Do you cry after finishing a long series?

[Ferenczy]

Originally Posted by 0utis

Oh, man of poor faith. Here it comes, on 12 July http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/03/03/...-dragons-date/

...poor faith? maybe. That'd be G.R.R.M.'s fault though for promising deadlines in the past and failing to deliver (repeatedly)

That being said, when it comes to this series, I'll believe it when I have a copy in my hands

[neilmarr]

No. I cry at the start of a long series. When I'm finished, I pour a large dose of The Famous Grouse and chuckle. Mind you, I'm talking from an editor's point of view. Neil

[AlbertaCowboy]

For me, it depends on the author. I felt a little empty myself after finishing Harry Potter, but it's also good to know that the original magic (yeah pun intended, so sue me) won't ever be lost. There's nothing worse for me then when an author pushes his series so long that one stops caring about the characters, (I'm looking at you Robert Jordan & R.A. Salvatore).

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by Ferenczy

...cry? Nope. Get emotional? Sure. (patiently waiting for the next 'Song of Ice and Fire' book... Still... Doo Bee Doo Bee Doo... Still waiting... *sigh*)

I gave up patience waiting for this one about three years ago...

[shanghaichica]

I don't cry but I do feel a bit sad when I come to the end of a good series and I realise there will be no more books. It always takes me a while to get into my next book.

[mollie38]

I have just finished reading the Sue Grafton Novels based on a Private Investigator, I did feel a bit sad when they finished but I know there is at least another two novels yet to come.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Cry? No. But I think the series I've felt the most emotional attachment to (and don't laugh!) is the Harry Potter series. I was very sad to finish that and realise that there wouldn't be any more.

Why in the world would anybody laugh!?!

I do not usually cry, but like you, at the end of Potter I felt sad, and I wanted more.

My current series are all still going, so I'll have to wait and see how I feel at the end of those.
The exception may be Honor Harrington. I stopped on book 10 out of 14 or 15 - I think. I've lost count. *After checking - there are 12, with #13 to come out next year. Plus 4 anthologies, and add'l non-Honor-specific stories in and around the Honorverse. My husband says that Weber has threatened to kill her off, numerous times over the years.

I plan to go back and reread the whole thing, in the next year or two.

[wvcherrybomb]

If I'm really into it, I feel let down that it's over. Many times, I have started over from the beginning since I read many books at once. I have kept series' going for years like this because I wasn't ready to let them go.

Right now I am seriously bumming out that there are only two more epiosodes of an HBO series, Big Love. I feel like I've been involved with these "people" for years and it's disappointing that it's coming to an end. I may watch them all again on DVD once more. Unlike books, I won't keep it up for years though.

[Fayth]

I don't cry, but I definitely feel sad when a series I love is over, hell, even when a really good standalone book is over. I'll never get to experience more of those stories and it sucks.

That being said, I wouldn't have it any other way. A series can't just go on and on until there are like 50 books. There has to be an end, but for me it will always be bittersweet.

[v1k1ng1001]

This is one of the few books that, by the time I had finished it, left me emotionally exhausted but wanting more. I've read a few others by Marquez but none of them comes close.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by Fayth

That being said, I wouldn't have it any other way. A series can't just go on and on until there are like 50 books. There has to be an end, but for me it will always be bittersweet.

For the most part, I agree with you. Eventually I become either disenchanted with the path the author is taking or just bored with it.

But I just bought book, uh, is it 32? - of the J D Robb "In Death" series and I could see this one going on well for 50 or more books.

[HappyMartin]

No crying but I usually read a bunch of short stories after any long series.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Cry? No. But I think the series I've felt the most emotional attachment to (and don't laugh!) is the Harry Potter series. I was very sad to finish that and realise that there wouldn't be any more.

Yes, same here.


There are some books and series where I'll slow down reading the closer I get to the end of the last book. Simply because I don't want them to end... Also, generally, after such a book or series, I'll either read some short stories or hardly read at all.

[feenix1363]

I've been sorry to reach the end of a series, but on the whole I've such a long list of 'other' books that I want to read that its not been an issue.

My personal hate is waiting for a series to be continued. I started reading the Dark tower series when it first came out, but waited so long for book two and three I've not read any further, even though the series has since been finished. I'd simply moved on in my life and had no great urgency to complete the series.

As to Harry Potter, J K Rowling said last year that she may return to the series in the future as she 'missed' the characters and writing about them (probably a mistake, I think the stories have gone as far as they needed). So don't give up all hope yet.

That brings up another question, have you ever cried when you realised that a series was being stretched well beyond its best before date? I enjoyed reading the Robert Jordon 'Wheel of Time' series when I was younger, but it never flamin stops. Ran for far to long imho.

[caheaton]

I've never cried after finishing a series, but I remember (back when I was a teenager) feeling awful when Mariko died in "Shogun". (I think I was falling in love with her ). I even went so far as to reread an earlier chapter so that she woud be "alive" again!

Craig