by Marisa O'Neill
“Jump the shark” is one of my favorite phrases in TVlandia. It’s
an often used phrase which owes it’s origins to the television show
Happy Days. If you’re too young to remember, Happy Days was one of the
most successful sitcoms on television during the 70’s and ran for ten
years. And on one fateful night, September 20, 1977, it jumped the shark – literally. In
a three-part episode, hoping to boost ratings, the bright executives
and writers in charge, had their beloved character Fonzie, played by
Henry Winkler, water ski with a bathing suit and his trademark leather jacket on , and yes, he jumps over a shark. It
has become a defining moment in television history that now crosses
over into pop culture. It is now used to describe what can happen when
something that has been of long and sustained quality begins to spiral
into the abyss of ‘been there done that’ or into the ridiculousness of
‘I can’t believe they did that’, where viewers no longer have any
interest.
There are many beloved romance novel
series out there. The first that comes to mind is J.D. Robb’s In Death
series – with over 25 books. Then of course there’s Julia
Quinn’s Bridgerton Series, Brenda Jackon’s Madaris Family Series,
Victoria Alexander’s Effington Series, Jo Beverley’s Malloren Family
Series, Stephanie Laurens Cynster Series, Mary Balogh Slightly Series,
Rochelle Alers Hideaway Legacy Series, Catherine Coulter FBI series –
and the list goes on. Personally, I’m a series kind-o-gal. You all know
I love revisiting characters, places and continuing story arcs, so when
some one says series, I’m pretty much there. But, what happens when a
series jumps the shark? It’s a hard question for me to answer.
I’ve recently read two different books
from two different series from two of my favorite authors with mixed
and surprising results.
The first book I read was Dark Curse by Christine Feehan, which releases September 2, 2008 and is the 19th book in the Dark Series. Now,
see, this is a series that I thought had definitely jumped the shark,
oh, around book 15 – but I kept buying and reading. I still wanted me
some dark, uber alpha Carpathian male to beat his chest and say ‘you
are woman I am man and you belong to me’. I also really enjoy the way
Ms. Feehan writes and the world building was quite fascinating to me. I
think her mythology is unique and original– the first book in the
series, Dark Prince, debuting in 1999. Her heroines have always
intrigued me, running the gamut from head strong, willful and dominant
to unsure and questioning; but always intelligent and eventually
fearless. However each book continued to re-hash the same
mythology and pathos of the world and the characters, until finally
after book 17, I said NO MORE, and totally skipped reading book 18,
Dark Possession. So, when my ARC of Dark Curse arrived I was like an
addict alone in the room with a fix and a war going on in my head –
don’t do it, but I can’t stop myself, but you said no more, I know but
just one more time… until finally the addict in me won out. And I’m
glad she did. I was surprised and delighted by Dark Curse and it sparked renewed interest in the series. In
this latest addition to the series, Ms. Feehan expounds on the world
and characters she has lovingly created and goes beyond the pathos to
some real answers for the characters. This book has real
depth to it, going beyond the ground work she has laid down in previous
books to get to the crux of the matter - why the Carpathian race is
dying out. In addition to the very romantic and
compelling story line between the hero and heroine Lara Calladine and
Nicolas De La Cruz, we also get to visit with many other characters
from other books and even some from the novellas,
Vikirnoff and Natalya, Gregori and Savannah, Francesca, Mikhail and
Raven, Shea and Jacques to name a few. They don’t just have a walk on,
mention what fine weather they’re having or drop off a bunt cake. They
have substantial roles to play and bring cohesiveness to the story and
believability to the universal story line. The intrigue and mystery to
some of the long standing questions readers may have had begins to be
illuminated and I say bravo and about time. As a reader, Dark Curse
finally made me feel as if I was reaching for something that was
attainable. It was like when they announced that the TV series Lost was
going to have an end date. From then on each episode was that much
clearer and sharper and relevant. So I suggest to long standing fans of
this series, if you thought about giving up, don’t, and pick up Dark
Curse. Who knew you could jump the shark and come back.
The second book I read was Into the Fire, from the ever brilliant Suzanne Brockmann. It is the 13th book in her Troubleshooter Series. I’ve been on board from the beginning, actually from before the beginning. And
those of you who have read Ms. Brockmann’s Tall Dark and Dangerous
Series (all of which are being reissued, so definitely pick them up if
you can) know what I’m talking about. I’ve been on board through Sam
and Alyssa’s story line which carried through several books and made me
totally psychotic and anxious, and through Jules and Robin another
story line that carried over through several books and again made me
bite my nails to the quick, and even Tess and Nash’s story line which
was resolved and then unresolved and is now just up for grabs. The
reason I hung on was because the characters are so thoughtfully written
and three dimensional. They deal with both everyday issues like laundry
and food shopping but at the same time they’re usually putting their
lives on the line fighting some terrorist organization hell bent on
destroying the world. All of them, from Decker to Dave and Izzy to Tom have captivated my emotions and imagination. And
there’s the fact that Suzanne sure can write dialog, yes she has a way
with words that succinctly and immediately let’s you in. However, I’m thinking Into the Fire may have jumped the shark. I say MAY,
because there aren’t any ‘ridiculous’ plot points or any of the ‘we’ve
been there read that’ – but because she leaves so many unresolved story
arcs between love interests that you want to hurl the book across the
room. I have to say, I’m really not a big fan of the long drawn out
misunderstanding because of lack of communication. I know, I said I
hung on for Alyssa and Sam and Jules and Robin. But truth be told, I’m
a bit tired. It’s exhausting rooting for certain characters and then
left hanging time and time again.
Unlike a weekly television show where
you only have to wait seven days until some kind of resolution after a
cliff hanging situation, books are different. You often have to wait up to a year, sometimes more, before you get the next book in the series. To
be fair to Ms. Brockmann, on her web site she says that the next book
will in fact start the exact same day that Into the Fire Ends and will
be a direct sequel releasing in February 2009. So we only have to wait six months? As Meredith in Grey’s Anatomy would say, Seriously?
Given that, I’m still on board, I’d
even go so far as to say I’m on board in a big way. Ms. Brockmann
always gives us a great ride, dramatic, romantic and suspenseful. And
Into the Fire is no exception. It’s a pulse pounding, exciting, sigh
worthy book. So yes, I’m buying the next book, ‘gotta find out what
happens next.
What I want to know from you
is, when, as a devoted reader to a series, have you had enough? What is
the turning point for you? When does a series jump the shark? And if it
jumps the shark, are you willing to hang on in hopes that it will find
it’s way back ?
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