To be honest, I haven't read that many novellas. I read Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout (which was free, by the way, when I read it) and I read it because I had just finished Deity and I was absolutely dying to find out what happened next. And I read Destroy Me by Tehereh Mafi and it was nice to get Warner's POV (made me a tiny bit more sympathetic toward his character). And I read Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout because I was so excited about the series (and I was a bit disappointed in the novella although I'm still really excited about the series). And I read the prequel novellas to Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. And that's basically it. I'm tempted to read Fracture Me because it's from Adam's POV, but I've read a few reviews and I feel like maybe I don't want to read it, that I'll feel the same way about Adam as I ended up feeling about Four. Maybe I don't want to get inside every single character's head. And most of the time, that seems to be what happens in novellas, you get to read from a different character's POV (and there aren't that many authors who can successfully write more than one POV). I just haven't been impressed so far with any novella. To be cynical, it just seems like a way for the publishers (and authors) to make more money and it's so easy to put them out there because of e-readers.
So what do you think about novellas? Do you like reading them? If so, which ones? Do you think you're missing something if you don't read them?
Posted by: Pam
For me it really depends, sometimes when they are free from the library online I am more inclined to read it but I will say about half the novellas I have read which is not that many, have been too short or add nothing to the story. The ones that I have liked the best have been Veronica Rossi's novellas. I actually felt like I got to learn more about the characters and they filled the space between the books very well. I read one of the Divergent novellas and thought it alright but added nothing to the story and was not necessary to ever read. So to answer your questions, hah I think you do not really miss much (most of the time you miss nothing) but on the occasion you get a new perspective that adds to the story.
ReplyDeleteAshley @The Quiet Concert
I haven't read any of the Veronica Rossi novellas so maybe I should try them. It is nice to get a different character's POV. I would hope authors wouldn't write a novella that has something crucial in it that would make you confused for the series, but you never know! ~Pam
DeleteI agree with this post so much. Novellas always seemed like a huge waste of money and I think they should only be offered for free. Short stories just do not give you enough time to invest in a character. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYeah, novellas are so short that it really limits how much can happen and if it's not from a main character's POV, you don't have the time to get to know them. ~Pam
DeleteI don't read many novellas just because they're so often released as e-novellas and I don't have an e-reader (I could read them on my computer of iPod, but I really don't like to). I do really want to read Rae Carson's and Susan Dennard's, though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's another thing about novellas is that not everyone can read them. I should have included that point. ~Pam
DeletePersonally I think novellas are just out to make more money. I don't mind if they are in an anthology ... but when they tie into a book and then I have to pay like $5 for, that's crazy! I did request my library to order Cake and Puppets I think it's called. We'll see if they get it or not. If I can get it for free then I'll read it.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Angela's Anxious Life
If they're free then it's just your time. When I read Elixir, it was on the publisher's website and I just read it on my computer so I didn't mind, but you're right, when you pay even just a couple of dollars and it takes you maybe thirty minutes to read it, you wonder if it's worth it. ~Pam
DeleteI have read some, but I don't like novellas much either. I really prefer a longer book where you get to know the characters better. In the case of a series with added novellas, it kind of seems like they were just published for the money. At the same time, I feel like I'm missing out if I like a series and DON'T read them. Which I guess is what the publisher is counting on.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way I feel, I just wonder if when I read the next book in a series something is happening and I would get it a lot more if I had read the novella. ~Pam
DeleteI totally agree with you, I'm not a big novella fan either. Most of the ones that I've read have been free. While I would love to read all of the ones in my favorite series, I'm a bit of a cheapskate when it comes to paying 3 dollars for a 50-100 page novella.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion post!
Compared to the price of a book, I just don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth, especially when I finish and I'm like, that was just okay. Novellas have just never blown me away. ~Pam
DeleteI have to admit to not reading many novellas. Like you, I don't really see the point sometimes. All the series I am dying to read and have been bought for Christmas, seem to have at least one or two novellas. I worry that missing out on them will mean I miss out on something important in the story. I did read an Eye for an Eye in the Noughts and Crosses series, and found it enjoyable, showed an interesting part of the story, but was too short. I'm a novel girl, all the way. I don't want to pay a large amount of money for something that is essentially about 5 chapters long sometimes. Publishers are just so sneaky ;) I think authors are starting to feel like they have to do a novella between novels in a series, just because every other author is doing it.
ReplyDeleteOne thing may be that with all of these series and the fact that you have to wait an entire year for the book, the novella tides you over and makes you think about the book more, get excited for it, etc. Just so you don't forget about it, maybe. ~Pam
DeleteI really don't like novellas. I've read Destroy Me because you know I'm a huge Warner fan and it totally made me love him even more. And....hmmm....I seriously think that's it. I kind of feel like they are a rip-off. They charge like $2.99 for them and they are like 100 pages. Seriously? And I feel like most of them don't contribute anything to the plot. They are just a filler to keep readers happy while they wait for the next book. And I love your point about not wanting to get into every character's head. I felt the same way about Four after reading Allegiant. Why did we need to see him that way? I kind of want to read the Throne of Glass novellas though because I love that series so freaking much. Were they good?
ReplyDeleteI don't really have an opinion because I haven't read any novellas hah. I am not that motivated to do so. But I do want to read the Throne of Glass novellas at some point - I bought all of them and now they are just sitting there.
ReplyDelete