Ever put down a book because you were afraid of what would happen?

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

No unfortunately, these unrealistic things were not clues but just stupid. The first was two joints for a couple. A lady of the evening laughing at the size of a john's male part. And the last one was details about a guy cleaning his undies with his hands. Closed and deleted the book.
The author had listened to others that told him ALL books need unnecessary sex and very graphic details.

To be fair, that can happen if the prostitute in question doesn't want repeat business from the John in question. Johns with rashes. Or jaundice. Or who visit after work without first bathing.

They often won't take a hint if told not to come back like that.

But humiliation can work.

(As long as there is someone around for protection, or a quick exit is preplanned)

Obviously with a menacing John the prostitute would slip away rather than be insulting.

Anyhow the insulting thing can happen, and it is pretty likely the John would be talked about with other prostitutes if the prostitute isn't a lone freelancer. The ones with the smallest parts tend to be the ones with PAIS, and they get pitied rather than ridiculed.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Phogg

To be fair, that can happen if the prostitute in question doesn't want repeat business from the John in question. Johns with rashes. Or jaundice. Or who visit after work without first bathing.

They often won't take a hint if told not to come back like that.

But humiliation can work.

(As long as there is someone around for protection, or a quick exit is preplanned)

Obviously with a menacing John the prostitute would slip away rather than be insulting.

Anyhow the insulting thing can happen, and it is pretty likely the John would be talked about with other prostitutes if the prostitute isn't a lone freelancer. The ones with the smallest parts tend to be the ones with PAIS, and they get pitied rather than ridiculed.

Oh I know it is possible but that was not the case in this book. The scene was not even necessary. The author had been listening to the people that said there must be sex or nudity in every chapter.
Now if you were a prostitute in a deserted place would you laugh at a John especially one that had the drugs you wanted.

Sad thing is the other books by this same author were good.
This one was rushed and had been influenced by writers in other genres.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Oh I know it is possible but that was not the case in this book. The scene was not even necessary. The author had been listening to the people that said there must be sex or nudity in every chapter.
Now if you were a prostitute in a deserted place would you laugh at a John especially one that had the drugs you wanted.

Sad thing is the other books by this same author were good.
This one was rushed and had been influenced by writers in other genres.

Rushing a book can make any author horrible.
Or changing to an editor that doesn't gel well with the genre.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

Actually....

Spoiler:

His plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan, it spun in, there were no survivors.

Very powerful scene.

Details, details! Thanks for the correction.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Oh I know it is possible but that was not the case in this book. The scene was not even necessary. The author had been listening to the people that said there must be sex or nudity in every chapter.
Now if you were a prostitute in a deserted place would you laugh at a John especially one that had the drugs you wanted.

Sad thing is the other books by this same author were good.
This one was rushed and had been influenced by writers in other genres.

I would still contend that unless you read a book till the bitter end, you can't know if a scene or a detail is truly unnecessary. Especially in a mystery or thriller.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I would still contend that unless you read a book till the bitter end, you can't know if a scene or a detail is truly unnecessary. Especially in a mystery or thriller.

I agree with this because I've read many a book where a clever detail is hidden (or more than one) in the mundane. Although hiding them in boring description can mean they are missed by the reader anyway (I can be a skimmer. I admit it. If an author gets too carried away with description, I'm going to miss a few things unless the author is also funny or just robust enough to keep me paying attention.)

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I would still contend that unless you read a book till the bitter end, you can't know if a scene or a detail is truly unnecessary. Especially in a mystery or thriller.

I did go read the reviews and talked to a couple of people that did finish the book. So I know they were irrelevant to the story.
Sorry but if an author has a guy touching his own feces to throw in a toilet in a nice motel room, I am not going to continue reading.

That was just gross.
At Phogg,
Nope same editor for all his books.

[Cinisajoy]

By the way, I have talked to the author I have been talking about.
I was one of his first supporters. Probably why this book so bothered me.
I just hope this book doesn't hurt him too bad.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I agree with this because I've read many a book where a clever detail is hidden (or more than one) in the mundane. Although hiding them in boring description can mean they are missed by the reader anyway (I can be a skimmer. I admit it. If an author gets too carried away with description, I'm going to miss a few things unless the author is also funny or just robust enough to keep me paying attention.)

But the intention is to make the reader miss the important bit, and then have the aha! moment later and realize that the author actually played fair and hid the clue in plain sight. I love it when an author pulls off that kind of trickery.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But the intention is to make the reader miss the important bit, and then have the aha! moment later and realize that the author actually played fair and hid the clue in plain sight. I love it when an author pulls off that kind of trickery.

Yes, it is pure genius. But they do have to do it without creating too many boring descriptions (or those that go on too long.) (For me as a reader. Your mileage may vary.)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

No one's ever died because they stopped reading a book. For a closer analogy, plenty of thrill rides and other intense forms of entertaiment offer an emergency stop button.

But some people (myself included) choose not to go on "thrill" rides, such as roller-coasters, because they find them too frightening. Similarly, I choose not to read horror books (because I don't like graphic depictions of violence) or erotica (because I find it extremely boring). I'd certainly stop reading such a book if I started it not realising that it fell into one of these categories.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But some people (myself included) choose not to go on "thrill" rides, such as roller-coasters, because they find them too frightening. Similarly, I choose not to read horror books (because I don't like graphic depictions of violence) or erotica (because I find it extremely boring). I'd certainly stop reading such a book if I started it not realising that it fell into one of these categories.

But you have a Dalek as an avatar, are you writing these posts from behind the sofa?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But some people (myself included) choose not to go on "thrill" rides, such as roller-coasters, because they find them too frightening. Similarly, I choose not to read horror books (because I don't like graphic depictions of violence) or erotica (because I find it extremely boring). I'd certainly stop reading such a book if I started it not realising that it fell into one of these categories.

That's the point. Some people decide if they start getting unhappy with the feeling a book is giving them, to just stop reading.
Whether that feeling is because it ventures into unexpected and unwanted subject matter, or just because they are unhappy with where a character is headed, to each his own.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

But you have a Dalek as an avatar, are you writing these posts from behind the sofa?

Not for nothing, but I find the Daleks to be the least scary sf villain imaginable.

Perhaps it's just because by the time I encountered them, there had already been so many 'last, ultimate, final' end of the universe scenarios, Dalek threats already seemed like a Rolling Stones final concert tour announcement.
Phthhhht.

Every time a Dalek starts chanting "Exterminate!" I hear Scott Evil in my head saying "Just shoot them already. Look, I've got a gun in my room. I'll get it right now, and we'll shoot them together, ok?"

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

That's the point. Some people decide if they start getting unhappy with the feeling a book is giving them, to just stop reading.
Whether that feeling is because it ventures into unexpected and unwanted subject matter, or just because they are unhappy with where a character is headed, to each his own.

Precisely. I was agreeing with you .