Booking Through Thursday: Series or Stand-alones?

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted over here. It's really fun, so just hop over there and join in.


This weeks question:
Do you prefer reading books in a series or when they are 
Stand-alones?

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I do love series, especially because they allow the author more time to get into a character. Such series as  Harry Potter  are amazing, because the characters make a real journey and mature. Yet there is a big chance that the sequels aren't as good as the first one and that you end up reading the same in every book. You might expect me to talk about Lord of the Rings being the best series/trilogy ever. But it was meant to be one big book, actually, and it only became three because it was too expensive to print it as one big book.

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)I think stand-alones are a bit more special at times. An author has put so much time into it and it is a lot harder to write. On Chesil Beach for example is an amazing stand alone that really gets you into the characters mind. Although it's a relatively short book it's pure genius. Never have I read a stand alone book that was so good in analyzing it's characters, except perhaps Middlemarch .


So, what are your thoughts on this?

Comments

  1. Harry Potter is one of my fav series - to me it was perfect in it's progression. It's the series where the characters are still in the same situation in the 10th book that they were in in the first that annoy me.
    Sally.
    http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/03/booking-through-thursday-10.html

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  2. Harry Potter is a great example of the perfect series. If all series were as dedicated and well thought out as that one, I would only be reading series (well, not only, but a lot). I have never heard of On Chesil Beach, will have to check it out.

    Thanks for stopping by The Turn of the Page!

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  3. I've never read Harry Potter.

    If you want, you can read my BTT HERE

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  4. I like both stand-alones and series. Of course, we do't mention LOTR when talking about series, we might as well just say it's the best stand-alone book ever:)

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  5. I like both as long as it keeps your interest.

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  6. I think I'm torn straight down the middle. I love nothing more than finding a new series which usually will mean a character that I love (Mary Russell in the Laurie R. King Books, Kinsey Millhone in Sue Grafton's books, to name two). On the other hand, if I'm in the mood for a particular theme, I love when I find a stand alone book that entertains or educates me.

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  7. I love a series as long as I find it after all the books are written. :) I think I just prefer a series in general if I like the characters. I'm always sad when I fall in love with people in a stand alone book and then it's over.

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  8. I'd like to read On Chesil Beach now that you mention it. I haven't heard of it before.

    Here's my answer.

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  9. I am a big fan of series! I do like reading stand alone books but I sometimes don't feel like it is enough! Have you ever read Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare? Her first 3 books seem like ONE REALLY large book and she does an amazing job! I love it so much that I am doing a giveaway for her next book release. Originally she was only going to keep her books as 3 with a spin off but when she was asked to write a graphic novel, it took her to another 3 books.

    My favorites are Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Vampire Academy and Mortal Instruments and I guess.... "ah" twilight "hum"

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  10. I am a new follower! Will you follow me back at www.MagicalUrbanFantasyReads.com

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