Authors you avoid because of oversaturation

mjh215 · 05-04-2009, 02:54 PM

Do you avoid books or authors because of too much publicity? Whether directly from the corporate world or by word of mouth? I'd love to say I'm above this because I think it is just as bad as reading a book because it is advertised as a bestseller. Unfortunately I'd be lying, as I do avoid them. I simply get tired of hearing about an author or book and never read them, there are a few popular authors that I would probably enjoy that get on that list such as Stephen King. I avoided the Harry Potter series for quite awhile til I had a 'sit down' with a friend that explained that they were in fact fairly good reads.

So, what books or authors do you find yourself avoiding for this reason? And not because you feel you'd dislike them.

-MJ (And I'll never ever read the Da Vinci Code

)

krisk · 05-04-2009, 02:59 PM

I avoided King for a few years because of this, but then he published, what was it? Dragon Eyes? or something? and I got sucked right back in.

Andybaby · 05-04-2009, 03:20 PM

I dont avoid authors unless there are two books by them i dont like, but it would take me a long time to pick up a second book by them if i didnt like the first.

I have atleast 2 best sellers on my reader right now, both by peter hamilton. i probably have more, but its not like i check alot of the time

if an author is popular, i think there is a general reason for it.

ruskie · 05-05-2009, 02:21 AM

I don't care much either way. It really depends if I like the subject matter/style of writing/etc...

And even then I tend to read it.

Ea · 05-05-2009, 03:41 AM

I think I tend avoid books (and movies) because of oversaturation. Or at least until the interest dies down. I don't know what the "logic" behind doing this is, but somehow intensive media interest sort of repels me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh215

-MJ (And I'll never ever read the Da Vinci Code

)

You're not missing out

GeoffC · 05-05-2009, 04:29 AM

The only ones I can think off, right now, are John Norman (good start), Kate Elliot ....

YGG- · 05-05-2009, 05:23 AM

I don't know how I get to a decision but I do usually have a feel on how i'm going to like this or that, just from the comments (hype or not, positive or negative,...) ; for instance I know I won't like "DaVinci code" & didn't even try, I knew I would love Stieg Larsson's Millenium & I did...it' a mixture of who says what about the thing that makes the trick... I have of course no way to test if it's accurate (I probably have missed great things like that, on a hunch...)
I get fed up w/ some (over)long franchises : I used to love Raymond Feist, now I'm fed up; I loved all the "Dune" original series, & didn't stick to the pre-quels...

Ea · 05-05-2009, 12:04 PM

Just noticed I never answered the original question; currently I'm avoiding Stieg Larsson - both the film and the books. I remember from a birthday I went to around Christmas 2007, that the host got four sets of the books. It was too much, too much hype around the books then. And recently it's been the movie.

I've recently heard from several though, whose opinion I'd listen to in this case, that they're quite good, so I might actually try them out sometime.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-05-2009, 12:56 PM

None at all, AFAIK. I don't generally check out bestsellers just because they are bestsellers... and if it's a subject that I'm not interested in (like boys who go to magic academies), I don't pick them up at all, no matter how popular they might be. (BTW, a friend had me read one. I don't feel bad for passing on the lot. Meh.)

I have enough trouble finding books in the subjects and tones I'm interested in, than to screen books and authors due to overpopularity (other than Crichton, that hasn't been an issue for quite some time, anyway). I also don't automatically buy everything by an author just because I like one or two books.

ruth1304 · 05-05-2009, 01:26 PM

I definitely avoid certain books and films because of oversaturation. Never read the Da Vinci Code, haven't seen Titanic.

As I use the library a lot I usually find the most well known books are the most difficult to get hold of, so I don't read them until the hype has died down and I come across them by accident.

I did read Harry Potter though - bought the first two as a gift for a child and started reading them in desperation because they were the only books in the house (apart from text books) I hadn't read. After that I just wanted to know what happened next!

ShortNCuddlyAm · 05-05-2009, 07:38 PM

It took me a while to start reading Pratchett because I was fed up with all the fuss over him. Then I ended up being involved for a while with the first Discworld fanzine in the UK...

On the other hand, I only read Lord of the Rings because of all the hype, and, well - I'm glad I did because it has allowed me to make my own mind up about it, but aside from the historical significance of the books, I still don't see what all the fuss is about.

On yet another hand (Marc - what was in that last ZCP I had? I seem to be mutating into a multi handed being. I'm kinda hoping it stops at 8...), I didn't dare read anything by Thomas Pynchon after I'd read Mason & Dixon as I was scared the rest of his work wouldn't live up to the hype or my expectations.

What was the question again?

UncleDuke · 05-05-2009, 08:47 PM

steven (gee, i wish i could write like him) king and ron (can it get any more lame) brown

mjh215 · 05-06-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleDuke

steven (gee, i wish i could write like him) king and ron (can it get any more lame) brown

I'm guessing you meant Dan Brown... I pay so little attention to popular fiction I had to look up his name myself... I just knew the Da Vinci Code, as to the author I never commited it to memory...

-MJ

Moejoe · 05-06-2009, 01:15 PM

I try to avoid anything that's shoved directly into my face, advertising wise, so that would cover Authors too. Nothing more obnoxious than those prominent display stands in bookstores with the latest best-seller on them. I want to discover authors from recommendation and maybe reading the first few paragraphs. There's no fun in being told what to read

Laine · 05-06-2009, 02:53 PM

It seems you haven't been able to set foot in a bookstore for months without being confronted by Stephenie Meyer's books. Dymocks have had them as best sellers 1-4 for so long. I haven't read them and haven't seen the movie.
I did give in and get an ecopy of Twilight when it was on special but I still haven't been able to make myself read it.
Don't know if I ever will. My TBR list must measure in the 100s.

05-04-2009, 02:54 PM	#1
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	Authors you avoid because of oversaturation Do you avoid books or authors because of too much publicity? Whether directly from the corporate world or by word of mouth? I'd love to say I'm above this because I think it is just as bad as reading a book because it is advertised as a bestseller. Unfortunately I'd be lying, as I do avoid them. I simply get tired of hearing about an author or book and never read them, there are a few popular authors that I would probably enjoy that get on that list such as Stephen King. I avoided the Harry Potter series for quite awhile til I had a 'sit down' with a friend that explained that they were in fact fairly good reads. So, what books or authors do you find yourself avoiding for this reason? And not because you feel you'd dislike them. -MJ (And I'll never ever read the Da Vinci Code ) Last edited by mjh215; 05-04-2009 at 03:03 PM.

05-04-2009, 03:20 PM	#3
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	I dont avoid authors unless there are two books by them i dont like, but it would take me a long time to pick up a second book by them if i didnt like the first. I have atleast 2 best sellers on my reader right now, both by peter hamilton. i probably have more, but its not like i check alot of the time if an author is popular, i think there is a general reason for it. Last edited by Andybaby; 05-04-2009 at 03:27 PM.

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05-04-2009, 02:59 PM	#2
krisk Wizard Posts: 2,148 Karma: 8229 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: on the road again Device: kindle	I avoided King for a few years because of this, but then he published, what was it? Dragon Eyes? or something? and I got sucked right back in.

05-05-2009, 02:21 AM	#4
ruskie Shade Posts: 100 Karma: 546 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: U.LC.MW.Sol.Earth.EE.SI.LJ Device: Hanlin Jinke V3ext running OpenInkPot	I don't care much either way. It really depends if I like the subject matter/style of writing/etc... And even then I tend to read it.

05-05-2009, 04:29 AM	#6
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	The only ones I can think off, right now, are John Norman (good start), Kate Elliot ....

05-05-2009, 05:23 AM	#7
YGG- Dry fruit Posts: 1,157 Karma: 1047086 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Paris, France Device: Bookeen Opus + HTC Desire HD	I don't know how I get to a decision but I do usually have a feel on how i'm going to like this or that, just from the comments (hype or not, positive or negative,...) ; for instance I know I won't like "DaVinci code" & didn't even try, I knew I would love Stieg Larsson's Millenium & I did...it' a mixture of who says what about the thing that makes the trick... I have of course no way to test if it's accurate (I probably have missed great things like that, on a hunch...) I get fed up w/ some (over)long franchises : I used to love Raymond Feist, now I'm fed up; I loved all the "Dune" original series, & didn't stick to the pre-quels...

05-05-2009, 12:04 PM	#8
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Just noticed I never answered the original question; currently I'm avoiding Stieg Larsson - both the film and the books. I remember from a birthday I went to around Christmas 2007, that the host got four sets of the books. It was too much, too much hype around the books then. And recently it's been the movie. I've recently heard from several though, whose opinion I'd listen to in this case, that they're quite good, so I might actually try them out sometime.

05-05-2009, 12:56 PM	#9
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	None at all, AFAIK. I don't generally check out bestsellers just because they are bestsellers... and if it's a subject that I'm not interested in (like boys who go to magic academies), I don't pick them up at all, no matter how popular they might be. (BTW, a friend had me read one. I don't feel bad for passing on the lot. Meh.) I have enough trouble finding books in the subjects and tones I'm interested in, than to screen books and authors due to overpopularity (other than Crichton, that hasn't been an issue for quite some time, anyway). I also don't automatically buy everything by an author just because I like one or two books.

05-05-2009, 01:26 PM	#10
ruth1304 Addict Posts: 394 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Waiting for a kindle!	I definitely avoid certain books and films because of oversaturation. Never read the Da Vinci Code, haven't seen Titanic. As I use the library a lot I usually find the most well known books are the most difficult to get hold of, so I don't read them until the hype has died down and I come across them by accident. I did read Harry Potter though - bought the first two as a gift for a child and started reading them in desperation because they were the only books in the house (apart from text books) I hadn't read. After that I just wanted to know what happened next!

05-05-2009, 07:38 PM	#11
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	It took me a while to start reading Pratchett because I was fed up with all the fuss over him. Then I ended up being involved for a while with the first Discworld fanzine in the UK... On the other hand, I only read Lord of the Rings because of all the hype, and, well - I'm glad I did because it has allowed me to make my own mind up about it, but aside from the historical significance of the books, I still don't see what all the fuss is about. On yet another hand (Marc - what was in that last ZCP I had? I seem to be mutating into a multi handed being. I'm kinda hoping it stops at 8...), I didn't dare read anything by Thomas Pynchon after I'd read Mason & Dixon as I was scared the rest of his work wouldn't live up to the hype or my expectations. What was the question again?

05-05-2009, 08:47 PM	#12
UncleDuke books & doughnuts Posts: 882 Karma: 37857 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Device: sony reader, kindle2	steven (gee, i wish i could write like him) king and ron (can it get any more lame) brown

05-06-2009, 01:15 PM	#14
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I try to avoid anything that's shoved directly into my face, advertising wise, so that would cover Authors too. Nothing more obnoxious than those prominent display stands in bookstores with the latest best-seller on them. I want to discover authors from recommendation and maybe reading the first few paragraphs. There's no fun in being told what to read

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05-06-2009, 02:53 PM	#15
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	It seems you haven't been able to set foot in a bookstore for months without being confronted by Stephenie Meyer's books. Dymocks have had them as best sellers 1-4 for so long. I haven't read them and haven't seen the movie. I did give in and get an ecopy of Twilight when it was on special but I still haven't been able to make myself read it. Don't know if I ever will. My TBR list must measure in the 100s.