For What It's Worth


Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Series, stand alone, duology, trilogies...what's your reading preference?


Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

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Question: Do you prefer to read standalone stories, duologies, trilogies, series? 

Answer: Currently, I'm reading a lot of stand alone stories but I don't have a real preference. 

I did take a long break from trilogies (mostly YA) several years ago. I was reading SO many (I had counted at least 40 I was in the middle of) and was disappointed by middle books that added nothing or bad endings so I just cut hem all out except for a rare few. I've picked a few up lately but I can't even tell which ones. I'm not HOOKED or anything - anxiously awaiting the next book. 

I don't really count romances that are within the same world but feature different couples as a *series*. Each book stands on its own but has the comfort of revisiting old friends. 

I really do like the trend of duologies. It allows for more development but keeps the story lean without a lot of extra filler that doesn't add much more than filling pages.


What do you prefer? Getting lost in a series? Read one and move on? It takes two? The rule of three?



35 comments:

  1. When I read this topic, I was like -- companions are great, and then you mentioned them. Those are my faves because I get to stay in the world, but all the stories are separate

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    1. Companions!!! That's the word lol I could not think of it.

      Those are just so much easier overall lol

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  2. Trilogies can get so old. I do like the trend towards duos, for sure. and a good standalone is a great thing. :)

    I just started squid Game. Oh my $%^%^&

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    1. At a certain point, trilogies were just just trilogies for no reason lol They didn't serve the story.

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    2. And Squid Games!!! It's a wild ride lol

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  3. It's standalones for me! I have a hard time staying interested in series. I have the same problem with TV shows. I get bored with the characters or plot and just want to know how it ends so I can move on to something new.

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    1. I'm reading almost exclusively standalones which is really strange for me but it's what I like. They feel like low pressure reading.
      I am the same with TV!!! I hate when series go on and on.

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  4. OH YES... those YA trilogies are brutal. The first books are always fabulous. Then the third book tends to be a huge let down. There were so many like that in the 2000s. I agree. What about romance series like Psy-Changeling... those are each standalone romances, but there is a complex story arc for the books. You really couldn't read out of order.

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    1. Although I haven't read the Psy-Changling series - that's exactly what I mean about romance. You can stick with familiar characters and worlds but not NEED to read every one. And if you don't like one couple there's always the next one.

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  5. There are several really long series that I've been reading for about 20 years and I love those. But I can read standalones as well. As long as the stories are good I don't have a preference.

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    1. For some reason I don't consider romance series... series. But those are the kinds of prefer. Less obligation and you're usually able to jump in, skip around or even miss one and it's fine.

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  6. I agree that companions are great because you get a full story in each book, but you get to revisit old friends and familiar settings. I also like duologies better than trilogies for the reasons you mentioned.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Exactly! Comforting but not as much commitment lol

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  7. I am a total sucker for companion series. Those are my catnip and I read A LOT of those. :)

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    1. They're the easiest to drift in and out of while still having a sense of familiarity.

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  8. Sworn off long series for the time being, standalone novels or those no longer than three books are my preferred choice of reading ... at least for the moment.

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    1. I barely have focus for one book these days, never mind along series lol

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  9. "I did take a long break from trilogies (mostly YA) several years ago. I was reading SO many (I had counted at least 40 I was in the middle of)"
    40?!?!? LOL.

    Anything goes for me! I'd rather have some filler content over a lack of closure or development (like in most short stories or novellas) any day.

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    1. I'm kind of anything goes as well, but I needed the break from that onslaught of unsatisfying trilogies.

      I find that now that I'm reading more audiobooks, I've drifted to the stand alone.

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  10. I've always been a series person, but I've also been reading lots of standalones lately!

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    1. I used to only read series but when I could barely read this past year or so the standalone has worked better.

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  11. I am in the middle of SO many series, I will not dare count

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    1. I had to surrender lol I was forgetting too much.

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  12. I recently wrote about how terrible I am at finishing series, but that isn’t to say I don’t enjoy reading them. Stand-alone are great because they feel like less of a commitment and I can sometimes feel intimidated about starting a series, but I love reading series. I love getting to stay in a world with the same characters for multiple books because it means I’m committed to reading a set number of books and am unlikely to fall into a reading slump while I’m committed to that series. I am less likely to start a series which isn’t finished, though. I’ll buy the first book to support the author but I am terrible about finishing if it’s not all out yet.

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    1. I enjoy series too. I was just burned out and at the time (several years ago) I don't think they were all necessary either.

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  13. This depends on my mood though, wahahaha. But I do have a hard time following up on series that I started, so now I have like 10+ series I haven't finished yet, hahaha. But I do enjoy all types though. If this was asked 8 or 7 years ago, I will easily answer standalone, *wink.

    xx
    Vanessa @ Blushing Geek

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    1. I have so little reading focus these days that it takes a lot to get me interested in a series.

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  14. I feel like sometimes duologies are often rushed, so I prefer a trilogy if I'm reading a series!

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    1. I was really liking the trend of duologies but they haven't been great lately :-(

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  15. This is so hard! Because theoretically, I love a trilogy. Buuut... I am also awful at finishing them! AND, I have been so disappointed by a lot of them in the past. I like duologies a lot, but I also agree with Tracy above me that they can often feel rushed. Series are probably my least favorite, because look, I never signed up for 8 books spanning actual decades.

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    1. oh, don't even get me started on the looooong series. I won't even start those. I consider the stand alone - within one world series differently though. If I can pick one up, miss a few and jump in later then that's ok.

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  16. I'm not great at keeping up with series, though there are definitely some that I love. I'm probably more of a standalone person OR a duology/sequel person because sometimes you just want or need ONE more!!

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I'm barely finishing one book so I'm a stand alone girl for right now even though I used to love series.

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