Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Plum series

[oyceter]

I've stopped my mad speed through the books -- I'm stuck at the beginning of the eighth book, and sadly, I don't think I really am going to keep going for now. Maybe read too many at once or something.

And while I would like it more if the characters went through some growth and didn't remain static, in general I'm ok with that. I think what annoys me the most right now is the love triangle. For those of you luckily not subject to my Sydney/Vaughn rants, I really dislike love triangles. This is why I never liked Guinevere (prior to GGK). I'm ok if it's a couple in love and then an unrequited love or something, although for those, I tend to feel extremely sorry for the unrequited love person. What annoys me the most are those stupid love triangles in which one party cannot make up his or her mind and ends up waffling for all time. It makes me feel very nidgy and uncomfortable.

So unsurprisingly, I started liking the series less around book five or six, which is when Ranger steps in as a romantic interest as well. Right now I cannot stand Stephanie's indecision between Morelli and Ranger. Luckily, I am not seething at Stephanie (unlike Vaughn), but it still causes that nidgy feeling. Plus, I like Morelli better, and I absolutely hate taking sides in a love triangle as well because of the sheer level of nervousness involved. Either that, or I am way too involved in my books. But we all knew that.

Comments

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Either that, or I am way too involved in my books.

Is that possible?

[oyceter]

Hee ^_^. Too true.

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Also, by book six, the constant exploding of Stephanie's cars becomes less comically repetitive and more predictably rote.

[oyceter]

It's true -- although I still giggled about the one that got smashed by the garbage truck.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Maybe read too many at once or something.

That happened to me. I stopped partway through book three or four.

I liked Morelli better than Ranger, too.

[oyceter]

Yeah... I think I might pick up book eight after I completely forget what's happened previously, so I will be pleasantly surprised by exploding cars and the like.

I think I like Morelli's not-togetherness. Plus, he's a cop. Not that I actually have a thing for cops, but I kind of like the legitimate job combined with the rakish past.

Nervousness and nidgy (good word btw)

[ann1962]

"I'm ok if it's a couple in love and then an unrequited love or something, although for those, I tend to feel extremely sorry for the unrequited love person. What annoys me the most are those stupid love triangles in which one party cannot make up his or her mind and ends up waffling for all time. It makes me feel very nidgy and uncomfortable."

Me too! I have never enjoyed the anxiety this brings me. Have always been like this. Movies such as Sleepless in Seattle and that ilk do me in. I guess I have been that third person once or twice so it doesn't sit well with me. The third person's feelings are disregarded and disposed. Can't stand that. The indecision that Stephanie feels didn't bother me too much as it was clear she was not ready to make any decision anyway. I think Plum does that on purpose so she doesn't alienate any Ranger or Morelli fans. Got to keep the fan base firm and whole.

Re: Nervousness and nidgy (good word btw)

[oyceter]

I think my roommate made it up ^_^. Or discovered it, or something. It was funny because I immediately understood what it meant (probably because I make up words too) and everyone else was very confused.

The near misses in Sleepless in Seattle drive me crazy! And I nearly always feel bad for the third party and try to make up my own happy love story for them, hee.

I definitely think Evanovich is trying not to take sides... sigh.

[rue10.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not uber crazy about either of the guys, so that part didn't bother me-- but it does, around book six, stop being fresh. Nothing much seems to happen to Stephanie, except for random bouncing back and forth between boys. I still, however, think the multiple car-deaths are still absolutely hilarious. And I had enough enthusiasm for the earlier books that it extends to the whole series (much like, I believe, some people had for Buffy regarding season seven) (or I guess season six, though of course that one was by far the one I was most engaged in; yay Buffy season 6!), and I'm willing to continue on in the hopes of future freshness.

[oyceter]

I think I'm still fond of the series as a whole -- nothing that made me laugh so much can be bad. But I do kind of wish it wasn't quite so formulaic. I think it will be better when I read them in a not-so-mad-rush.

Yay, Buffy S6 fan! ^_^

Sigh. I always get sad when I see the Buffy category in my memories and know there are no new eps to add.

[rue10.livejournal.com]

Aw!!!!! Yes, I was listening to the Radio Sunnydale soundtrack a month or two go, and I got all teary listening to the Breeders' version of the theme song. Teary!

[oyceter]

Awwww!

Wait, there's another version? Weird!

It's not the triangular stuff that irritates me...

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

... as the way that nine books in Steph is still bumbling around being cute and helpless. I would like to see a little development and skills, and maybe a little angst about am-I-getting-desensitised (although Evanovich doesn't do Big Angst).

Re: It's not the triangular stuff that irritates me...

[oyceter]

I think I kind of figured out that there probably wasn't going to be any development after about the second book. But yeah, I think it would have been much more interesting with the development (and potential angst).

I now have a strange vision of Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter, the new TV show by Joss Whedon.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I wish now we'd been friends during my falling-out-of-love with Alias.

[oyceter]

Ohhh thank you! ZOMG. I had to stop watching Alias because I was screaming at the TV too much. (not only do I dislike love triangles, I hate Alias' gender politics with a vengeance.)

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I also hated the way they stripped away Sidney's normal life and friends so she was merely a spydrone.

[oyceter]

OMG yes. And then there was that whole "all the women are dead and/or evil" thing. Raaar!

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Yes. Though I did love Lena Olin. She could be evil at me any time.