Can a Series Go on Too Long?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by Cambria @ CambriaHebert.com.

Each week there will be a new question to answer and share.  This is a great way for bloggers to get to know one another.

This week's question: 

 At what point do you think a series has gone on too long? How long should a series be?

My Answer: 

What a tough question!!! And I guess to give it an honest response - it just depends on the book (story-line) and the characters.  

There are series books that I have read and just can't wait to get to the next one - I need more!!!  I mean, we all loved the Twilight Saga and Harry Potter - Right?  Growing up I absolutely loved the Little House books and of course A Wrinkle in Time series.  Lately I have only read the beginnings of series - those just starting out - patiently anticipating the next installment.  Some of those include the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter) and the Katerina Trilogy by Robin Bridges (The Gathering Storm and The Unfailing Light).  

I can't say that I have read any series that I was ready for it to end, but there are those that I have read the first book or two and never went back - not necessarily intentionally not going back, just not drawn to seek the next one out.  

As far as how long should a series be, I think I would say 3 - 5 books.  I really enjoy trilogies, and sometimes a few books past that are just needed.  But again, I really think it comes back to the story-line and characters.  If the author really knows how to put it together, the series might go on for quite a while.  But most generally I think that the author knows when they are done with the story.  

What are your thoughts on series books?  

Series vs. Stand-Alone

Are you a series reader?  Or do you prefer stand-alone novels? 

Quite frankly, it all depends on how my mood strikes me!!!  I go back and forth.  More often than not, though I read more stand-alone novels.  I might read several by the same author, but they are rarely a series.  However, I do pick a series now and then and go at it voraciously!  I zip right through them or grab the next one up as soon as it is released, and then wait very impatiently for the next one to arrive.  

What draws me in when I do find a series that I love?  I have to find a character or characters that I connect with.  Isn't that what happened to all of us when we hopped on board with the Twilight Saga?  or Harry Potter?  We had characters that we fell in love with in some way shape or form.  As a kid, I read the Little House books - the whole series.  I so wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I can still remember that series lovingly, and prefer them to the television series - which I loved as well. 

Why do I sometimes perfer the stand-alone book?  There are just times when you want to read a book and not be left with - what happens next.  You want the satisfaction of having it all read in one shot.  You might love the characters and have thoroughly enjoyed the story, but you know it must come to an end.  

I like the surprise that an author might throw us occasionally, when they decide later that they will make a stand-alone book into a series.  It doesn't happen much- at least that I am aware of, but when it does it feels so good to bring back memories of the original book.  

I think though, that we all probably read a mix of both series and stand-alone.  It is just the nature of the beast.