Full Disclusure, Please
I have a small pet peeve with book series. This pet peeve covers almost all books that fall into the “series” category. First of all, it takes a lot for me to make the commitment to get into a series. Once I know a book is part of a series (or is going to be), I’ll reread the back of the book to make absolutely certain that I am 100% ready to be invested in all of these books. If for some reason the first book completely sucks, then I’m out the rest. If the first is good, then no matter how poor the second book is, I’m committed; I need to know what is going to happen to all of these people that I’ve spent so much time with.
So what’s my pet peeve?
I hate when I’m looking to buy a book and it does not clearly state that it is part of a series. I’ve picked up a book that is the second book and thought, wow this looks interesting, I’ll buy it. Then I’ll start reading and realize that I’ve got the second book and in order to really understand what is going on in this book, I’ll need to get the first. Nowhere on the cover did this book state that it was part of a series! Personally, I think it’s because all publishers know about my commitment issues and are looking to con me into a two book purchase.
The one series that I can readily think of that falls into the not full disclosure policy is the Sookie Stackhouse books. So far, there are thirteen books to this series. Can I keep them all straight? Which one goes first? Which one is fourth? No, I can’t. I have a husband, four kids, a house full of animals and a full time job, I cannot keep thirteen books straight and please don’t expect me to. Just put on the cover: Book Three of the Sookie Stackhouse Series. Then I know where I’m at and I don’t have to look at the list of books to figure out where I am at.
In the end, I feel like I’m being conned and I don’t really appreciate it. Please tell me if this is a series and what number this book is that I have in my hand is. It’s not that hard. If the book looks that great, I’ll go hunt down book number one and if it’s good, you got my purchases for the rest of the books in the series. But if I pick up a book, buy it, find out it’s book number five in a series, I find myself a little ticked off and that slight annoyance is carried with me throughout my reading of the book (unless it is completely and utterly amazing). Publishers, please don’t tinge my reading experience with annoyance; just put a number on the cover.
Book Series that do not clearly state that they are a series or what number they are at in that series:
The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
However, I think that we all know that this is a series unless you live under a rock.
The Kane Trilogy by Teresa Medeiros
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Has anyone else noticed this phenomena with book series? What books have you read that are guilty of not putting a number on the cover?
Holy. Crap. Check out the cover art for “Hush, Hush” I haven’t seen this book, but consider it bought. Thanks!
I’m normally a series finisher, but in the case of the Twilight book, the second book was so bad I didn’t bother to finish it and ended up just reading book summaries on Wikipedia. I felt fine about that decision
I am so with you on this one. I just bought “Shades of Grey” by Jasper Fforde and only when I went to add it to my list on goodreads did I discover it is “first of a new series.” Really? I signed on for a book, not a long-term commitment.
Oh, I agree. Sometimes even when you look inside, you cannot tell where in the series it falls….I read a lot of mysteries and half my time at the library is spent figuring this out….
Hi Crystal – Hush, Hush is an amazing book. I completely loved it; however, I didn’t know it was part of a series
Though I’m glad it is because I couldn’t get enough of it.
Hi Kim – I agree Twilight is definitely not for everyone. You either love it or hate it. My shallow side (the one that also loves Jersey Shore) loved the books. I would just like to mention (in part to redeem myself) that there is a part of me that also loved The Road. Go figure.
Hi Jessica – That is exactly what I’m talking about. Almost every book now a days seems to be part of a series and no one wants to tell you it is. Why? I don’t get it.
Hi Shelly – I had this exact same problem with The Sookie Stackhouse series. I still have no idea what goes where and with what. That is why I am begging for numbers! I can remember a number.