Great Expectations

I believe this book has convinced me to discontinue reading books that were originally published as a serial. You get the feeling that the story is longer than needed to keep the reader hooked to its original artificially expanded publishing schedule.

Compare a 10 episode season of an HBO or Netflix show with a 22 episode Network show. Some of the story is filler due to contractually obligated demands to fill slots in a schedule, or columns on the page to keep the interest of an audience that can attract advertisers.