Carrie posted a comment a while back that I thought was particularly interesting. I think I had just added a whole bunch of “novellas” to an author’s page on the site, and I sort of was left wondering about this very same thing.
Carrie:
“I was thrilled to see a new Deanna Raybourn listed, until I saw the dreaded word “novella”.
According to your link the printed length of this novella is 58 pages and the Lady Julia mysteries are usually 400 pages or more. So, unless it is going to be sold at an eighth of the price of her other books then it can’t be considered any where near value for money. (Usually novellas are priced at approximately two thirds of the cost of a full novel by the same author.)
I buy a lot of books and, for some books, am prepared to pay over the odds. Such as obtaining the missing volume in a favorite author’s series. However, I do object to feeling as though I’ve been “ripped off” by the author or publisher and novellas do tend to make me feel that way.
Either write a full length novel or include the novella in a book of short stories, but to expect people to pay over the odds for what is after all a short story just doesn’t seem right.
Am I the only one who feels like this?”
Several of the “classic authors” including Agatha Christie wrote short stories. Some of the Poirot and Miss Marple books were collections of stories put together to make a mystery novel.
To me, it seems like we are seeing more and more authors getting on the “novella” bandwagon. E-books make it easy to get the “novellas” to the reader. I know that some authors really like the “novella” format, but I wonder about the readers.
When you have a choice between reading a mystery with one of your favorite sleuths, do you prefer reading a full-length mystery book or a short story? Do you have a preference?
So, I’m asking (for Carrie) what you all think about this new wave of “novellas”? Do you prefer mystery books over mystery “novellas” (stories)?
Cathy says
Agree with Carrie and definitely prefer full-length…so much, that I won’t even read a novella….it’s kinda like eating JUST salad for dinner, might be good but hardly satisfying, lol
Lucy F. says
I am not a fan of the novella format. I love Agatha Christie’s short stories because they were so well written. But it seems that the novellas of today are more like a skeletal outline of a full-length mystery. The plot goes too quickly and there seems no room for red herrings and such making them far less enjoyable to me. So I guess I agree with Carrie. Give me a full-length mystery any day!
ginger g. says
Mystery book. I agree with Carrie put in a book with novellas.
Donna says
Me too! I like short stories and novels with a well developed story. People are in such a rush to publish nowadays that quality seems to be falling by the wayside, and that’s kind of sad. I tend to read the older authors more and more often, and finding a classic short story anthology is a real treat!
Brenda BrendaK says
I wholeheartedly agree with Carrie. I definitely prefer a full length novel. It is a far more enticing read. It allows for more character and plot development.
Mystery Lady says
I will always reach for the longer book. They have so much more to offer the reader. I appreciate all the twists and turns the story can take. Call it what you will, a short story is still just a short story.
LindaG says
In general, I don’t like a short story (I feel cheated – no “meat” to it, lol), however, I DO like Anne Perry’s Christmas series. I don’t know whether they are considered novellas or not.
reginav says
I do not like novellas. They are too short and many of them are under-developed I also feel cheated when I buy one and pay full price for a non-book.
Barbara says
I have never been a fan of short stories thus I also do not like the new trend of novellas the authors are developing.
Annette says
I agree, have learned to look how many pages in the book before buying. Do not like the novellas for all the reasons that have been listed. Unless they are free I do not e enough look.
Moonlight says
If I like the author or the characters, a short story is too short especially in the mystery genre. (Sherlock Holmes is the exeption to the rule!) I tend to borrow short story collections or read them as free downloads from author websites than actually pay for them. One of the authors on my auto-buy list states that she writes her short stories as full length novels and then has to pare them down. And that just makes me sad.
Deahna says
I agree with Carrie and Lucy F. but in one case a novella helped get me a bit of background to explain things I couldn’t place before. The price was about one third of the full-length mysteries at only 35 pages so this, too, was quite pricey. Otherwise just keep novellas out of my way 😉
Marianne says
I would much rather read a full-length novel than a short story – “Kinsey and Me” is a case in point. I did like the stories but only because I feel I already know Kinsey. If that were my first Grafton, I don’t know that I’d pick up another.
Debbie Macomber’s and some of Jennifer Chiaverini’s “novels” really feel like novellas to me, as they alternate stories about different people into one book. Again, I don’t like them as much as a meaty novel.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I don’t mind a novella IF it is priced accordingly. Some of Frank Tuttle’s earlier works are long novella length and are wonderful–and they only cost 3 dollars or so. Three of them are combined to form the print edition, which then sells for somewhere around normal novel price. (He writes cozy paranormal.)
Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy) puts out short stories and novellas, but she does it outside of her publisher so they can be priced accordingly (usually 99 cents for the shorts stories and somewhere around 1.99 for longish works.)
Several authors do this in response to fans wanting side trips of characters other than the main. I sometimes read them and sometimes don’t.
I know that publishers are putting some pressure on authors to do novellas–it keeps the author name out there so that readers don’t forget about us! BUT, they have to be priced accordingly for me to read them. Another one that comes to mind is a paranormal romance novella that I enjoyed, Driving Mr. Dead. It was very cheap and quite long for a novella. I enjoyed it. The mystery part was a tad stunted, but that does sometimes happen in a novella.
Sheila says
No brainer. I prefer Novels to Novella. Never like Short Stories/Novella. Give me a book with pages.
Patti S. says
I prefer the full length mystery book. For me, the novella is too short to really get to know the characters, etc. never have been a fan of novellas.
Mary Joy W says
I much prefer the novels over the novellas. It seems like I’m just starting to “sink my teeth” into the story and it is over, leaving me wanting more. If it is a very favorite author, I’d purchase it anyway. However, I agree that it seems like a rip off and like to read the full length novels. This is much like the annoyance of the cost of the ebooks being close to or the same as paper books (which I know has been much discussed here previously). Fortunately, most of the authors I enjoy do not seem to be into writing the novellas – yet, anyway!
Angela says
I don’t mind a novella that fills in background story on a favorite character(s). A novella and a short story are not the same thing. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a novella as,
“a story with a compact and pointed plot” 2) “a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel”
I don’t expect a novella to contain a complete story or have a high level of detail, I look at them as fillers to the world the author has created in the full length series. A well written novella should give a more complete picture of the background of a character or setting in my opinion.
Having said that, I do have a problem with the fact that many contemporary authors are publishing these novellas as e-only publications. I am one of those book purists that prefers to keep my books paper but because I was missing out on so many of these novellas I felt forced to purchase a reader. I think if the author is going to write and publish a story it should be available in all formats.
Judith says
While I prefer novels, I also enjoy well-written short stories. If an author I like has a short story in an anthology, I borrow that book from the library and read all of the stories. I have found several new authors this way and found new series of books to enjoy. I have also found authors that, after reading their short story, I will not read their books. Unlike Danna, I do not have a 50 page rule when reading books as I have found some that I enjoy that were very slow getting started and reading a short story gives you a feel for the author’s ability to tell a story.
Lee Ann says
I agree with everyone that novellas are too short and just when you get to the end you want more. I just happen to purchase a novella for my Kindle and it also came with 2 other books the author writes as samples. This gave me an idea that I might want to try her other books.
Not too long ago on this blog there was a discussion about novels being too long and now about novella. So I ask how long is the perfect book?
Deahna says
For me that’s 250 to 300 pages. Enough to sink my teeth into but mainly without all the annoying fluff, too long side stories, lengthy, technical explications (I do like an author doing research but I don’t want to read too much of that in the mystery) or yet another problem with the heroine’s relationship.
Donna says
There’s also been some discussion about too much filler in novels, and that makes me wonder if the publishers/authors are attempting to address that complaint with the shorter novellas? It’s just a thought. If that is the case, though, they are missing the point – readers want a good, solid plot/story/character development, not just a shorter version of a novel with the fluff cut out. It’s about the quality of the writing.
Laurel says
I definitely prefer novels in the cozy mystery realm. I don’t think the length of a novella gives time for the character(s) or storyline to fully develop. I almost feel like I’m being teased and that’s just plain mean. 🙂 BUT, if I’m unfamiliar with an author, I wouldn’t be opposed to reading one to see if I can get a feel for her writing before spending a lot of time on a novel just to decide I’ve wasted my time.
Mary H says
I prefer the full length book. If the author wants to do a Novella, fine, but please combine them into several story book making it a worthwhile purchase for us, the reader . I will only download the free novellas. Maybe I am cheap but with alot of good books out on the market these days, I gotta get more bang for my buck when I buy books. Just my opinion…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks for all of your responses. Looks like the majority of us agree about the Novel length being a whole lot better than the Novella. (I enjoyed reading all of your comments, and got a kick out of quite a few.) Personally, I’m not happy finding out that “publishers are putting some pressure on authors to do novellas”.
I can certainly understand why publishers aren’t able to “make it worth their while” to publish novellas as stand alone, “real” books that they would have to mail out. That makes it pretty unfair to the people who don’t own Kindles or Nooks.
linda c says
Danna, this subject is rather an iffy one. I like to read the short stories by a new to me author in order to get some kind of insight as to what style that writer is writing in. If that short story isn’t very good chances are that I won’t even bother with a full length book. But if the short story is written by one of my all time favorites then I will read it.
I was able to buy a few short stories by Dana Stabenow for my Kindle. Give me a short story, any kind of story by authors like this and I will read them. There are just some writers that I will read regardless of the length of the book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good point, Linda C.
mark says
I’m happy to be the dissenting voice. I really like novellas. I am a parent of 3, hold 2 jobs, yada yada yada. Point is I’m pretty busy.
I usually don’t have the attention span for anything over 250-300 pages. I also don’t buy new books so I don’t feel cheated by shorter ones. Granted novellas are more common in sf.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mark, I’m finding more and more authors who are writing novellas. I’m guessing that although your “the dissenting voice” about them, lots of us are happy to read them. I’m afraid I share your attention span for anything over 250-300 pages. The books had better be doggone good at those lengths!
Mark says
Thanx Danna. Glad to hear I’m not alone!
jess says
I just like a good story, regardless of length. Sometimes I actually PREFER a novella length because it allows me to read it within a certain time frame (for instance, a lazy Sunday afternoon. I can happily go to bed knowing whodunit.)
If I have an author I really like, I LIKE if they do novellas because I can usually count on another book in shorter amount of time. I used to hate to wait a year or more for a favorite author to come out with their next book.
Another reason I like novellas is because if it’s NOT a good story, I can either put it down with no guilt, or finish it and at least I didn’t waste a lot of time on a full length book.
Basically, I’m not prejudiced. As long as I like it, I don’t mind a shorter format at all.
Ann says
Henry James was a great champion of the novella and his are superb. They include a lot of psychological suspense and so are usually mysteries in a way. The Nero Wolfe mysteries are mostly novellas. I have just finished a collection of O. Henry short stories and I like them also. Nothing is worse than an overburdened novel that sags in the middle. All three of these forms can be enjoyable. A good novella or short story hints effectively at those elements that are more developed in the longer form, the novel.