Classic Book Follow Ons: Good or Bad?

I was cataloguing some books last week and came across the book you can see on your left - 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye (Buy it Now) by John David California. This unauthorised sequel to the classic cult novel Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger, which revisits Holden Caulfield 60 years on, has been quite controversial. Personally I have no desire to read the book, preferring to remember Holden Caulfield just as he was in the original novel. But as I thought longer on the topic, I realised there are actually quite a lot of classic books that have been followed on (not by the original author). In fact, there's apparently a term for such books. They're called "Parallel Novels" and they can also be prequels, spin-offs etc. Some well-known examples include:

• Mrs De Winter by Susan Hill - sequel to Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
• Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - prequel to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• An Unequal Marriage by Emma Tennant - sequel to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley - sequel to Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• March by Geraldine Brooks - parallel novel to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

There's obviously a market out there for these types of novels, but how do we all really feel about them? Have you read any of these types of books and did you enjoy them? Do they take away from the original book? Are they even necessary? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

New Giveaway - My Soul to Steal (by Rachel Vincent)

I don't know about you, but I feel like there's such a huge amount of choice in the young adult genre at the moment that it's hard to know where to start. I certainly don't remember there being this much variety when I was a teen. In celebration of all the amazing young adult series gracing bookstores at the moment, we are giving away a FREE copy of Rachel Vincent's My Soul to Steal. This is the fourth book in her popular Soul Screamers series.

To enter our book giveaway just tell us who your favourite young adult series writer is. Bonus entries can be earned for this giveaway. Just read the following for more information.

Bonus Entries
+1 Entry = Follow our Blog
+1 Entry = Liking the Reading Habit Page on Facebook (Click here to do so)
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+2 Entries = Provide a Link to our Giveaway on Your Blog
NB: If you're eligible for bonus entries, make sure you let us know when you leave your comment!!

Entries are open until 5pm EST on Friday 25th March 2011. The competition is open to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and the UK. The winner of the competition will be announced on Monday 28th March 2011. Good luck to everyone!!