Happy March -- how did that happen?
Freebie Friday was pre-empted over the past few weeks to make way for the YA Academy Awards, but it's back today!
Today's question is: how do you feel abut the fact that young adult books have become so long?
Some people feel like this:
But as a blogger -- and I'm guessing others who need to read a lot, like librarians, authors, and teachers might feel the same way -- sometimes I think these huge books are going to kill me.
I don't remember YA books being so gigantic when I was a kid. (Though some genres, like fantasy, have always tended toward the longer side.)
But let's do a little comparison:
YA Dystopian in 1993:
The Giver by Lois Lowry
179 pages
YA Dystopian in 2013: I randomly picked two YA dystopians coming out in early 2013, and each had 384 pages.
YA Contemporary in 1999:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
208 pages
YA Contemporary in 2013: Again, I picked at random two YA contemporaries coming out in early 2013. One had a page count of 368 pages, and the other was 304.
I have read 40 books so far in 2013, and 66% (27 books) have been over 300 pages.
Has storytelling changed? If anything, I think our attention spans are getting shorter and the teens I know have less time to read.
Sometimes, I think a story is complex enough to warrant a 400+ page count. Other times, I look back at those nearly four hundred pages and thought: hmm… this book could have been shorter.
What are your thoughts on the supersizing of YA? Do you savor every page of those long books, or are they just tiring you out?
Entries are no longer being accepted in the drawing, but you're welcome to leave a comment!
i'm used to book above 300 pages i don't really reember reading smaller one even when i was younger so i don't mind as long as it's well written
ReplyDelete( i would be happy to win unearthly)
And that is why my kids are confused that their backpacks weigh about a hundred pounds!
DeleteUnearthly is great --- good luck :)
1
I used to not mind them. I think blogging and feeling more on a schedule has sort of made me prefer shorter novels. It usually takes me 3 days to read a book. Big books like that obviously add a day or so. So sometimes I look at them and decide to choose something shorter. :/
ReplyDeleteI definitely think blogging has made me aware of the length of books when I wasn't so focused on it before.
Delete2
Great question-I definitely feel like a lot of the hyped series are getting longer (I'm think especially of Josephine Angelini's books) but there are definitely still some shorter books out there (Miranda Kenneally's, I believe are under 300). I know that it affects me because if I'm running short on time, I'll pick a shorter book over a longer book just to have something to add to my read total.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that some authors have a more … meandering style than others.
Delete3
Since I buy books online now I don't even know how many pages they have until I get them usually! LOL I don't really care. Most of the time I prefer longer books because I always just want MORE! But there are some really well told short stories that pack everything I need in a good book into 200 pages. I really don't consider anything under 400-500 pages long. I think if the book is good I'll fly threw the pages. The only time I hate long books is if I get bored in which case I just DNF and then move onto the next one like I did with Beautiful Creatures. It was pretty long and I only read half and then gave up.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true -- but even when I'm reading with my Kindle, I sometimes feel like I'm reading forever and then look down and am only at 26% or something. And good point -- I think I am more likely to DNF a long book if I'm not loving it after 50-75 pages
Delete4
I don't mind reading books 300 pages are over. I'm always amazed that an author can make a series with multiple books over 300 pages. Sometimes I do feel like it is overkill though. If there are multiple pages of useless information, I tend to get frustrated. Either way though, I usually read a book in a day no matter the length. If it is interesting, I'll get through it.
ReplyDeleteAgree -- if it feels like the book has a lot of filler, I get annoyed sometimes. And yes, if it has me on the edge of my seat, I'll fly through it.
Delete5
A lot of the books I read in other genres are well over 300 pages so it doesn't bother me. Though I have noticed the books in YA getting thicker. I like my books to have more pages and I feel like there is more time to flush out the characters and to have a better storyline. As long as those pages have a good story and isn't wasted, I love it
ReplyDeleteTrue -- but I just read a book with great character development, setting, and plot and it was just over 250 pages. So it can be done -- at least without multiple POVs/storylines, etc.
Delete6
I love the title of this post!!!! Funny, funny. I use "Ilikebigb00ks" as my password at work (shhh!) but honestly, I'm kinda over it. Unless the story truly warrants that much, it's just filler and I'm almost to the point of skimming. The Diviners was crazy long, which is why I switched to the audio, but in that case, there were so many converging storylines that it was necessary. To me, at least. I rarely find that there's enough material in a contemporary novel to merit over 300 pages, but with dystopians, I can kind of see it because often times there's so much world-building that needs to be done, and I hate when that all gets pushed to the middle book. (Since dystopians are rarely ever confined to one book.) I like big books as a reader, but as a blogger, I need that shizz condensed. There are just too many books and not enough time...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in college, I had an internship and I wrote for a company newsletter. They always made me do the headlines, and told me I should be in marketing or advertising. Did I listen? No. I probably should have.
DeleteI definitely think having deadlines makes you fear the long books...
7
I really like short books, but I don't mind a big one now and again. I think the problem with some YA books is that some authors are trying to make series out of their stories when they could just make one big book.
ReplyDeleteI had this exact conversation with someone yesterday. Not all books should be part of trilogies. Really!
Delete8
I like long books if I feel that everything in the book is relevant to the story. However, I have read some fantasies lately that could have been reduced by 50-100 pages, and it would have actually made the story better. It's so annoying when I'm reading a book that I really like, but then hit a lull in the story that has an excessive amount of details and filler. I tend to put the book down for a while and move on to something else.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that some fantasies go overboard on the world building. For me, at least.
Delete9
When figuring out which book to buy I look how many pages does it have. If it's under 300, I probably won't buy it. But then again, when I'm picking a book from my shelf to read I usually pick the one with the smallest page count.
ReplyDeleteI didn't use to look, but now I do!!
Delete10
I don't mind reading long books, but you are totally right, lately there are books which are just too long. They could be 100 shorter and maybe even better. I don't know why it happens, because sometimes I do feel the author is just trying to drag it along... Too much details (really, who cares about what the heroine has for breakfast? And what about all those smells people in YA seem to notice?)
ReplyDeleteI sometimes enjoy food details, but I agree, some books spend too much time on mundane details.
Delete11
If a book is really interesting then I usually plow through it not even noticing that it had 400 pages, but if that book just drags and doesn`t seem to go to the action filled and interesting part, then I loose attention (especially when I`m reading a few books at the same time- then I move along to the other ones, to wait...for...when I feel like reading it again)
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that books published in the past years do have more pages, and thinking about it right now, I can`t seem to find a reason for it. It might be that Fantasy and Apocalypsies are a hit right now and those have to have a good background story to be believable (if ever you find a critic who rants about everything the author might have missed in the story line, not that I`m one of them). But I can`t find a reason for Contemporaries for being so long.
I must confess that sometimes I skim pages if I don`t find that there`s anything serious to know, but that`s rare- I like to enjoy a book the way it is.
I was just thinking that the other, one of the books I just finished was 300 something pages and I thought there was a lot that could have been cut out. I don't mind longer books if there's a reason, but I feel like some are just drawn out. With so many books to read, I tend to avoid the longer ones until I have to get to them lol!
ReplyDeleteI also gravitate to the shorter ones, and then have to stay up late reading the long ones!
Delete12
I don't normally mind if a YA book is long. IT depends on the book. If it's a series that I love then the longer the better. But I think 550+ pages is a lot (Beautiful Creatures) for a first book.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Creatures didn't feel long to me -- I guess it's so subjective! If I like the book, I don't mind.
Delete13
I rarely notice the page numbers most of the time - especially if I'm reading an ebook - though - I guess I wouldn't have noticed either way, I kind of feel like sometimes the YA books are kinda short! It seems most of the books I tend to pick up end up in the 230-300 page range which to me, seems short maybe, but I suppose that's mostly because if you look at like... Harry Potter- holy crap those books got steadily longer and longer!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the chance to win!!
xo
jaime @ Fic Fare
I look at the percentage read even if I'm reading an e-book!
Delete14
I think a book that is 300 pages is fine. But if its longer, then I think some parts aren't really necessary. The only time when I think a 300+ book is ok is when all the random facts actually matter and tie into the main plot. But at times I do think a book can be shorter.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I can handle 300 pages. But at 400+ I want every page to be necessary!!
Delete15
You know, I agree, sometimes I look at a huge book and think "I'll read it later" because it is so long & I pick out a shorter one instead.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the price of YA books is going up, (yes, lots of reasons, but still!) so sometimes I'll look at two books and wonder if I'm getting more story for the same amount of money when there's a higher page count... of course, you can't know until you read the book.
Still, you're right, sometimes when I'm done, I think "why was that SO long?"
I was wondering about that too -- the perceived value argument. Which is why some people don't like novellas -- it seems less economical to pay $3 for 50 pages than $12 for 400.
Delete16
Ya know, I really don't think I mind either way.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction was: I love the longer books that we have now! When I finish a longer book, I usually feel more satisfied with it. There have been lots of wonderful side stories and I got to actually live in that world.
But... then I thought about both The Giver and Speak. Both of those books, I felt completely satisfied when I finished them and don't think either needed anything extra.
So... I'm not sure. I do love long books, but I'll agree that there are definitely some that are too long and could do with a few fewer side stories or pointless scenes.
I agree that both of those books seem completely …. complete. So it can be done!!
Delete17
Depends on the book. If it can keep my interest, I enjoy each and every page of it. I've read books that were over 1000 pages, and never get bored. The inconvenience is that a book that has 1000 pages is really heavy and it's hard to carry it with you all day.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of ironic that I am just wrapping up 30 or whatever hours of Game of Thrones on audio. Yes, there were a few parts that I would not have missed, but he is an amazing storyteller and I did not get bored.
Delete18
I was just thinking about this the other day, how a lot of my books seem to be getting lengthier. It is 50/50 for me. Reading Mind/The Loyal Book's comment above cracked me up because I too have wondered about some details that have been in stories that didn't seem to flow (like when they describe the food, but then don't describe a conversation or a fight scene). Other books (such as Just One Day by Gayle Forman) have details about food, but I felt those were necessary and added to the story, so it just depends.
ReplyDeleteSome books I feel should be shorter. I also really dislike it when authors go really slow at the beginning and through the middle of their book and then the ending was rushed and yet their book was 300+ pages. Really? They didn't have time or space to write a good ending? Then I feel like some books are stretched out. Dark Star was a little like that for me, although it isn't a 300+ page book. I don't mind the longer books if they're written well, with good characters, and an engaging story. Cinda Williams Chima's last series was fairly lengthy (it's fantasy), but they were never too lengthy for me and the last book in the series constantly had something going on.
I'm reading Falling Kingdoms right now and it is 412 pages. I have been a little frustrated with all the characters introduced at the very beginning and all the switching back and forth between so many sets of characters. I'm thinking it would have been nice if she would have just written each set of characters in separate stories and then could have written companion books, like Kristin Cashore did in her Graceling series. Then she wouldn't have to fit it all in and the books could be a little bit shorter. Of course I'm only about half way through, so maybe it pulls together more at the end, but it's making it hard for me to really get into it and I keep waiting for things to progress, so it seems a little stretched out written this way.
I love these Freebie Friday discussions, Jen!
That is such a good point about the rushed ending. It's one of my pet peeves as a reader and there is no excuse for it when you have 400 pages to work with.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
19
I do like the longer YA books - usually with the length there is more character development and better world-building. Bring on the pages!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Leanne
leannessf
If the length is used for that, I agree!
Delete20
I totally know what you mean, I feel like I've been battling my way through two books like that recently - summer ruins @ 520 pages, and partials @468 pages! I've actually had to read some books inbetween because these two felt like they were taking forever, and I've still got fragments to read once I've finished partials, which comes in at 564 pages!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind long books when they are good, but when it starts to drag I have a problem, I often think that these longer ones could be a bit faster on the pacing and be just as good if not better. Slated could have been shorter I felt too, at 448 pages that was a bit too long for me.
It's strange that books seem longer now than in the 90's, don't know why that is. Maybe people want more pages for their money nowadays? Have to say that I sometimes cringe when I get a review request for a long book cause they take so much longer to get through! I read one recently which came in at well over 600 pages on the kindle, way long!
Ack -- I have Partials on my TBR and it's a trilogy or a series. See, this is where I start feeling exhausted…
Delete21
As long as there is plot or character growth backing up the pages, it is okay.
ReplyDeleteGood point!
Delete22
I don't mind that YA books have gotten longer as long as the story is good! I loved The Giver and also all of the Twilight books, so for me, it's all about the story! Great question!
ReplyDeleteThe Twilight books were long, but fun to read, so I didn't mind.
Delete23
I typically read books that are about 300 pages long more or less. I do however like to read shorter books that are only like 150-200 pages. A nice quick read is always good after reading a massive book!!
ReplyDeleteI just finished a short one and it was great!
Delete24
I really like a meaty YA read, but it has to be a good story. :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
Delete25
I love reading all kinds of books as long as the story is good.
ReplyDeleteAgreed again!
Delete26
I don't mind long books as long as they are exciting instead of mind numbing, if the book is good I wouldn't want it to end so soon <3
ReplyDeleteTrue. But I can tolerate a mind-numbing short book a lot better ;)
Delete27
I don't mind them long as long as it's for a good reason. If it's just fillers, then I would mind. Also, big books also make me feel like it's a better author than someone who writes a shorter book. It makes me feel like they're more likely to be a best seller if they have a longer book. Also, it seems to me like the major publishers have their authors write long books. Okay I think I'm rambling now. Toodles!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that's one reason for the trend -- that authors think they'll be taken more seriously if their book is long?
Delete28
that could be a very valid reason :)
DeleteThis is something I've noticed as well! I used to love long books and savor every word but now that I'm splitting my time between Law School and blogging I get a little put off by books that are really lengthy. There is a NA book on my e-reader that is 600+ pages and I've heard great things about it but the length is stopping me from reading it. I don't have the time to devote to 600+ page books right now, so this one will have to wait for summer.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a book is really long but doesn't feel that way and other times a book is really just long and could have benefited from more editing. I feel like authors/publishers don't understand that sometimes less is more.
So I guess overall I'm ok with longer books so long as there is a reason that they are longer and there is enough character development and action to keep me interested. Otherwise, edit and cut it shorter you will probably get more readers.
Ha ha -- I always say "I'll read that in the summer" too. Let's hope I can do it!
Delete29
I think it depends on the book, well the story. I don't mind long books, quite enjoy them, if the story is engaging and it adds to the world of the story. There are times though that I have thought, really we could cut this down, still have a good story and not need all this extra jibber jabber. So I guess my thoughts are that it depends on how connected you are to the story, the characters, the setting, etc.
ReplyDeleteVery true!
Delete30
I love the title of the giveaway! Haha! This is SO true. I've actually started liking books that are longer than 300 pages. I feel like with YA, since there are normally so many elements to fulfill (ie. Romance, Character Development, world building, problems...) that if the book is less than 300 it's harder to pull that off. I'm a total jerk for judging books under 300 before I read them. Haha. Of course sometimes I'm proved wrong. But that's my random though.
ReplyDeleteThough books that get REALLY long...well that's another matter. Either it's just extra flab. Or it's a really good extra 200 pages. But then there are books like Libba Bray's THE SWEET FAR THING that are WAY too long. I mean 800 pages?! That was a little nuts honestly. I felt like some of those books can drag on and on and on....anyway...yeah. This is a great discussion topic. I guess all I have to say is that if they can pull off all the elements without missing pieces or too much flab than I don't care what size the book is.
Awesome topic Jen! Happy Friday!
XX, Inky
I just like to amuse myself….
DeleteAnd I'm fine with 300 pages, 350. It's when we get into the 400, 500, etc. that I want every page to be necessary.
31
I think it really depends upon the book, the author and the publisher. Certainly self-published books tend to be longer because there is no third party standing by demanding edits. I don't mind long books at all as long as they are not bloated with unnecessary plot devices and tacked-on love scenes or extra-long battles. Both short and long books do have their uses however. Longer books make good doorstops while very short ones can be used to level a wobbly table. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteNo bloat, please ;) And get those books out from under your table!
Delete32
I am getting tired of having so many longs books because I find myself with less time to read. However, when it is a book series I adore, I would rather have more pages so the story does not end as soon! :D
ReplyDeleteI agree!
Delete33
LOVE longer YA books, as long as the pages are justified by the character and plot. I'm not into action-packed fight scenes, so a slower pace is fine for me:)
ReplyDeleteThank you:)
I also don't mind a slow pace. So you'd think I'd love long books.
Delete34
Whenever a book is over 300 pages long, I often have to take breaks where I read shorter books. If I didn't do that, I'd probably have a hard time finishing book, unless it's really good :)
ReplyDeleteI think I check the page count/% read more when I'm not happy with the book. Like when you are bored in school and keep looking at the clock.
Delete35
Oh yeah. I've found myself many times thinking that a YA book could have gutted a good portion of it. I'm personally not in favor of long drawn out non-plot. That may be why Ally Carter is my favorite YA author. She typically doesn't add filler and byproducts.
ReplyDeleteLove her books!
Delete36
I am fine either way as long as the book is well written. If the author just adds fluff for the extra page count I would prefer less pages...it's just not worth it!
ReplyDeleteAgree -- like my Game of Thrones comment above. If the book is great, bring it on!
Delete37
I actually enjoy the longer books. I almost feel cheated if the book is less than 200 pages.
ReplyDeleteUnder 200 seems short, I agree :)
Delete38
I lover longer books, whether slow or fast paced. I'm used to reading long books because I read them all the time growing up. The Stand and The Shining changed my definition of long. I can read fast so reading 300-400 pages a day is normal for me. That probably is probably a big part of liking longer books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
broke(dot)book(dot)bank(at)gmail(dot)com
That's a good point. Those Stephen King books are long!!! I also read a lot of long adult books when I was growing up.
Delete39
I think 300 to 400 pages is the number of pages a book should have in average. When a book is less than 300 pages long I've the feeling that the story is too simple and the characters not deep enough. I think that the only books I have with fewer pages are the ones I read before I was 12. But maybe it's because I've always love reading and I never want a good book to end.
ReplyDeleteTo me, there's a huge difference between the 350-400 range (doable) and then the 400 and over, which starts to seem long. But as a lot of people said, as long as the plot is moving, I'm good.
Delete40
The bigger the better, I'm a 'I like big books and I cannot lie' girl all the way. You have more time to get lost in the world of the book. The only thing better than a big book is a series of them :)
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention, I'm new to your blog but have followed now. Your big books quote made my day!
Deletehttp://betweenthelinesisanenlessstory.blogspot.ie/
Welcome Trish!!! I'll go check out your blog when I'm done here.
Delete41
Sometimes I find it quite daunting. There are times when I want to read a couple of books but I debate starting the longer book especially if it has mixed reviews because it can be a bigger time commitment. On the other side there are times when longer books suite the story much better
ReplyDeleteI agree -- depends how behind I am in my reading!
Delete42
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Delete43
I don't mind long books if they're good. If I like the book, I always want more, but if I don't like it, than I'm always like 'how much more?'
ReplyDeleteExactly!!
Delete44
My patience is around 400 pages for an average YA book. If I really love it I don't mind if ti's longer, but that's about my tolerance level, hah. There are quite a few 500+ page books out this spring/summer, though--I'm already dreading it!
ReplyDeleteNo need to enter me in the giveaway, but how awesome of you to share with your readers. :)
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
I completely agree. 400 pages is not that bad. Seriously, all the spring books are long? Then they better be good!
DeleteDepends on the books. Some books need lots more pages to tell their story (like fantasies, as you mentioned), but I think a lot of YA books recently are taking too many pages to tell their story- a lot of authors are too flowery for my tastes, and their writing tends to meander and muse all over the place, whereas when I was in high/middle school the YA book tended to use more direct language, and get right to the point. I don't usually mind the extra hemming and hawing, but I'm not a book blogger, and thus don't have to read ridiculous amounts of books in a short amount of time.
ReplyDeleteYes. I can only read so much!! My eyes get tired.
Delete45
I am normally a lover of big books - the bigger the better! If the story is really engrossing and I don't want it to end - that's the epitome of my love for ginormous book. But when it turns out that I can't get into the story, then it becomes really hard to even finish it.
ReplyDeleteAlso - I wasn't sure if the Google form went through the first time I tried, so I filled it out again. My apologies if I accidentally entered twice - I wasn't trying to cheat! Promise!!
DeleteI agree -- it's like food. If it's good, I'll gorge myself. If not, I'm full, thanks.
DeleteDon't worry about the Google Doc :) I use the comments to pick the winners.
46
I used to think I needed the longer YA books. Those were usually the better ones. But lately, there seem to be a lot of filler pages in those longer books. Making me wish for a short one. I think it's just good to mix it up.
ReplyDeleteI also like to mix it up. I do enjoy a shorter book now and then!
Delete47
Mary DeBorde (M.A.D.)
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer the longer books! I think it helps fully develop both the plot and character! And Speak - that one was so powerful, and worth every page :)
Well, see, Speak does it in those very few pages. So it can be done!
Delete48
I have SO many books to read that I don't even look at big books anymore. I can't remember the name but Libba Bray had one release last year that was supposed to be amazing but I think it was 700-800 pages. Around 400 is pushing it for me.
ReplyDeleteThe Diviners was really long. I ended up listening to it because I had so many other books to read. It was a great book, though!
Delete49
I definitely prefer big books just because they last a bit longer, but as long as the content of the book is good I don't really care if a book is really short :)
ReplyDeleteTrue -- if I love a book, I want it to last forever!!
Delete50
Hmmm I guess it depends for me lol! If it's slow, ohmygosh, that ginormous book is going out the window. If it's fast paced, then YES for longity (totally a word). The Diviners and Crash and Burn are the biggest books I've ever seen from 500-600 pages O_O
ReplyDeleteGood point -- pacing is very important.
Delete51
I like big books when they are really interesting and I want to keep reading :) However, if the book keeps dragging on, I tend not to like it so much.
ReplyDeleteYes! Just keep things interesting!
Delete52
I honestly like longer books. I feel like some books fall short, and a lot of the time I'm just like "WHERE'S THE REST?" The bad thing about long books is that sometimes, they take forever to get to the point. It could be written in so many less words, you know? Short books are okay, but it doesn't always go in depth. When they do, I don't mind at all.
ReplyDeleteWell-written is the key, long or short.
Delete53
Great topic and title, Jen! I haven't noticed contemporary books as being overly long, but SciFi/fantasy kill me!
ReplyDeleteSome of the fantasy and dystopian books are getting really long!
Delete54
I really love big books! They just make the story fleshed out more and its nice seeing yourself hold a big books. And the feeling you get after reading it is amazing! But for this year, I'm focusing on medium to short length books just to help with my goal of 80 books!
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
Well, see, that's what happens when you have to read a lot!
Delete55
I have to admit...I like the quickie reads :)
ReplyDeleteEven Middle Grade books are getting long!! I read lots of them aloud to my kids, and I wish that they were shorter. I'm currently reading a YA book that is 400 pages. I don't have a lot of sit-down time to myself...my sit-down time is spent reading aloud to the kids.
When I see a chunky book, I shudder. For me, it would take forever to read it because of my lack of sit-down time. I remember that I listened to Outlander on audiobook. That one is 870 pages and clocks in at nearly 33 hrs. That would have taken me months to read. As it was, the audiobook took about a month to listen.
Maybe someday when I have oodles of time to myself, I can dig into those chunksters ;)
It depends somewhat on my mood and what the book is like!
Delete56
I don't mind a lot of pages to read, as long as the story really needed that quantity. As they say, a good story is always short.
ReplyDeleteYep, there's that saying, "This would have been shorter if I'd had more time" or something to that effect.
Delete57
I like long books as long as they're interesting all the way through, and it has to make sense—instead of just random events leading to nothing. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree -- no randomness. Things need to be there for a reason.
Delete58
I love longer books as long as the story keeps me interested and is paced right. Sometimes books are dragged out to fill pages and that makes me tired. I also don't like when a book is too rushed when there could have easily been more pages. All depends on the story and how its written.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- I feel annoyed if I think a book has just been stretched out to make it a trilogy.
Delete59
I almost stopped Grave Mercy because it was too long. Glad I didn't. I'm a fan of shorter novels and I tend to write that way.
ReplyDeleteThat book did not seem long to me!
Delete60
More often than not, books should be chopped by about 100 pages, but every now and again there is a 400+ page book that is worth every single page. I think many newer writers have a hard time reigning their writing in to make it tight and editors don't want to mess up "the vision" of the work.
ReplyDeleteBut when you find those long books that are awesome on every single page, that's just a joy.
Very true. Though I agree there seems to be less editing of books these days.
Delete61
I actually LOVE long books! I like to spend a lot of time with the characters (if that makes sense...) I am a fast reader though, so maybe that's why it doesn't bother me so much. I also read a lot (usually a novel a day-ish). And at least you're getting value for money haha.
ReplyDeleteI am a pretty fast reader too, and usually read 3 books a week. But a big difference between 3 @ 300 pages and 3 @ 500 pages.
Delete62
Okay, I very rarely read YA before blogging, so I was already used to reading 300-400+ page books. But, I do find myself groaning now when I see that a book I want to read is almost 400 pages. I think it is more to do with time constraint, though. But then there are those series where I want big fat books because I love the world/characters/whatever. So, yeah... I mostly want them shorter just for my own selfishness. :D
ReplyDeleteI agree that time constraints are probably what cause the problem for me. And sometimes having to read a long book that I'm not crazy about.
Delete63
It depends- if it's a book/series that I love, then I want it to be long, so that I can be in that world longer. Take Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. It was more than 500 pages, but I loved it. Same with the later VA and HP books, which kept on getting thicker- but hey, I'm not complaining! Quite the opposite, in fact. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't know why, but in my head, hardbound books should be thick. I don't like it when the book's hardbound and less than an inch thick. I feel ripped off, I guess. XD So yeah, I actually prefer thick books- with fast pacing. (Liked Iced by Karen Marie Moning. It was thick, hardbound, and heavy, and I finished it in less than a week, and loved it so much!) But there are some books, like Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, which just dragged on and on. I couldn't bring myself to finish the first book! Same with Strange Angels by Lili St Crow. There were 5 books in the series, and they were pretty thin, but I felt like books 2-4 could have been merged. But maybe that's just me...
I also loved Nevermore!!
Delete64
i read a lot and honestly i don't care how long a book is as long as it's good.
ReplyDeleteThe book being good is key!
Delete65
I really think it depends on the book and the pacing. I've read 200 page books that took me a week to get through because of slow pacing and others that are 500 pages that took me two days. I have also read long books that could have used some much better editing, and others that I couldn't figure out what could have been cut.
ReplyDeleteI agree that pacing is important. It makes a book feel long or short in spite of the actual page count.
Delete66
I'm a fan of big books if they're good! I am obviously not a fan of big books when they drag, or if I'm not into them. But I always appreciate a small book that's well done, too!
ReplyDeleteExactly!
Delete67
I guess for me it just depends on the quality of writing. I most recently finished Ender's Game (ok, yeah, seriously late to the party on that one) and as a reader I don't think many words were wasted in it. It had a lot to say. As a reader, I actually give a book 100pgs (I'm told writers expect people to stop after the 1st sentence or paragraph) to interest me enough to finish the rest. On smaller books that ends up being half the book.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read that one and hadn't realized it was long.
Delete68
It don't really matter to me really.
ReplyDelete:)
Delete69
I really enjoy the longer books, as a general rule. I think the authors are really starting to flush their characters and stories out a lot more, rather than point A to point B kind of writing. To me, this is one reason YA is now appealing to a broader age range. While I like the occasional shorter read, I feel like the larger books are able to give more depth on the whole. I like to read a good YA that does not underestimate the dedication and reading ability of the readers.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine if the longer book is well-done, and I agree that the increasing length of YA may be partly due the expansion of the readership.
Delete70
As long as the length is justified, that's fine. If I feel like the book is dragging then that's definitely a problem. I think YA books are getting better and more creative, however. I didn't really read them growing up but I'm reading them now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
Same! And thanks for coming by :)
Delete71
Some YA books I have could have def been so much shorter! Like the Fallen book by Lauren Kate; ALL of her books could have cut in half, if not more, and I would still like the story just as much, if not more, than when it was longer.
ReplyDeleteHowever some YA books I feel are just fine being on the bigger side. With these books I honestly dont care how long it is bc the story never dragged. So, to me, if you can have your readers read 500+ book and not be fed up then your story is worth the 500+ pages!
It's funny that some long books don't feel long..
Delete72
There are some books, like Delirium, that deserve to be made so long. and then there are books that were just a complete waste of my time and were 400 pages long. Seriously.... But I'm fine with long books... I get to gloat :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should make Goodreads page goals instead of book goals!
Delete73
I don't mind reading long books as long as they keep me interested. I can't stand reading books full of useless information that does nothing for the actual story.
ReplyDeleteYes, I get annoyed when nothing is happening in the book.
Delete74
It completely depends on the book. If I'm really enjoying a book then I wish it would never end but if not then I wouldn't want to carry on. In the case of a rubbish read, shorter is better.
ReplyDeleteHa -- rubbish read. Hadn't heard that before.
Delete75
Yeah, it seems the trends are really big books now. But then again, I've read some really short books (some even less than 100 pages) that were awesome, but then again, the trend seems to be huge books, the more the better and sometimes it spoils the entire book... or not. *le sigh*
ReplyDeleteSo, me and my imaginary dragon friend called Misty thank for the giveaway and may the odds be ever in my favor! <333
Wow, I can't remember seeing a book that was under 100 pages!
Delete76
I love that YA books are becoming deeper, more involved. As a teacher I think it's fantastic as it can increase reading stamina, vocabulary, etc. Anything that grabs a kid's attention (or mine - love these books too!) and will get them reading is fantastic. So, those that are long, provided they are QUALITY books and QUALITY writing, love it.
ReplyDeleteLindsey
Yes, I find that younger kids (like 9-12) absolutely love long books. I think it's when kids get into middle school and high school that they lose time to read for pleasure, which is sad.
Delete77
I don't mind page count, as long as the story is good. If I read +300 pages, and end up hating the book, I feel like I wasted my life. If I read it and love it, it doesn't matter if it's 300 or 500 pages. It just depends whether of not I think it's justifiable in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAgree -- I've started to DNF books that I don't like at all.
Delete78
It depends on my mood, honestly. There are times when I don't like to read lengthy books especially if I'm busy or has a lot of stuffs to do. But that is just when I'm not in the mood, or whenever I just need some book lovin' for a short time. But usually, I love to read books that are quite lengthy (maybe 400+ pages or so). And the book should at least be addictive to read. My point here is that a book's worth isn't measured in the quantity (meaning the pages) but of the quality of what's inside the book.
ReplyDeleteVery good point!
Delete79
Hey, like that tote above:)
ReplyDeleteYou know my feelings vary. I don't mind a giant 500 pager, if as you said, the story warrants it. But yes, when you have as much to read as we do these days, it gets a bit daunting. And there is nothing worse then wading through pages upon pages of "filler." Of course if I am REALLY into a book I can zoom through the big ones just as much as the short ones. If I'm not really into it, even 200 pagers can feel incredibly long.
But yes, it does seem as if YA books are getting thicker. And it's strange because there are so many books in a series these days. You would think that it wouldn't be as necessary to stretch them out past 300 pages.
It's a great topic though. Glad I am not the only one who bemoans big books when as my review pile reaches epic proportions:)
Tote-ally forgot that you gave that away on your blog -- I needed a graphic. I'll add a link to you :)
Delete80
Yes this exactly! Sometimes, if the book is really complex (like Game of Thrones or Grave Mercy) I'm okay with it. But most of the time I'm like.... geez, really?
ReplyDeleteRight. I mean, Game of Thrones needs all those pages and most of them are pretty entertaining.
Delete81
If the story is deep and complex I am totally okay with it. If the story just seems to be filling the pages with "fluff" then I get aggravated.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. No fluff!
Delete82
I don't even notice how many pages are in a book.
ReplyDeleteI Judge a book by it's cover most of the time, and that's the one i pick up and read, not by the length (sometimes i don't even read what it's about) If I like it I'm going to not put it down and read til the end, if i don't like it, if it's boring or some such i put it back on the shelf immediately no use reading it if i don't like it.
I've just always liked reading, length doesn't phase me, if it did i would miss out on some great stories.
I love covers too! As for the length, I guess it has to do with how much time I have.
Delete83
You know....it really doesn't matter to me much. Some books I dread the last page and want/need/must have more. But others I am fine with just 200 pages. It all depends on the story and what I am recieving from the book.
ReplyDeleteVery well said!
Delete84
I don't really look at the page count before I pick up a book. If the premise sounds interesting/the book got good reviews I'm usually in. It's only when it's boring and NOTHING seems to be happening then I constantly check to see how many pages to go, lol.
ReplyDelete(Probably unrelated but) What DOES tire me is the weight/mass. For example, I got Froi of the Exiles in hardcover and it is so heavy! I have a laptop and a ton of other stuff to carry so I couldn't bring it with me when I was at campus almost the entire day. I kind of wished they packaged it like the US hardcover of Stormdancer, it's a long book but they made it wider and had smaller margins so it's a lot thinner and lighter to carry.
Good point on book weight. We all carry around so much stuff all day!
Delete85
I used to love big books but I don't have much time to read anymore so a smaller story is better for me now.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same sometimes and that makes me sad :(
Delete86
I get discouraged when reading longer books! It really stresses me out! It makes me feel like I am accomplishing less of my goals of reading because it takes longer to finish a book. Right now I am reading Beautiful Creatures. Normally it takes me an absolute maximum of 2-3 days to read a book. Usually not even that long. But I think I am on day 5 of Beautiful Creatures! Of course, spending a ton of time on blogs and Goodreads probably isn't helping me get through the book any faster. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked Beautiful Creatures, but I agree that reading some books feels like it takes forever!
Delete87
I think I prefer my YA books to be in the 300-400 page range, but I don't mind if they're bigger... so long as there is a point. There is nothing worse than reading a 450 page book where the author could have easily cut out a 100 or more pages and the book would have been the same I don't like filler!
ReplyDeleteI'm completely with you. Over the 400 page mark, I want all those words to be necessary!
Delete88
I read YA that are within the 300-400 pages mark. Something a little longer. A larger book is a turn off for me. Mostly because they tend to me wordy and not direct to the point of the story.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway!
Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment
With me, it's often just a time issue. Those super-huge book just stay on the shelf sometimes.
Delete89
I do hate it when books drag, and I feel like too many nowadays do. Speak is one of my all time favorite books, which shows books can be amazing without being 400 pages.
ReplyDeleteEmily @ Counting on Bookcases
(I follow via Email and always thought freebie Fridays looked interesting, and decided to participate)
http://countinginbookcases.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for commenting. I stopped by your blog :)
Delete90
I just finished Stephen King's Under the Dome and it has 1,074 pages! I love it the way it is. I'm a fan. :D
ReplyDeleteFor YA, I like the books to be a little under 300 pages to about 400.
Whoa -- that's a lot of pages!!
Delete91
I usually like longer books but only if I'm really interested in them. Most of the books I read are around 300-400 pages but some are a little longer
ReplyDeleteI agree-- if I love a book I fly through it.
Delete92
I can handle big books, but that doesn't mean I have to like them that long ;) But I guess I'm used to it now. Most books i read are no shorter than 300 pages, sadly. However, longer than 500 and I'm like "nuh uh!" I'm patient, but not THAT patient! LOL
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than a long book where nothing is happening!
Delete93
I like the range of 300-500. I feel like that's a great number for young adult novels. If it's too short, I feel like I've been cheated and that there could have been much more to the story. If it's too long, it starts to bore me and I end up not finishing the book. But it also depends on the author for me. If I love the author, page count doesn't matter, because the book is just that good.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- it definitely depends on the writing.
Delete94
I like long books if the information pertains to the story, and does not drag on. Sometimes, I feel like there is a magical page number the author wants to reach, and they use more story than necessary to get to what they view is a good story length. I don't care if the story is 25 pages or 700 pages if it works for the story.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like that, right? Like authors sometimes want to get to 400…
Delete95
I think that it just depends on the book. If the book is very long but holds my interest then I don't mind at all. If the book is super long and I lose interest half way through then thats when it sucks because I don't want to finish it or I just skim through it.
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess no matter if its 55 pages or 555 pages as long as it keeps me wanting more its worth all the pages.
Thank you for the amazing giveaway!
Very well said!
Delete96
I really like longer books. I recently read a few that seemed so short. When I really looked at them, they weren't really short, but they were significantly shorter than my typical book and the print was bigger.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I agree that the story has to be substantive enough to make it worthwhile. I don't like reading books when I feel I can skim over the pages.
Stephanie
steph0828 at hotmail dot com
I'm a younger one, so all I remember is books being short--So I guess i'm just used to it!
ReplyDelete