tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post2932090326778329973..comments2024-01-28T04:42:49.700-08:00Comments on DIK (Desert Island Keepers): ChangeDIK Ladieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03975839058527201650noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-54307122370493560872010-07-24T02:16:45.642-07:002010-07-24T02:16:45.642-07:00Hey I liked the zombie hamster scenario!
That bein...Hey I liked the zombie hamster scenario!<br />That being said, I like the niddle of the road chages the best too.Sullivan McPighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133432350331782496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-61948563691976455862010-07-22T16:12:37.155-07:002010-07-22T16:12:37.155-07:00LesleyW~ Thanks! Oh I so admire an author who know...LesleyW~ Thanks! Oh I so admire an author who knows when to stop a series. I know it has to be a hard decision to make and I know longtime fans hate to see it happen, but sometimes it needs to be done.<br /><br />Sometimes I get the feeling it's all about money, and sometimes I feel like maybe the author just doesn't want to come up with anything new.<br /><br />But when readers can tell when an author is apathetic toward the series, then I think it's time to stop.<br /><br />I've never read Lynn Viehl...I'll have to check those out :)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-18838919406364633942010-07-22T16:03:04.791-07:002010-07-22T16:03:04.791-07:00Liz~ That's exactly what I was trying to say ...Liz~ That's exactly what I was trying to say when I said it's like JE is writing the first book over and over again...but you said it much better!<br /><br />I agree with you about the challenges needing to change. When the characters face and overcome new challenges that is exactly what provides growth for the characters and JE just hasn't provided that for Stephanie.<br /><br />I also think you're spot on about who is writing these books now.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-19459848819886797512010-07-22T14:27:46.604-07:002010-07-22T14:27:46.604-07:00Great post. :)
I think characters have to change,...Great post. :)<br /><br />I think characters have to change, there has to be growth. In a long running series there are often bridging books where the series changes direction. This can be a risk but I think as long as the change is organic to the story and doesn't feel forced that most readers will go with the flow.<br /><br />Or something like Lois McMaster Bujold does with the Vorkosigan series where each book has a unique voice/style - young adult, political thriller, romantic farce, detective story. etc.<br /><br />I think one of the worst things is when a series stagnates. If this is happening I think an author needs to have the courage to bring the series to a natural close. I greatly admire Lynn Viehl for bringing the Darkyn series to a close and continuing the story in a new direction with the Kyndred series.LesleyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059048442986942270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-32177971352265020552010-07-22T14:14:05.487-07:002010-07-22T14:14:05.487-07:00I like to look at book series (and to some extent,...I like to look at book series (and to some extent, TV series) as school. The structure of school is today as it was when my mother was in high school. You show up. You have teachers you like, some you don't. You have pop quizzes and tests and homework. But as you progress, it gets more and more challenging. You don't just go to Kindergarten twelve years in a row. You learn one thing, and you move on to another, harder thing. You ace some classes, you fail some classes. But that's where the change comes in--not in the structure, but in the challenges.<br /><br />I thought the first 12 books of the Plum series were great. 9-12 were awesome. I will admit that I didn't have to wait a year between them, so maybe having them on hand to read back to back to back kept me interested when otherwise I wouldn't have been. But by book 12, yeah, I felt like Stephanie had evolved into her proverbial high school. Then 13 came along, and then 14, and then 15, and 16... Now she reminds me of a 30 year old who purposefully tries not to graduate Kindergarten because, omg, what if she had to take responsibility? It's stale, it's boring, it's frustrating... GRR.<br /><br />I think the biggest problem with Stephanie is Evanovich. I think she's outsourcing some of the writing to her daughter, Alex. I think she's rushing through a first draft and calling it a day. And I think she's keeping the series stagnate because she knows if Stephanie showed any growth at all, Morelli would be history, Ranger would lose his edge, and the series would be DOA. What I don't thinks he understands is that, hello? it's already DOA. And as for losing half her fanbase, that's already happened. <br /><br />Long story short, what it comes down to is this. In 2006, a friend of mine saw JE at a signing, and she brought along an ARC she'd bought off eBay. (My friend collects rare books.) JE's editor was annoyed that they were being sold, but JE didn't seem to mind. Her exact words were, "I got my money up front, so what do I care?"<br /><br />JE got her money up front. What does she care? She doesn't. That's what.Liznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-66911995034961202692010-07-22T13:58:36.827-07:002010-07-22T13:58:36.827-07:00Tracy~ Thanks!
And thanks for all your help durin...Tracy~ Thanks!<br />And thanks for all your help during my computer crisis!<br /><br />Good God! I don't know why you don't just kick me off this blog...it seems like every single time it's my turn to post my computer acts like a brat and I have to have your help.<br /><br />I think it's sentient. LOL<br />Thanks again for all your help!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-12878337044778692702010-07-22T12:27:15.371-07:002010-07-22T12:27:15.371-07:00I can go in for change in a series but nothing as ...I can go in for change in a series but nothing as drastic as your new Plum version! lol<br /><br />Great post, Kim.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05320961506471746567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-28294114034446611292010-07-22T09:34:50.308-07:002010-07-22T09:34:50.308-07:00vslavetopassionv ~ They should totally dump Steph...vslavetopassionv ~ They should totally dump Stephanie. I think she's a beard anyway.<br /><br />Seriously....how old is that friggin hamster? How long do they live?<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-23334697193750547682010-07-22T09:29:47.408-07:002010-07-22T09:29:47.408-07:00Kati~ I had to look up Batan Death March. But ye...Kati~ I had to look up Batan Death March. But yes, I agree. You and I think alike! I always feel bad that I want my two fave characters to be at odds, but you're right it makes a good story. IMO fighting and making up is a huge part of character growth at least it is for them. Eve and Roarke haven't had a good fight in a long time & I've been waiting for it too! The last 2 books have been very conflict free for Eve and Roarke. Maybe JDR is bringing it back in the next book. :)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-15509348918554787232010-07-22T09:11:26.794-07:002010-07-22T09:11:26.794-07:00Katie Reus~ J D Robb/ Nora gets it.
I think it&...Katie Reus~ J D Robb/ Nora gets it. <br /><br />I think it's too late for Stephanie. I think any growth or change should have happened by at the very least book 4, especially with the triangle, and now I think JE is stuck. If JE has Stephanie choose one over the other, I think she knows she would lose half of her fan base. <br /><br />Poor Ranger and Morelli.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-89620598158744868242010-07-22T08:58:20.366-07:002010-07-22T08:58:20.366-07:00Chris~ I agree. Ranger and Morelli could do so m...Chris~ I agree. Ranger and Morelli could do so much better than Stephanie. JE hasn't shown me any good reason as to why they still hang around her.<br /><br />Unreadable is so true. MJD is being crucified in the reviews. I'm really glad I stopped reading those so I can remember them fondly, because GAH, it sounds like it's a mess.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-1332323978196900772010-07-22T08:50:44.625-07:002010-07-22T08:50:44.625-07:00Jessica~ Thanks! The Rock is just yummy. Love hi...Jessica~ Thanks! The Rock is just yummy. Love him, and he needs to be in more movies. Haven't seen him in a while. <br /><br />Stale is a good word for the Plum series. JE really needs to shake it up a little. It's like she rewriting the first book over and over and over again.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420555318535584083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-88592221446569212542010-07-22T07:29:23.617-07:002010-07-22T07:29:23.617-07:00I would so read a book with zombie Rex and man lov...I would so read a book with zombie Rex and man love between Ranger and Morelli! I'm in! :D<br /><br />~smooches~<br />JaseJasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662191625818415126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-51975592552616029302010-07-22T06:38:58.354-07:002010-07-22T06:38:58.354-07:00It's funny, I've been pondering on JD Robb...It's funny, I've been pondering on JD Robb recently quite a bit. Roarke is my favorite romance hero ever, but I feel very, very strongly that Eve and Roarke are at their best when they are on opposite sides of an issue. Lately, they have very minor skirmishes, but there's never any real tension between them.<br /><br />One of my favorite In Death books is Divided in Death because Eve and Roarke are at odds for almost the whole book. While I never doubted they'd resolve the issue, watching them deal with it, and interact in close quarters while disagreeing is what made the book so interesting. And when they came back together it was so sweet. <br /><br />The last book was like reading the Batan Death March for me. I need some sort of tension between Eve and another character. Mostly because Eve written best, I think, when there is tension in her personal life. And let's face it, she's a difficult woman under the best of circumstances. I don't want Robb to write her in such a way that she's lost her "teeth".Katihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08178354927628992485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-49782388725396278862010-07-22T05:18:26.698-07:002010-07-22T05:18:26.698-07:00I only read a couple of the Plum books (definitely...I only read a couple of the Plum books (definitely not 11, lol) and you're pretty much spot on for why I stopped reading. And I absolutely love JD Robb's In Death series for the same reasons you listed :)Katie Reushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18085461796363818906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-55864583488077450512010-07-22T05:09:15.737-07:002010-07-22T05:09:15.737-07:00LOL! I loved the trainwreck combo of Stephanie Plu...LOL! I loved the trainwreck combo of Stephanie Plum and Anita Blake there! Personally, I'd be happy if Ranger and Morelli ditched Stephanie...<br /><br />A friend read the most recent book by MaryJanice Davidson and pronounced it Undead and Unreadable. I think that sums it up nicely.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012664417591303836.post-80035283774208654892010-07-22T04:48:44.265-07:002010-07-22T04:48:44.265-07:00Great Post and way tooo true!!! I quit with the Pl...Great Post and way tooo true!!! I quit with the Plum series around 8. It got too predictable. Only the mysteries changes, and not even that much. I loved the idea of Morelli and Ranger getting it one, that was perfect. By the way, The Rock as Ranger...perfect!<br /><br />I just found J.D. Robb and am about half way through the series. Even though the characters are all there, they change, evolve, and are just as wonderful as when you first met them. <br /><br />If the characters in a series don't grow, the books grow stale. Don't like stale...anything!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611630330433014861noreply@blogger.com