Today, I'd like to talk about YA series.
Sometimes highly anticipated, sometimes dreaded, the famous "Book Two" always provokes strong reactions in readers. But what is a book series, exactly? Wikipedia (aka the Holy Bible) says it's "a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group."
I don't agree with this.
I know it's the common definition, but I see a difference between a book with an unfinished story line that overflows on subsequent books, and several stories within the same universe. Case in point: I don't consider Graceling by Kristin Cashore to be part of a series. The sequel is in fact a prequel with completely different characters, and the final book is centered around a secondary character in Book One. I'd actually consider those companion novels, not other books in the same series.
On the other hand, I think the Wicked Lovely books are part of a series, for even though the character focus changes in Book Three and Four, the story's still coherent in itself and the plot-line keeps moving.
What do you think? What do you consider a book series?
1 comment:
In casual talking, I usually just refer to all books like that as a series. When talking more specifically about the books, then I try to make the distinction between a series and a bunch of companion novels.
I think it's an important distinction to know and one I'm always curious about. For instance, I'm glad you said that about Graceling because I want to read that book, but do I necessarily have time to read two books now? Plus remember them both for when the third comes out? Not really. But knowing they're companion novels and not a series that makes me a lot more likely to pick up the book now.
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