Quote:
Originally Posted by spellbanisher
Yes, the tossing is anyone's prerogative. My point was that a book with an unconventional style can't "speak for itself" if it is tossed before the reader even gets into it. I don't think that is a problem, nor do I think people should force themselves to read books with unconventional styles if they are not disposed towards such a thing, anymore than someone who is indisposed to alcohol should force himself to try different wines. But i also wouldn't pay much attention to that person's wine critiques.
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Well I must confess I got bogged down less than halfway through at least one of your posts. Can't say exactly why but there seemed to be some possibly long winded obsessing going on. I can be that way myself, so not faulting you for sure.
I am perhaps misreading you but, you seem to be conceding points and contradicting your concession in the next line or two.
In the above post for example I see you saying people should not have to read books if they do not like the style, but the wine analogy implies that their opinions are irrelevant, and that they have not actually read farther than the first few pages. Certainly true in some cases, but doubtful for the majority IMO.
A person indisposed to alcohol with an opinion on wine, would in this case be analogous to a person indisposed to reading and an opinion on a book, regardless the reason., and I am pretty sure most of the people you are quoting and rebutting read on occasion. I am also of the opinion that many have tried to read books that they found the style to be irritating, and completed a few.
I disagree with calling the author pretentious for choosing this style, or saying that it is in any way wrong even if I hate it. Lots of books I hate make it to the libraries, the bestseller lists and are on my mother's TBR list. Not the authors problem if I hate them and I don't even tell my mother I hate them (hate is not to strong a term here) Why rain on her parade and spoil something she enjoys, anymore than refusing to stock red wine which she prefers because I prefer white.
Helen