Standalone book you wish had a sequel

cynic

We've discussed about series that gave us reading withdrawals. Let's talk about the standalone books that deserved a series.

Perhaps it was the abrupt ending. Or you were left wanting a better closure. Or it is just that you could not get enough of the story or characters.

What standalone book do you wish had a sequel? Do share.

Mousetrap

As a rule, I like stand-alone books more than series. Even as a kid, I hated serial stories in magazines for which you had to wait every month to know how it went.

I like 'Swami and Friends' very much and must have read it many, many times. I've wished there was more of it... but I guess that some of the best standalone books work because it didn't continue afterwards. It makes you fonder of the characters and it leaves it to your imagination to build more stories around them in your mind. A sequel to Swami with the characters grown up and different from how they were in the first book would have shattered me!

And sometimes, if the sequels are spaced years apart, a lot of things are too different and even disappointing. I've noticed that happen in a few series.

santo_23

Shibumi..... There are so many books that I wish had a sequel but Shibumi stands apart.....

wangwilly

I prefer companion book than a sequel, because companion book won't ruin the main story and it gives an answers to what fan's questions. If a sequel, it'll make a few more new questions and sometimes it's not very interesting than a prequel.

cynic

Mousetrap 23-7-2018 12:46 PM
As a rule, I like stand-alone books more than series. Even as a kid, I hated serial stories in magaz ...

Ditto on the spaced out sequels that end up being disappointing. At times there is such a huge gap, one has to re-read the book to recall the nitty gritties.

A grown up Swami.... nopes. The characters would lose their charm..

cynic

wangwilly 23-7-2018 01:39 PM
I prefer companion book than a sequel, because companion book won't ruin the main story and it gives ...

That is interesting. But we rarely, if ever, see companion books by Indian authors.

jhsurti

Mousetrap 23-7-2018 12:46 PM
As a rule, I like stand-alone books more than series. Even as a kid, I hated serial stories in magaz ...

Grown up Swami? No way. You voiced majority's thought there.
Also agree about those books that are written quite far apart and as @cynic said, we have to re-read the earlier ones. But if the time-frame of the manin story doesn't take a big leap, AND one comes across a series by accident after the last one is out, then it is quite interesting and the pleasure lasts longer. As my recent discovery with The Red Sparrow trilogy. I came to know about it only recently so I had the pleasure of reading all the 3 volumes back to back. So I guess that also makes a difference. If you know beforehand that this is going to be a series, don't read till the last one is out. You will definitely enjoy the series more.

Mousetrap

jhsurti 23-7-2018 07:16 PM
Grown up Swami? No way. You voiced majority's thought there.
Also agree about those books that are ...

You've mentioned Red Sparrow trilogy quite a few times... I think I'll read it sometime. I have a feeling it'll be worth it! I'm already super impressed with Six of Crows recommended in this forum.

viksorion

I agree that its better to read back to back books of the series than waiting for the books to come out.
I remember I have read all the books of Harry Potter series multiple times as the new books came. I used to start all over again. I have done same with Amish and Eragon series too.

divey

I prefer stand alone books as mentioned by many readers here that sequels often end up being disappointing and as @cynic pointed out that there is too much gap between that you have to revisit the old book. I like Ruskin bond in this way that most of his works are stand alone but somehow they always end with a feeling that you want more.....There are many such books which i want to have a sequel too but one book which I had read and is in limelight these days because of being adopted as a series "Sacred Games", I really like to have a sequel to it