I will try to give an example of what I have seen happening in sequels that I dislike. For example, Mr. Darcy, who was humbled by Lizzie's refusal, reverts back to being proud and arrogant. Or, Anne Elliott becomes an indecisive woman, easily pushed around by all of her odious relations. If Austen had continued their stories, they would have developed beyond their individual "turning point" in the original story. I feel some authors find it convenient to use "discarded" character traits to set the scene in the new story. It almost offends me to see a beloved character set back in this way.

Writing any novel is difficult, and writing a sequel should be even more difficult. This is why I tend to burn out on sequels in any genre. An author has to really work to add something new to the story or to keep the character growth going. And this shouldn't just be throwing in a new lover or a new job. This is why I stopped reading Maisie Dobbs, for example. She just wasn't going anywhere. I also have experienced this with several mystery seies: Anne Perry's Victorian books, "The Cat Who...." series.

This can make an interesting discussion topic when enough people are finished with
Mansfield Revisited. Lots of sides to take in this one!

Or can I pose one more thing -- very broad thought here --

Do series/sequels in the modern day, actually do what I described?

Or do they follow "formula" book by book? I know that is what some readers may like, but what do the authors strive to do?

Does it depend on the genre?

Jeannette, that is an interesting specific -- something I think I will keep in mind as I read through some of the other continuations. And Hexenmaedel's point that the sequels may have more abrupt plot exposition, you might call it, or that characters are too direct?

So maybe these three things:
--lack of original scenes to set up the story
--abrupt plot exposition
--characters too abrupt or direct

Might help as we discuss future fan fiction. It may be vague to say, but I think that fan fiction, in the case of Austen anyway, should have a tone unique from that of Austen. For example, if the novel is meant to be a continuation of story, the characters should reveal more in some way. Sort of like, can we not see two continued characters in some way different? Find out more about their inner landscape, see them reveal that to another character, see them go beyond where they were before. And not just more sex or something (really, I am not trying to be funny.) But if Jane were here to write the sequel, SHE would take the characters beyond where they were or experiment with different tones to the story -- that is why a sequel would be written to start with, right? Jeannette, is that something of what you are saying also?

I know this is the NO Spoiler folder for this novel, so I won't give examples here, but maybe later as H. and others may finish the Aiken novel -- and read what we have talked about in the other thread.

hexenmaedel wrote: "Just started reading. Julia suggesting that Fanny might stay where she would be no trouble to anyone. I would have thought one could set the scene in a more subtle way, but maybe this is the fate o..."

I do think that authors borrow scenes to set the tone when they could draw it better themselves. This is one of the things that always annoys me about sequels -- characters acting in ways that they had (in my interpretation) overcome by book's end, just to set the mood of the sequel.

Julia continues to be self-absorbed and quite tactless in Aiken's story.

Look for the a nice amount of dialog in this novel. Lots of characters and interaction, which is one of its strong points. You may or may not like her treatment of the classic characters, but Aiken is a veteran writer and I think it shows.

Just started reading. Julia suggesting that Fanny might stay where she would be no trouble to anyone. I would have thought one could set the scene in a more subtle way, but maybe this is the fate of sequels, having to say (and soon) what otherwise would at max be alluded to...

Finished it and did like it. Look forward to "annoying" people on the discussion boards! :)

You are right. I am almost finished (it is a quick read) and I am enjoying it. I have to look past a few "was that really in the book?" moments and evaluate it on its own merits.

The novel has a way of unfolding -- not promising that you'll like it of course -- but give it a few morechapters

I have started this book, but I don't really like it. It always annoys me when an author has to turn people "nasty" in order to make the plot work. I thought that Tom was improved by his long illness, but he starts out rude to Fanny. Julia, too, is turned into an antagonist. I'll wait to see how this turns out.

If you aren't finished but really want to bring out discussion from different parts of the novel, here's the place--