It was one of your very favorite book series.
While waiting for the latest installment to be published, you read the volumes you already owned over and over.
You hand-stitched a costume based on an obscure character to wear to the book release party.
To avoid spoilers, you stayed up all night reading.
And then—CRASH!
Turns out, this book isn’t what you were expecting.
Turns out it’s actually kind of… not good.
So not good that it hurts.
The “series train wreck survivor” merit badge can’t change how you feel, but may serve as a reminder that life goes on.
Perhaps, in time, you will learn to love again.
Part of the merit badges for readers series. The badge may be posted on your site or blog. Tell us why you’ve earned (or will never earn) it in the comments.
11 Comments
I generally start reading series at the second book as to avoid situations like these. With that said, third books are generally disappointing, and I hate it anyway when a series ends.
Another post about Harry Potter?
@Hillary: Actually, it was thinking about reactions to a different series’ conclusion that sparked this badge.
That said, there are several recent YA series that I could easily see people claiming this badge for, and Harry Potter isn’t not one of them…
WHICH ISN’T TO SAY you couldn’t legitimately have enjoyed the end of a series when someone else saw it as a train wreck.
Oh, why did I let myself do this badge? This way lies madness, for sure…
*cough* Anne Rice *cough*
I have just one thing to say about this badge: Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time. Such a good start, but about halfway through I just couldn’t stand reading them anymore. I hate it when that happens.
Not YA, but I’m expecting Jean Auel’s to be highly qualifying for this when the final book comes out next year.
Oh yeah. His Dark Materials. I loved, loved, LOVED the first book. I hate, hate, HATE the last one. And Philip Pullman.
Yeah,…Robert Jordan – good for him that he’s dead, or I would strangle the man…
Cornelia Funcke…Inkheart…ARRRGH! I couldn’t finish the last book….and I HATE her for it.
*sticks flag in merit badge*
Thank you, Janet Evanovich.
I love hearing what a wide variety of things have ended horribly! Fascinating.