Which do you prefer? Short stories? Or full-length novels?
For me, it's no contest, full length novels! I don't know what it is about short stories but they remind me of school. I think our teachers kept feeding them to us because we would be more likely to read them so whenever I pick up a collection of short stories I am brought back to middle school, and honestly, not a time I want to remember! The most recent collection I read however this feeling of being back in middle school actually worked quite well for the book as it was a short story collection of how Judy Blume's books affected writers and I actually really liked it. So every once in awhile I'll try a collection again if it's from an author I really like or on a subject that I think will probably lend towards humor.
On the whole though, 99% of the time I choose full length novels. I want the story to develop fully. I want to get to know the characters for a few days, not for just a few minutes. In short, I want to be a part of their lives for a while and I think, for me, novels do that better.
Which do you prefer?
I'm with you on choosing full-length almost every time. However, when I read Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, I fell in love with those short stories. I think short stories are harder to write (but I don't really know) cause they have less time to draw you in. But, there are a lot of shorts that pack a punch in that small time.
ReplyDeleteWe are of the same mind! School did it in for me too regarding short stories. Here is my Booking Through Thursday!
ReplyDeletePretty much exactly how I would answer that question!
ReplyDeleteI for the most part prefer novels but I have a few favorite short stories: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and Cowboys are My Weakness by Pam Houston.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I am in the full length novel category - but this year I have kind of discovered short stories. I never had to read any at school though, so am not scarred!
ReplyDeleteI am by far the full length novel. Occasionally I find a short story that works for me but on a whole I skip them unless they are tie-ins to novels that might have series information in them.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the novels. Every once in awhile I'll read short stories, but it's rare.
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