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#61 | |
Wizard
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You do seem offended by others' opinions about certain books, though. I think that's your issue, and you're unlikely to convince people that popularity means a book can't be badly written. Opinions are just that. Yours is just as subjective as everyone else's. |
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#62 | |
eReader
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Having said that, and putting my professional writer's hat on, when I talk about poor writing I'm talking more about how a technique is applied than what technique an author chooses to use. Take description for example. I don't worry about whether a writer uses a lot or a little, but whether they use it well, and also whether they use the right amount for the story they're telling. Good description illuminates character as much as setting. Bad description bores the reader - regardless of the amount. Do they use direct discourse and grounding details to draw the reader in close to the character in emotional moments, or do they use indirect discourse and irrelevant details that distances the reader from the character at just the wrong time. Do they use technique deliberately, looking for specific effects, or does their focus wander? A book can be enjoyable even if the writing is poor, but poor writing is not simply a matter of taste. There's a craft to writing, and not all writers have mastered that craft, even when they've mastered other aspects of storytelling and are selling books on the strength of what they're good at. |
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#63 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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#64 | |
Wizard
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#65 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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#66 |
Fanatic
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Count me among those who believe that bad writing/good writing has nothing to do with popularity. Plenty of books are popular but not especially good writing. It's the same with TV shows, movies, visual arts, music, you name it.
Sometimes it's because of strong marketing, sometimes it's because people want something more base. Conversely, good art can be unpopular because it's misunderstood, too "high" or just unknown. |
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#67 | |
Book Geek
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#68 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
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Laurell K. Hamilton's "Incubus Dreams" - a popular novel that makes the reader want to claw out their eyes, throw the book against a wall, and run screaming from the room.
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#69 |
Zealot
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"Groan -Dan Brown novels are so awful!"
As soon as I saw this topic the first words to pop into my head were "Dan Brown". I fell for the hype surrounding The "Da Vinci Code" and, well, that's a day I'll never get back. Luckily it was a fast read. ![]() |
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#70 |
Saffina
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I have heard, many times, people say that technically, HP books are poorly written, so I guess that proves the point. The answer to the thread is 'yes'!
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#71 | |
Bookworm
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But it's also possible to consider what group of people something is popular with: if someone on this board says a book is good and I should read it, considering the quality of the discussions here, I'd certainly take the advice. On the other hand, when my neighbor, who's the archetypal noisy, militantly uneducated, viral Youtube video-loving, mindlessly mass consuming, car tuning enthusiast is totally enthralled by Harry Potter and urges me to read it, I'll be sure to skip that particular purchase at all costs. |
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#72 | |
eBook Enthusiast
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#73 |
Cheese Whiz
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#74 | |
Bookworm
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That is to say, I didn't mean to offend whoever likes Harry Potter by my comment. It's just that, so many idiots seem to find it good that I can't believe it could actually *be* good. Maybe I should give it a whirl, but I have so many great books I'm dying to start reading lined up on my (virtual) shelf that I'd sooner start reading those before HP. So many books, so little time eh ![]() |
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#75 | |
eBook Enthusiast
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