Discussion Post #85

[katayla]

Happy Saturday! Let's talk about books! What are you reading? What are you loving? What are you hating?

And discussion question (if you so choose!): Series vs. stand alone books. Do you have a preference? Or do you like both?

If you missed it, our book for February is Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden, so check that out.

Comments

[katayla]

HA! I prefer series, but feel like I rarely read them. (Though I'm changing that lately!)

Huh! I know of the book, but I didn't realize she was am actual PNW author.

[katayla]

SO. I devoured Cynthia Hand's Unearthly trilogy this week. It's a YA paranormal (about angels) and I just really enjoyed it. I also read Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, another YA paranormal (of sorts). I used to read a lot of the genre, back when it was the hottest thing out there, and I got SO burned out that it's been a while since I've really enjoyed it. BUT NOW I'M BACK. Except for I don't know what to read next!!! Anyone have any recs for YA paranormals

[spyglass_]

I've been meaning to ask you, is the Unearthly trilogy something I should consider??

[katayla]

I've been thinking about mentioning it to you! I really enjoyed it and thought it was pretty well done. The love triangle reminded me a little of Wade/Zoe/George. Some of that might just be, you know, still in that place where EVERYTHING reminds me of Hart of Dixie, but it's that same kind of being torn between who you "should" be with and who you want to be with.

So yes! I feel like it's not one I'm SURE you'll love, but I think it's very worth trying.

[spyglass_]

That's what really had me interested, that you were saying it had a triangle that was well done. I AM A FAN OF THAT CONCEPT. I probably won't get to them right away, but I will add them to my list!

[spyglass_]

This week I read Perfect Scoundrels (which was really fun!) and I've been working on the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter too, which I blame on Double Crossed and also empressearwig. I'm also in the middle of Don Quixote (still) and The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. The Shadowy Horses is not at all what I was expecting, but I am liking it a lot! I have to finish it by tomorrow because the ebook was only a 2 week loan. I HATE 2 WEEK LOANS FOR EBOOKS.

OH, I also finally read HDU last weekend and while it wasn't perfect, my general reaction after finishing it was "WELL, that was ten kinds of delightfulI think as far as series vs. standalones goes, I don't have a set preference. I just want it to be well done, either way. And if it's a series, I want there to be a basic structure/set number of books/set plot idea because dragging on FOREVER AND EVER doesn't work either. I also have to say that if we're talking YA, I really wish there were more things that were standalones. It's not that I don't like YA series because I REALLY DO, but there

[katayla]

I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED 2 WEEK LOANS. Everything here you can do for three weeks (well, shorter if you want to). I really need to read Kearsley someday, though. I think I have 3 of her books on my Kindle because they seem to go on sale a lot.

What would be really cool is if there were stand alone YA paranormals, dystopians, etc! Although I guess even the YA contemporary romances are leaning towards series these days. SIGH.

I do know what you mean about series being dragged on forever, but OHHHH, when you get to stay with characters the right amount of time.

[featherweight]

Sorry to jump in here, but I was like, "Perfect Scoundrels" that sounds like a super book and when I googled it I realized that it was the THIRD Heist Society book?! I completely didn't realize that the third book was out! So thank you!

[katayla]

Feel free to jump in anywhere! :D

[katayla]

And they keep introducing new characters that I have moved to town and I'm like, "well you are getting a book now".

Haha, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN.

Yeah, I think we're pretty much the same with series. I'm all for more stand alones in some genres, but ohhh. I love a good series.

[stormiesthaze]

Having had a really good January reading-wise I've been a bit stuck in the last couple of weeks. I'm desperately trying to read 'Pride and Prejudice' - I want to like it so much but am finding it really tough going! I've been slowly making my way through 'Practical Magic' which is fine (more interesting than the film but it's not quite what I expected/was hoping for). I did finish 'Perfect Scoundrels' this afternoon though and that was fun enough. I think I should have reread the other two though because I kept losing track of who was who and the status of relationships etc

[katayla]

I really could have done without the last 'Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants' book!

ME TOO. I'd get rid of the fourth one, too. (And yet I might read more of them if she writes more. Sigh.)

I like your distinction of single stories as series. I really hate it when you just KNOW the author didn't intend the story to go beyond a certain point.

Some other types of series do work okay for me, like mysteries where there's a new case every book, but maybe an ongoing relationship story (as long as that's not dragged out too long!). Or something like Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series, where there's a new romance in each book, but an ongoing plot-ish arc.