How goes it, Bookworms?
It’s Tuesday, so it’s time to get my list on. The lovely ladies of The Broke and The Bookish have a fabulous topic for us this week. What are the top ten stand alone books that you wish had sequels? Heaven knows I’ve got more than a few of these. Here goes!
1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling. I know, okay? I KNOW there are 7 books. That doesn’t mean I don’t want more! I would read a wizard phone book if JK Rowling published one! I realize she wouldn’t publish such a thing, as wizards don’t use phones (remember that time Ron called it a “felly-tone?”) I could read 8 zillion Harry Potter books. Is it realistic that she could have kept up the quality if she’d kept the series going longer? I don’t know. I respect her right to have stopped when she did, you know, as long as she respects my right to pine for my lost world of magic… Pine, pine, PINE!
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I would be fascinated to know how Charlie’s recovery goes. I’d be very interested to see how his high school and even college careers went. Being a genius and being psychologically scarred often make for the best characters.
3. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. MINI SPOILER!!! What does Park DO when he gets that post card?! In my imagination, they end up together, with impressive careers, surrounded by redheaded Asian babies. My imagination is a Lifetime Original Movie.
4. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Yes, I have read Scarlett, the authorized sequel to Gone With The Wind. I didn’t hate it or anything, but I really would have liked for Margaret Mitchell to tell me what became of Scarlett. Scarlett was like an apology for all of Ms. O’Hara-Hamilton-Kennedy-Butler’s crappy behavior… While I am a sucker for a happy ending, I’m not sure Scarlett really deserved one, or that Mitchell would have approved of her getting one. Sadly, Margaret Mitchell was unable to do so since she was hit by a car and died far too young. We shall never truly know Scarlett’s fate.
5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I would like to know what becomes of Louisa. What she does with her windfall, what she decides to study, and how her love life pans out… I’m interested. I loved that girl.
6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I wasn’t thrilled with the situation Abilene was stuck in at the end of the book. I like to imagine her branching out in her writing and breaking barriers and being awesome… I also want to know how Skeeter manages in the big city. Seriously, how much fun are fish out of water stories anyway? Girl from Jackson taking on NYC? These are things I’d like to know.
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I know there are scads of books that have carried on with Elizabeth and Darcy’s story. Those do not interest me. What interests me is how Jane Austen would have envisioned their happily ever after. What shenanigans Lydia and Wickham might have managed to get into. The number of times Elizabeth forced Darcy to jump in ponds so she could watch him surface in his white shirt…
8. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I’d be interested to see how the rescued school boys readjusted to “civilized” life after the tribal chaos that went down on that island. Would Ralph ever recover?
9. Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt. I need more June! I want to know what becomes of Greta and her career. I want to know more about Toby’s life with Finn. I just want more, I want all of it, and I want it served up in a fancy Russian teapot. Is that too much to ask?!
10. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’m worried about the little boy. I know he’s as safe as he can be, but what I really want to know is if they’ll find a way to grow food and figure out how to sustain human life again… You know, other than just EATING PEOPLE and/or running and hiding from marauding bands of cannibals. I’m rather desperate to know that a recovery is possible, because this book was so bleak! Actually, no. McCarthy would probably make it worse. In my ending they grow things, and the air clears, and the cannibals die off. There are butterflies and unicorns! I need a little optimism or I’ll drown in sorrow, Cormac! DROWN IN SORROW!!!
So Bookworms. What do you think? What do you want more of? What book’s loose ends would you like tied up? What characters can you not get enough of?
becomingcliche
I want more HP books, too. Of course. And Eleanor & Park. I want to know what the stupid postcard SAID!
Words for Worms
It said “I Love You” didn’t it?
Heather
I’m pretty sure it said “I’m Han Solo.”
Eleanor wouldn’t have said “I love you.”
Words for Worms
LOL- you’re messing with my cheesy happy ending, Heather!
Heather
That is a happy ending, though! Haha!
Words for Worms
I’m now amending my vision to include witty Star Wars banter. Dangit, you’re a visionary!
Charleen
This is a tough one, as most books I really love are either already part of a series, or ended so well that a sequel would just be disappointing. Does it count if I want a different sequel(s) to a book that already has some? Because I really liked Wicked, but all the subsequent books fell totally flat for me.
Words for Worms
I made it through Son of a Witch but petered out mid- Lion Among Men. Haven’t gone back to Oz since. I share your disappointment.
Liesel Hill
Hey, there will always be room for more Harry Potter. Pride and Prejudice and the Road are great picks too. I agree, though, that McCarthy would probably make a sequel just as bleak, if not more so. But, if he ever came out with one, I’d be right there! 😀
My TTT
Words for Worms
I know, right? Just because I know it’ll break my heart doesn’t meant I wouldn’t read McCarthy’s sequel!
Amanda
Lol I LOVE the way you put it about Harry Potter. I dont think the quality wouldve been quite right if she had just kept going, but come on, she’s had some time to rest and written some other books, and now she can totally write a new series. Its about time we know what Harry’s kids get themselves into from Rowling herself, rather than thinking up our own ideas. But yes, I’ll respect her right if she’ll respect the right of her fans to pine, pine away. Great list as always! 🙂
Words for Worms
Ha, thanks!
Heather
No sequel for Eleanor & Park! It is brilliant just like it is! A sequel would totally ruin it for me.
You know? I’m a non-sequel type person, now that I think about it. If a book is originally written as a standalone, the majority of the time a second-thought sequel is lame. It always ends up letting me down. Same with movie sequels.
Words for Worms
I can respect that. Afterthought sequels often aren’t as great… I’m mostly thinking of movies here… Sandra Bullock sequels in particular… Because Speed 2 did not need to happen. Or Miss Congeniality 2. Maybe I should just stop watching Sandra Bullock movies altogether…
Rory
Haha, 9 made me life. Even though I don’t love sequels, I would love a Perks of Being a Wallflower update.
One of these days I’m going to revisit Gone with the Wind and maybe not hate it as much. Maybe.
Words for Worms
I don’t know that a lot of my picks need sequels so much as epilogues. They could be short little one-pagers. Like, “Charlie went through high school. He did fine with a regular dose of prozac and weekly sessions with a therapist. He later went to Penn State where he graduated with highest honors. Then he cured cancer.”
Charleen
That’s my thing too… there are lots of books that I’d love to know what happens after, but there’s no way to make it a good book.
Words for Worms
That’s why books like The Thirteenth Tale make me happy. They fill you in on what becomes of all the characters. I need the closure. NEED.
Paula @ Find a girl who reads
I want (and need) more HP books too!! No matter how many there are… They are not enough!
Words for Worms
Amen to that!
RebeccaScaglione - Love at First Book
I think a sequel for HP would totally ruin it. I love love love how JK tied it up specifically so there ISN’T a chance for a sequel.
But what book do I long for to have a sequel? That’s a toughie! But you know what, I think that The Handmaid’s Tale, as being my favorite book of all time, totally could have a sequel. What happened to Offred? What happened to where they live???
Also, come on, don’t you want to know about Katniss as an adult?
Words for Worms
I very nearly listed The Handmaid’s Tale on here! I want to know what became of Offred- if she really made it out on the Underground Femaleroad. And I want to know about the fall of their screwball society. I just can’t get enough wizarding world… It doesn’t have to be Harry Potter specifically. Could be his kids. Could be neighbors. I don’t care, I just miss my magic.
RebeccaScaglione - Love at First Book
Oh I see. I would classify those as spin-off novels, then, and I’m totally okay with that. I was just worried that JK would be like, “oh wow, I’m making tons of money, let me make like 79 more HP novels and never end the series”. But spin-offs, sure!
caitlinstern
I thought about putting P&P on my list, but didn’t because it shows up on far too many of my lists, and I can’t picture Austen doing a sequel. All her books pretty much end in the same spot…
I agree completely on Eleanor & Park, though.
Words for Worms
P&P does show up on a lot of lists, but I think Lizzie and Darcy’s dynamic would make for a fun tale of married life. Do you have a hypothesis on what the post card said in E&P? I was so convinced that it said “I love you” that I had to look it up. It’s three words but they aren’t defined. My brain filled in the gap. It could have been “goat cheese rules” for all we know… And let’s face it. Goat cheese DOES rule.
caitlinstern
I think the words may have been something in the special code of couples (someone suggested “I’m Han Solo” on some blog I read today), but they meant “I love you,” I’m pretty sure.
Words for Worms
That could very well be the case. I feel like a nincompoop for not remembering that part- I should just read the whole thing again. And again probably. And maybe once more. Because I loved it.
caitlinstern
Nothing wrong with a reread or seven. 🙂
Tiffany
Lord of the Flies, what a good choice!
Words for Worms
Seriously, how do you recover from that?! And is anybody going to tell Piggy’s parents what happened to their son? I’m very concerned.
Turn the Page Reviews
Have lots of the same on my TTT list! My #1 is Pride & Prejudice though only if it were written by Austen!
Words for Worms
Yep. Got to be the original author or it just feels like fanfic. Not that fanfiction doesn’t have a place, but it’s just not the same.
marctr
I agree with you 100% on this point. It doesn’t matter how good a job the “other” author does, I will always want to know the “real” story from the first author. Several friends recommended Wives and Daughters to me while failing to mention that the author died before finishing it. So foolishly I read it, and apparently everyone must die before finishing it because there is no ending. Yes, it was all set up and you know what will happen and someone wrote a tidy epilogue-ish thing. But nope, doesn’t work, I’ll always feel a void, where the ending of that wonderful book should be.
Mabel
Margaret Mitchell would HATE that someone wrote sequel(s) — Rhett Butler’s People is another. She was adamant that if anyone should write a sequel, it should be her, and that she didn’t intend to write one. The story ended where it ended (she said.) But she did have another Civil War novel on the burner when she died — so I’ve read. If I remember right, it was about the battlefront and the soldiers, as opposed to the homefront.
Words for Worms
I didn’t bother with Rhett Butler’s People- was that one even authorized by the estate? She wouldn’t have even had to write a sequel. She could just whisper in my ear “Scarlett and Rhett divorced. Ashley was a hot mess of widower and Scarlett finally got what she wanted… Only by then it wasn’t actually what she wanted. They lived miserably ever after. Rhett went back to his playboy ways. Scarlett’s first two kids grew up estranged from their mother but eventually turned out alright and lived happily-ish ever after.” Or, you know, she could have made it happy. I don’t think she would have.
Mabel
Ha! You HAVE to read Rhett Butler’s People. I think it was authorized. So very, very, very wrong. (I don’t think she’d have made it happy either.)
Seriously, read Rhett Butler’s People. I will laugh so hard. 😆
Words for Worms
I dunno, I mean, Scarlett became “The O’Hara” in Scarlett so does that mean Rhett would become “The Butler?” Because Rhett would make the worst butler ever to butle. Lots of comedic potential there, though… 🙂
Mabel
Worse!!! He becomes the most boring character EVER.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="197"] Read me! Read me![/caption]
Mabel
Oops. That “Read me!” line was supposed to be the caption to this:
Mabel
The image won’t show! Trust that I am mocking the book.
Words for Worms
Hahahahahahahaha. I’m going to save it for when I’m in a really snarky book heckling mood :).
Girl
I actually read an interview with Rainbow that says she wants to write an E&P sequel, for when they are in their 30s, and she knows exactly what happened to them and what is up. But she can’t say, in case she writes it! So, maybe that will happen. Here is hoping! (PS – Attachments is just adorable, read it read it read it.)
For E&P, I think it did say I Love You, although I wish she told us FOR SURE.
Your list was basically like a list of my favorite books, ha! Me Before You is next on my list though.
I can’t think of any books offhand I want a sequel to! I would need to look at my bookshelf, I think.
Words for Worms
I love Rainbow Rowell! I so hope she writes us a sequel! I’ll be interested to hear how you like Me Before You!
Girl
Okay, well, I started it last night, and finished it today. About 99% of the time I read a book in one sitting, but my husband had to go to bed early and I was standing in the kitchen reading and he was like – ‘I swear to god come to bed right now,’ so I finished it today. At work, at my desk, at lunch.
After the 10th person was like – ‘WHY ARE YOU CRYING OH GOD WHAT IS WRONG’ I decided not to read the last 3 pages at work, and then 15 minutes later read them anyway. Cut to 10 more people – ‘are you CRYING??’
It was well written, but oh my god too sad for me. I mean, I get it, but JESUS. This is going to be me, the rest of the day, only more swollen looking. ( O_0)
Words for Worms
Awww! I absolutely feel your pain! I always try to lie when someone catches me crying. “It’s allergies.” They never believe me.
Megan M.
Eleanor & Park FTW! I neeeed to know they ended up together and are crazy happy just like Park’s mom and dad. More HP, check! I never thought about The Perks of Being A Wallflower but I would indeed like to know what happened to him after The End.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. I loved her and want to know what kind of shenanigans she gets up to in college and beyond.
Words for Worms
Yes! Park’s parents were the cutest!
Samantha
I wouldn’t want a sequel, but maybe an ‘afterword’ to The Handmaid’s Tale? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. But it wouldn’t make sense, because no one knew except for her. *sigh*
I also agree with Heather that I liked Eleanor and Park ending there, then you can imagine for them the kind of ending you want if you’d like, but it’s always a mystery.
A book that I’m EXCITED has a sequel is The Shining though. 🙂
Words for Worms
I’m too big a chicken to even read The Shining. I have to be very selective about my King, what with the nightmares and all…
Samantha
Understandably so 🙂
Another Clean Slate
I would LOVE a sequel to Me Before You and totally agree with you about Scarlett. I’ve never read Eleanor and Park- need to check it out.
Words for Worms
You definitely need to check out E&P. You’ll love it to teeny tiny bits and pieces. I promise.
Sara @ Just Another Story
I’m with you on the Eleanor and Park thing. Although I didn’t add it to my list this time. What did Park do? And goodness I need to read Pride and Prejudice. ASAP.
Thanks for the list.
My TTT
Words for Worms
P&P is wonderful! I hope you’ll give it a chance. Once you get in Austen mode, it’s hard to change your inner monologue back to a non prim English accent…
Kayla Sanchez
I agree with so many on this list! I have Tell the Wolves I’m Home on my shelf, and everything you said about Harry Potter sums up my feelings for this series. Great list!
My TTT
Words for Worms
Oh Harry. I just love it so so much! And you simply MUST read Wolves. It’s so fantastic I can barely contain my gushing. I might short out the internet.
A.M.B.
Yeah, it’s too bad that Jane Austen didn’t write a sequel to Pride & Prejudice. While I agree with you that the derivative works aren’t really that great (at least the ones I read haven’t been), I’m hopeful that someone can produce a satisfying Pride & Prejudice derivative (maybe it’s already been done, and I haven’t found it yet!). As for Harry Potter, there is so much fan fiction out there (as you mentioned in your review of Rowell’s book), and I would love it if Rowling would allow someone else to write a HP spinoff, perhaps with her input, even if she doesn’t want to do it herself. I wonder if Rowling reads any of the fan fiction and whether she thinks any of it is good.
Words for Worms
Maybe I SHOULD read some HP Fanfic. That might satisfy my craving…
Jillyn
Harry Potter and The Perks of Being a Wallflower both made my list as well. I thought about adding Tell the Wolves I’m Home, but I loved it so much as a stand alone, I think I’d be afraid of a continuation.
My TTT.
Shannon @ River City Reading
Phew, I I had to fly by that Eleanor & Park and most of the comments because I didn’t want to be spoiled! But I totally agree with The Road. As much as I love McCarthy’s twisted mind, I really just wanted to pick it a bit more on that one!
Words for Worms
Sorry! It’s hard to talk E&P without being spoilertastic but it’s SO worth the read- I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. I’m glad you need some happiness in The Road, too. I think McCarthy would be, “and then there was one human left alone on the earth to slowly starve to death. Then the planet died. And there’s no life anywhere else in the universe either. And no afterlife. And all is bleak and horrible and desolate forever and ever and ever.”
Sarah Says Read
I would LOVE to see what became of June, and I totally want more Finn and Toby stories… maybe she could write a Finn & Toby prequel! I would be all over that.
And our happy-ever-after visions for E&P are pretty much the same 🙂 I just HAVE to believe that it all worked out. HAVE TO.
Words for Worms
I love that I’m not the only hopeless romantic for E&P.
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
YES yes yes yes! Totally onboard with Me Before You, E&P, et al!
Words for Worms
Wahoo! Let’s lobby them! Not really. But you know. Psychically.
PinotNinja
I totally agree about needing to know how The Road ended, because I left that book convinced that the “nice family” were just going to eat the little boy. I want to be proven wrong!! Please!
Words for Worms
Ha! I didn’t think they’d eat him, but I also didn’t think they’d fare well with the lack of food and wicked cannibals about…
The Underground Writer
You just helped Hell to freeze over. I never, EVER, buy a book without first borrowing it from the library to make sure I will like it enough to own it. But your description of ME BEFORE YOU was so fabulous I went to an actual bookstore and paid actual money for a copy. I SKIPPED THE LIBRARY. 😉
Words for Worms
Oh my word! I knew this would happen one day. I KNEW I’d bring about the Apocalypse!
Discord
How come MLP isn’t on the list.