Size of a Novel? - Page 2

pshrynk · 02-20-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

ahah, that means you need an ereader that expands accordingly ....

I think that's a feature on the K3.

GeoffC · 02-20-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I think that's a feature on the K3.

They have features on the "K" ?

astra · 02-20-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

ahah, that means you need an ereader that expands accordingly ....

Sorry mate, I am not following you

GeoffC · 02-20-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Sorry mate, I am not following you

...

Falbe Publishing · 02-20-2009, 03:17 PM

I think I tend toward longer (fatter?) novels because I'm hoping for a really engrossing and complicated saga. Shogun comes to mind. Huge novel and loved it all. However, this does not mean I get a brilliantly executed saga every time. I've read some fat books that could have had 300 pages edited out of them and really benefitted from it. But I've read big novels that were great the whole way through and I wouldn't have traded a page for anything.

This does not mean that I dislike shorter novels. If a story is well told regardless of length, that's good. It's when a small book seems to be lacking or a big book is padded that the disappointment sets in.

I'm not sure if the ebook medium will affect novel size. They've always come in all different sizes and I suppose they will continue to do so. E-publishing certainly makes it more affordable to produce a big novel.

Justy · 02-21-2009, 01:48 PM

I tend to enjoy the longer novels, Clan of Cave Bear, Outlander, etc. I also LOVE series, I like to get to know the characters, see what they are doing next, watch them develope. I don't think it's a coincidence that the 2 books mentioned above are both part of long series' and long books. I have also re-read both series' several times and enjoyed them each time through. Now that I have an eBook reader I pay attention to the "Reading time" and KB of the books to get an idea of how 'big' it is.

On the other side of the coin, I love to read YA eBooks because they are fast and easy reads. It all depends on my mood I guess. Even with YA eBooks I still tend to gravitate towards series, fast read with more to come I guess.

GeoffC · 02-22-2009, 06:34 AM

Outlander?
Is that the one by Diana Gabaldon?

HarryT · 02-22-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Outlander?
Is that the one by Diana Gabaldon?

Yes. Very "girly" books

.

GeoffC · 02-22-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes. Very "girly" books

.

You've not read them then .....

JSWolf · 02-22-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Outlander?
Is that the one by Diana Gabaldon?

I had a GF who loved it and wanted me to read it. I read it and found it to be one of the worst books ever. The whole premise was just silly and totally unbelievable. And the "time travel" aspect was poorly conceived.

joobies · 02-22-2009, 12:05 PM

My two cents on the matter.
Shorter works for me when I feel scattered and feel the need to accomplish something quickly.
I much prefer the longer, well-written works. As the author invests so much of his/her self into the creation of the book, I also invest my time and mind into fitting into the book in some way. The characters become friends and foes I can relate to.. or abhor. When a particularly good book ends, there is almost a grieving moment.
The series idea is not of great interest to me, when the works are short. It gives the impression of a money-making scheme, rather than literature of any form.
The Outlander series is one I just discovered and seems the exception to the rule due to the page count. (I still keep thinking this whole thing is a dream sequence. If so, there will be flying books in my part of the world. I will not toss my Kindle but I will throw something.)
If I can understand the book, bigger works for me... we bond.... joobies bond.

HarryT · 02-23-2009, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

You've not read them then .....

I tried to, Geoff, but I gave up about a third of the way through the first one. Just not my "thing" at all.

mjh215 · 02-24-2009, 07:49 AM

For me it is very subjective. I have read short novels that take forever to finish, even those that I enjoy where I can zip through a something twice as long. One large novel author I can note that with is Neal Stephenson, not my favorite author but his books do have me trying to jump to the next page again and again. I find I finish them quite quickly.

-MJ

Sweetpea · 02-24-2009, 08:09 AM

As some also already said, I like the longer novels, generally (always provided the story is well written and not unnecessarily long) as I never want a book to finish. I'll have to say goodbye to my good friends then. That is also a reason why I like series, as that gives me more time with my good friends.

tompe · 02-24-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joobies

I much prefer the longer, well-written works. As the author invests so much of his/her self into the creation of the book, I also invest my time and mind into fitting into the book in some way.

I have heard authors say that it is much easier to write a well-written longer work than a well-written shorter work so you could argue that its is more work to write a good shorter books and a shorter book "requires" more of the readers time.

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02-20-2009, 03:17 PM	#20
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	I think I tend toward longer (fatter?) novels because I'm hoping for a really engrossing and complicated saga. Shogun comes to mind. Huge novel and loved it all. However, this does not mean I get a brilliantly executed saga every time. I've read some fat books that could have had 300 pages edited out of them and really benefitted from it. But I've read big novels that were great the whole way through and I wouldn't have traded a page for anything. This does not mean that I dislike shorter novels. If a story is well told regardless of length, that's good. It's when a small book seems to be lacking or a big book is padded that the disappointment sets in. I'm not sure if the ebook medium will affect novel size. They've always come in all different sizes and I suppose they will continue to do so. E-publishing certainly makes it more affordable to produce a big novel.

02-21-2009, 01:48 PM	#21
Justy Fanatic Posts: 547 Karma: 27509 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada Device: Nexus 7, Sony Xperia z3 tablet, Kobo Glo, Boyue T63	I tend to enjoy the longer novels, Clan of Cave Bear, Outlander, etc. I also LOVE series, I like to get to know the characters, see what they are doing next, watch them develope. I don't think it's a coincidence that the 2 books mentioned above are both part of long series' and long books. I have also re-read both series' several times and enjoyed them each time through. Now that I have an eBook reader I pay attention to the "Reading time" and KB of the books to get an idea of how 'big' it is. On the other side of the coin, I love to read YA eBooks because they are fast and easy reads. It all depends on my mood I guess. Even with YA eBooks I still tend to gravitate towards series, fast read with more to come I guess.

02-22-2009, 06:34 AM	#22
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Outlander? Is that the one by Diana Gabaldon?

02-22-2009, 12:05 PM	#26
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	My two cents on the matter. Shorter works for me when I feel scattered and feel the need to accomplish something quickly. I much prefer the longer, well-written works. As the author invests so much of his/her self into the creation of the book, I also invest my time and mind into fitting into the book in some way. The characters become friends and foes I can relate to.. or abhor. When a particularly good book ends, there is almost a grieving moment. The series idea is not of great interest to me, when the works are short. It gives the impression of a money-making scheme, rather than literature of any form. The Outlander series is one I just discovered and seems the exception to the rule due to the page count. (I still keep thinking this whole thing is a dream sequence. If so, there will be flying books in my part of the world. I will not toss my Kindle but I will throw something.) If I can understand the book, bigger works for me... we bond.... joobies bond.

02-24-2009, 07:49 AM	#28
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	For me it is very subjective. I have read short novels that take forever to finish, even those that I enjoy where I can zip through a something twice as long. One large novel author I can note that with is Neal Stephenson, not my favorite author but his books do have me trying to jump to the next page again and again. I find I finish them quite quickly. -MJ

02-24-2009, 08:09 AM	#29
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	As some also already said, I like the longer novels, generally (always provided the story is well written and not unnecessarily long) as I never want a book to finish. I'll have to say goodbye to my good friends then. That is also a reason why I like series, as that gives me more time with my good friends.

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