to do–but there are other things too. Comfort in a time of need, maybe, or reassurance.
For children, I would argue that series serve a valuable purpose in developing reading skills and a love of books. You know that for children (well, grownups too!), repetition leads to learning. A small child wants to read the same book over and over again and truly gets something out of that. A slightly older child who is reading, but not yet fluent, often loves series books, which are repetitive but with variety–and though they are often dismissed as twaddle I disagree. A series lets a child know what to expect, so she can concentrate on developing those reading skills without also having to spend mental energy worrying about unexpected surprises in the plot. She’s learning to read better, along with her book friends–and developing a sense of how a book works–plot, conflict, resolution, etc. It’s one of the steps along the path to being a good reader.
I never liked Trixie Belden myself, but even if they were easy reading they still confirmed, over and over again, the value of family, honesty, bravery, and caring for others. And looking before you leap! Those are lessons that have to be repeated many times before they sink into your bones. So even though Trixie may not be a heroine of great literature–and certainly she should be outgrown–when you do the right and difficult thing, there’s a little tiny bit of her helping you know what to do.
Certainly I don’t think we should all read series all the time; I don’t read a lot of them any more. But they have a purpose and a value. And Anne practically got me through my teenage years, and formed half my ideals!
Christine Jensen says
I LOVE a good series! I love the fact that I get to know more about the lives of the characters in a beloved story. I think that is why I love to seek out the many sequels to Pride and Prejudice written by contemporary authors. I know that they are not always incredibly well written, but I love the peek into the world of Elizabeth and Darcy that they give me.
As far as fave series go, here are a few:
The Anybodies, Nobodies and Somebodies by N.E.Bode
The Inkheart books by Cornelia Funke
and
THe Bayern books by Shannon Hale
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
I want to chime in quickly to reaffirm that I don’t hate series. As I said, they are some of my favorites that I return to again and again for reasons that Lauren and Annette mentioned.
And you’re right, Jean, books don’t have to stretch our view of the world. I just strive for that particular challenge and love the result in my own reading life. And I can’t argue with you about Anne, even though I didn’t discover her until I was almost 40!
Christine, Amanda LOVES the N.E. Bode series!! Actually, she has never read the 3rd one, because it’s not readily available (at libraries etc), but she loves those books, and I feel like they are an unknown treasure.
Carrie, Reading to Know says
What an awesome post! Yes, series ARE kinda comfort reads for me. Actually, if I think about it hard enough, maybe it’s a comfort read MOST of the time. I’m with Lauren – when I finish a good book I’m sad to say goodbye. I do’nt want to let the characters go. Series allow me to stick around with people for a little bit longer and there’s a sense of satisfaction in that.
Then, like Jean says, they are there in times of need – when you are feeling a bit down or you just want to rest yourself for a moment and catch up with old friends.
There are lots of good reasons for series to exist and I’m glad that they do – whether they are gourmet or “cheap and easy.” They are exactly what you say – comfort when we need it (or want it)!
Barbara H. says
I never thought of sequels as a cop-out but rather a further exploration of a character or situation that has more to him or it than can fit in one book. It seems like it would be harder in some ways to come up with something new and fresh for the same characters, to give readers the familiarity they want without become formulaic or repeating yourself as an author.
I love the Anne, series, of course, the Little House series, the Louisa May Alcott series beginning with Little Women, Terri Blackstock’s Newpointe 911 series, Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series, Sharon Hinck’s Becky Miller and Restorer series, Beverly Lewis’s various Amish fiction series….just to name a few.
Katrina says
I love a good series…up to a point. I think that no matter how wonderful the author, sometimes…when the series just goes on too long…it’s hard to keep each book fresh. So while I love a good series, I also love when the author knows the right time to bring a series to a close.
Some of my favorites? The Harry Potter series, the “Bug Man” series by Tim Downs, the Chronicles of Narnia.
Marj M. says
A series makes me extremely impatient for the next book to come out. Love them if they are not 6 or 7 books long.
DanaB says
There are some books where the character(s) are so real and so compelling that I can never get enough of them. Some are a fleeting enjoyment I don’t readily recall later while others remain vivid–maybe even reread in the future.
Comfort food is a good way to describe some familiar characters…although, now and again, you’ll get an author that shakes up the familiar characters’ world and simultaneously gives you the comfort factor as well as the stretching factor.
*sigh* I just love books.
~