I am considering whether to read this 140-chapter (over 5 books) story, Learning Curves, by Jay Cantrell. I notice it's score is well over 8.
That many words seems like a big challenge to me. As far as I can tell, none of the 5 books (nor the set) has been reviewed.
I'd sure like to hear people's opinions about this story - writing, characters, etc.
'Learning Curves' is a single story not associated with any other Jay Cantrell story, although there is some bleed-over from 'Daze in the Valley' and 'A Flawed Diamond'.[Characters from those two stories play minor roles] I consider it a good story, to the point I have reread it multiple times.
I've read all of the completed stories by Jay Cantrell and would recommend any of them. My only disappointment is that it seems we won't be seeing anymore of his work, unless he is planning a comeback after being gone for over a year (I suppose stranger things have happened)
According to several posts Jay Cantrell has made, he intends to return to writing. He is comparatively young, and still working. the Government interference and other side-effects of Covid-19 significantly affected him and his family.
I believe that he had some family move in with him, and other chaos.
Lack of time, in need to work longer hours (and resulting burnout) may prevent him from posting. He stated he has been writing a bit, but is not prepared to post for some time (which may be a year or two more "reading between the lines")
According to several posts Jay Cantrell has made, he intends to return to writing. He is comparatively young, and still working. the Government interference and other side-effects of Covid-19 significantly affected him and his family.
I believe that he had some family move in with him, and other chaos.
Lack of time, in need to work longer hours (and resulting burnout) may prevent him from posting. He stated he has been writing a bit, but is not prepared to post for some time (which may be a year or two more "reading between the lines")
I enjoyed it, but it is a long story. I routinely read multi-million word web novels so it was not an issue for me, but it's true that Learning Curves is several times longer than a paperback novel.
Like "Runaway Train" and "Unending weeks" I felt they were too wordy as in too much dialogue. Not to mention too slow. One day shouldn't take 2-3 chapters.
Have you ever looked at Gina Marie Wylie's Tom's Diary? 1168 KB for 29 days. She was planning to write more but - as far as I remember - worked out how many words that was going to be and gave up.
The Bec series by BarBar is even more extreme but there are good reasons for that. There may be another story to come in that Universe.
140-chapter
It's like everything else he's written - excellent.
Don't get hung up on there being 140 chapters. Chapter LENGTH makes a big difference. His chapters are in the 4,500 - 5,000 word length. For comparison, MY chapters tend to be 12,500 - 14,000 words in length. I've got 120 chapters posted so far in A True History. You've read that, right?
I've got 120 chapters posted so far in A True History. You've read that, right?
I AM reading A True History - but have not yet finished it.
have not yet finished it.
Thank you. I'm laughing a little, because neither have I. Book 5 should be out between Halloween and Christmas, and I'm HOPING that'll be the last one in the series. (Damned character driven story - you never know where it'll take you.)
I enjoyed it. Its character driven, not a sex story. It needs a sequel to finish the story arc. Unending Nights had Unforgettable Weeks, Learning Curves is missing that second chapter. If you read a few chapters and like the MC then continue, as he doesn't change that much. If not, then drop it. The female antagonist does go through life and personality changes.
The female antagonist does go through life and personality changes.
Just to add, she appears to go through life & personality changes, in fact thats her character arc, but I didn't buy it. The MC's arc is more a gradual revealing of his power level, both social & financial, which he had suppressed at the beginning of the book, but is much more open and forceful about at the end.
I just wish that he would finish the Andy and Regan story. He posted the first chapter of the third story on Patreon a couple of years ago, but that's it.
Unending Nights had Unforgettable Weeks, Learning Curves is missing that second chapter.
If you merged 'Unending Nights' and 'Unforgettable Weeks' into one, I reckon it would look very similar to 'Learning Curves'. Both stories are amenable to sequels.
AJ
Ending Frights and Forgettable Freaks. Got to drop the U's and N's out of the titles. FR works for both N ights and W eeks. Or W eaks. Double U (W) is also a U probably.
An earlier post discussed comparing UN and AJ.
"Amenable to sequels" here is code for "unresolved." I'd be satisfied with one more chapter on the end of Unforgettable Weeks, set at the graduation party, in which things are fully resolved.
Learning Curves needs the opposite. It had a perfect spot to end things (a certain "life event"), but instead he kept going and left off at a much less emotionally satisfying spot.
I didn't care for the female characters so I dropped it, like all Cantrell stories I've tried, actually.
One of the better 'characters grow and change' stories I've read. It's fairly realistic in its changes for their ages and personalities. Jay has a nice touch with all of his characters. I'll admit that the first chapters were difficult for me to read - Hailey is a stone-cold bitch early on & bore a very strong resemblance (personality wise) to my ex ...but it grew on me as his characters evolved & grew up a bit.
