Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish, where the writers, like me, are particularly fond of lists.
This week’s topic is…top 10 books I wish could have had sequels (they were complete stories but you just could have read more and more about these characters or set in that world).
This is a tough one, because lately I’ve been speaking out about how every book nowadays seems to be part of a trilogy or series. I think a lot of great books stand on their own, and don’t need sequels. Therefore, none of the below are books I really, really want to read a full sequel to, but ones where I sometimes wish I’d been able to get a definitive answer on what happened next.
1. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
We’ll start with I Capture the Castle. When I first read it (as a young teenager) I was saddened to find there was no sequel. I felt like I’d been shown a slice of Cassandra Mortmain’s life, and I really wanted to know exactly what happened next. Now, I see why Smith worked that way, but I still want to know more.
2. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
This is one of my favourite books, and ends on such a perfect melancholy note. Still, I’d love to ask Shriver what she thought happened next, and how Kevin and his mum dealt with each other.
3. Matilda by Roald Dahl
I’d love to find out what a grown-up Matilda was like. I imagine she set up a school for clever girls, and spent her life making sure all women got an education.
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Okay, I don’t want a full sequel but five minutes with John Green to find out his headcanon for Hazel would be great.
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Lord of the Rings series has a huge number of appendices which expand on the history of Middle Earth and events outside the books. I’d like something similar (on a much, much, much smaller scale) for The Hunger Games, where Collins tells us more about the world and how it copes after the Games finish. We get a small glimpse, but since it’s through Katniss’s point of view and she’s out of it, we don’t get much.
6. After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross
I read this recently (review here), and I’m quite happy that there’s not a sequel, because I think the characters I met are just fine. I would like to know from Cross, though, how (if) the world recovers and what’s ahead for Britain in her universe.
7. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
A beautiful, haunting novel, Never Let Me Go (review here) is pretty much perfect. Sometimes a small part of me wants to know exactly what happened to Kathy though, rather than me being the one to figure it out. I think it would be easier to come to terms with if Ishiguro spelt it out.
8. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
I’m a huge fan of Gaiman, and could read more of his worlds anytime. It was a toss up between Neverwhere and Stardust as to what went on this list, and I went for Neverwhere.
9. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
There is actually a sequel to this, called Scarlett, and written by someone who’s not Mitchell. I don’t need a full book, I just need to know whether Rhett ever forgives Scarlet and the two get together.
10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Another book I recently read (review here), Gone Girl‘s ending is jawdropping. I won’t spoil anything, but I’d love to know how the lives of the characters panned out. If you’ve read it, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
What books would you like to see sequels to?
Sarah Shaffi 
Oh yes, another TTT with Gone Girl! Totally agree with that pick! And it would be so lovely even to hear just bit more about Green's plans for Hazel.
Great list 🙂
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I'd love to know what happened after Gone Girl. I'm torn about Matilda, I'd love to know what happened in her life, but it's such a good stand alone book.
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We both have The Fault in Our Stars on our lists. I would LOVE to see more, but at the same time, I think I just want more of John Green's epic storytelling, you know? Great picks this week!
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It was only when I started thinking about this list that I realised I really wanted to know what happened after Gone Girl finished – like 20 years in the future.
Sarah
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Matilda is a great standalone, but I'd maybe like a short story about a grown up Matilda. And I hope Miss Honey found love!
Sarah
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I have a confession – I've not read anything else by John Green. I have Paper Towns though, and am going to get my hands on the rest of his stuff as soon as I can.
Thanks for the follow.
Sarah
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Great list! I definitely agree with several of these. Like I Capture the Castle – I really want to know what's next for Cassandra. And more background material for the Hunger Games would be amazing.
Thanks for stopping by my TTT! 🙂
Ashling @ Reading, Writing, & Anything but Arithmetic
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I would like to know what happens after Gone With the Wind…but only if Mitchell had written it because only she would know. I would like to know more about the world of the Hunger Games, too. It would be awesome if Collins would go a bit Tolkien on us all. Great list!
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Nice list! Many books I still have to read, especially Gone Girl.
Happy reading!
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I really wanted to know if Cassandra and Simon did get together, I wanted her to be happy!
Sarah
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I think I've only read one sequel not by the original author (Phantom of the Opera was the original novel) and it didn't work for me. I'm more open to “reimagined” novels, like Young James Bond and stuff though.
Perhaps we should gently suggest to Collins that she write some background pieces to The Hunger Games!
Sarah
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My comment about Gone Girl will make a lot more sense once you've read it!
Sarah
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Gosh yes that ending to Gone Girl was killer, and I would so love to read book two of Gone with the Wind..excellent list!
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I'm still a little stunned by how Gone Girl ended. I would never have thought that was what would happen, so I'd love to know how the lives of the characters panned out.
Sarah
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I completely agree with more Hunger Games books, as well as The Fault in Our Stars.
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My TTT.
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Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier.
I thought about adding The Fault in Our Stars to my list, but I just wasn't sure where I could see a sequel going so I left it off the list. But yeah, I think more John Green would just fit the bill for that one. 🙂
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
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A grown up Matilda would be awesome! 😀<3
Awesome list you have there & thanks for stopping by my TTT! (:
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I focused on standalones for my TTT, but if I'd done series, The Hunger Games would have been at the very top of my list. I don't think I could ever get tired of Katniss, even though I think Mockingjay had a perfect ending.
Thanks for visiting!
Stephanie @ Inspiring Insomnia
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I wouldn't mind another Hunger Games book (maybe one where Gale comes back instead of conveniently disappearing at the last minute). Ah, a Matilda sequel would be lovely! Love that book.
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I just don't like coming to my own conclusions with some books!
Thanks for stopping by.
Sarah
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I'm sure whatever John Green produced would be amazing. If I ever meet him, I will asking what happened to Hazel.
Sarah
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I love Matilda, and would love just a short story set 20 years after the book ended.
Sarah
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I found this topic really hard, since the standalones I've read are just perfect as they are. I wouldn't like to see a full sequel to anything really, but just want to know more. I'm too nosy!
Sarah
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I'd like Tolkein-style appendices. Perhaps one where we learn more about Finnick and Annie and how they met, one about Gale's life, one pre-books where we find out exactly how the Games started.
Sarah
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I read Scarlett and I'm pretty happy with how the story got wrapped up there!
Also, a sequel to Matilda would be SO GOOD! I love that book!!
And I'd love more of Katniss and Peeta and the world after the events in Mockingjay!
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I think a sequel to Matilda would be great. I loved the story.
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The Matilda thing has really got people excited. I guess we'll just have to keep hoping.
Sarah
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I think Katniss and Peeta's story felt a little rushed at the end of Mockingjay, so I'd love to see more of what happened.
Sarah
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I would definitely find it interesting to know what happened to the couple in Gone Girl after the end! I thought it was a really good read.
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Yes, I was stunned by the ending, and really want to know how it all panned out.
Sarah
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Oo, the idea of appendices for HG would be great, like a history book or something 😀
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I grown-up Matilda would be awesome!
I thought about putting Never Let Me Go on my list, but I have a feeling I wouldn't like what happens. Such a devastating book.
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I like the idea of a Hunger Games appendix. And more Gone with the Wind and I Capture the Castle! Great picks!
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Yes, the more I think about it, the more I love the idea.
Sarah
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More Never Let Me Go would be depressing, but I'd like a definitive answer on what happened, because I think my imagination is worse!
Sarah
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Thanks!
Sarah
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For Gone With the Wind, I wanted to know the same thing! Thanks for stopping by my top ten. Sorry it has taken so long to respond back.
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I like to imagine Rhett forgives Scarlett, I'm just not sure.
No worries, I know things get busy!
Sarah
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