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I disagree with you, Fbone. Only 2 of the 3 named authors are mediocre and calling them mediocre is actually putting them on a pedestal above where they belong. JK Rowling is not a mediocre writer if Stieg Larsson and Stephanie Meyer are ranked as mediocre. In relation to the latter two, Rowling is a brilliant writer, at least in her early books (I'll admit that the quality of writing declined as the series moved further along).
If you want to classify Rowling as mediocre, then the comparators (i.e., the other two named authors) need to be classified as part of the dustbin, especially Larsson. I can't recall another author of such poor quality who sold millions of books and at least 2 movie versions as Larsson.
Having said that, status changes for all of these writers if the focus is on telling a good story rather than the quality of writing. In Rowling and Meyers cases, this is especially true because they successfully induced millions of nonreaders to suddenly pickup and enjoy a book with no moving parts and and no animation built in. A major accomplishment that is worth praising.
Having read Larsson's 3 books because of the praise they garnered, I can't figure out what was so compelling about them or why anyone would bother. There are numerous other thriller writers with much better story-telling and writing skills that are waiting to be discovered by the masses.
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