Thursday Thoughts #2: Series vs. Standalones

Thursday Thoughts is a weekly discussion meme hosted by Ashley on her blog Ok, Let's Read.

Join in on the discussion and check out Ashley's blog for the discussion topics and dates.

This weeks topic:

May 8: Series vs. Standalones* - Do you have a preference when it comes to reading series vs. standalones? Will you ever be deterred from reading a book because it is one or the other? What is your opinion on the trilogy trend? Do you ever feel like some series are forced and it's apparent in the writing?

I think that I usually prefer to read series over reading standalone novels. A lot of times when I read standalones I am left wanting more. And I would think that series would allow me more time with the characters I love and the situations that they are in. I thought it would leave me with a more satisfied ending. One that I would accept and be okay parting with these great characters because I have read a lot about them. 

Or at least this is how I used to feel a couple years ago.

But lately I have been wondering is this really how I still feel? I have read some WONDERFUL standalones books and have been quite content with the ending. Sure, I wonder what might happen in the future, but I am still satisfied. And there have been some series that I feel left me feeling frustrated and needing more. There are some that I feel left a lot in the open and I like having my closure. (Yes, I could just imagine how I want things to be, but still...)

Plus with series I become more invested in the characters and what happens to them when it is time to end.

Take Under The Never Sky trilogy by Veronica Rossi. I ADORE this series. I love the characters and I loved being able to read the three books because it gave me more time with these characters. But after finishing, I still wanted more. I didn't want to give these characters up.

So I can't really decide one way or another. I like both series and standalones for different reasons.

The only way I think I would be deterred from reading a series, is if I didn't have too much of an interest in it to begin with and I heard that it ending badly.

But I am not going to NOT read a book simply because it is a standalone or because it is part of a series.

I am okay with the whole trilogy trend. But I love when there are series that are well written that aren't stuck in that trend. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (enter another reminder to read this series if you haven't yet here). I love that there are going to be four books in the series, and I don't feel that it is being forced. The story is interesting and just continues to amaze me!

Also Harry Potter! There are seven books. And I continued loving them throughout the series!

Another series that I like that isn't a trilogy is Rachel Caine's The Morganville Vampires series. I have still only read half of the series, but it is one that I haven't thought has been forced.

But I do think there are some series that do begin to feel forced the longer it goes on. For example, although I haven't finished reading the series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries (aka The Sookie Stackhouse Novels) by Charlaine Harris started to feel forced for me. I like and enjoy the series, but the later books that I read, I didn't enjoy as much as the beginning.

So overall, I enjoy both series and standalones, although I think I tend to read more that are part of a series.
I plan on adding some more standalones to my reading.

How about you? Do you have a preference? Are there any series that you feel like the writing and story are forced the longer it goes on?