Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by ficbot

Well, I think I can say in general terms that both books just went a little fast for me. In one of them, one main character was pretty much standing around, another main character happens along, saves her from sudden danger and instantly declares his undying love for her, then she goes home with him (the whole time narrating to the reader how safe he makes her feel) and immediately has five pages of hot sex with him. I know it's a romance, but it was just a little too quick for me. Even the hard-core romance authors like Nora Roberts lead up to it just a little bit more---or at least, have the character muse aloud, to the reader, that this is happening awfully fast, isn't like them etc. I think that perhaps the two books read more like drafts to me, where with some workshopping, motivations could have been deepened and the storyline perhaps extended...

I wouldn't find those sort of comments at all traumatic, if that helps.

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I'm exactly the opposite If someone doesn't like what I write, I really couldn't care the least bit. The reverse is true also, I'm not going to waste my time pointing out why I didn't like the work to an author (unless it's Dan Brown and then I'll put on boxing gloves and meet him in the ring). Life is just way too short to waste on bad vibes (man I sound like a hippy sometimes )

:lol: Sometimes the feedback is useful. Sometimes it's not. Practically every writer can learn something from constructive criticism, though, I figure

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by nomesque

:lol: Sometimes the feedback is useful. Sometimes it's not. Practically every writer can learn something from constructive criticism, though, I figure

Been through that mill, all you end up with is a whole bunch of people and their opinions on what they want your fiction to be. I believe it's one of the reasons why a lot of fiction is so weak and pale; the writer is trying too hard to please too many people instead of giving their own view of the world. That's why we read fiction, right, to see through the eyes of another? No writer can possibly please every reader, they shouldn't even try. So if I'm complimented by a reader, I have all the time in the world for that reader. But, just as in the life beyond my fiction, a person with nothing but complaints and who believes they can change me for the better, will get no attention at all.

Screw them

Writing is a passion, not the result of a committee.

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Been through that mill, all you end up with is a whole bunch of people and their opinions on what they want your fiction to be. I believe it's one of the reasons why a lot of fiction is so weak and pale; the writer is trying too hard to please too many people instead of giving their own view of the world. That's why we read fiction, right, to see through the eyes of another? No writer can possibly please every reader, they shouldn't even try. So if I'm complimented by a reader, I have all the time in the world for that reader. But, just as in the life beyond my fiction, a person with nothing but complaints and who believes they can change me for the better, will get no attention at all.

Screw them

Writing is a passion, not the result of a committee.

Don't know a thing about writing, but that's pretty much how I feel about any creative activity. Constructive criticism sounds great untill you find yourself one morning unable to do anything for fear it will turn out wrong. It's much more important to keep doing and leave room for the creation to evolve and grow.

Finished 'Pandora's Star' last night. Talk about a cliff-hanger, lol! Luckily the second volume, 'Judas Unchained', is available at a reasonable price, so I downloaded and started reading it. It's not the best series of books I've ever read, but I don't want to just drop it in the middle of the story.

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Been through that mill, all you end up with is a whole bunch of people and their opinions on what they want your fiction to be.

I didn't say a writer should follow any criticism they get... I look at the criticism I get, evaluate it for truth and usefulness, and discard what didn't pass.

[doreenjoy]

I'm with Ficbot, I never leave bad feedback. I usually figure, what's the point, I should have been reading a different kind of book. Plenty of people love the books I hate, and vice versa. And I rarely finish books I don't like, so it's not really fair to leave bad comments about them. Maybe the pace picks up around page 147, like it did with Lies of Locke Lamora.

That said, I'll join MoeJoe in meeting Dan Brown in the ring any time, and I'll fight dirty, too!

Re: MoeJoe's comments on writing -- I'm a lot pickier about getting comments on a WIP (that's Work in Progress) than on an already-published book. I don't need random input cluttering up my process.

Stuff that's published, well, I don't actually care what anyone says. It's not like I can do anything to fix them now that they're in print.

[Superlucky]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

That said, I'll join MoeJoe in meeting Dan Brown in the ring any time, and I'll fight dirty, too!

What's the beef with Dan Brown? I find his books just find until the endings (I loathe deus ex machinas).

[Slite]

Originally Posted by Superlucky

What's the beef with Dan Brown? I find his books just find until the endings (I loathe deus ex machinas).

Have you read Digital Fortress or Deception Point? Horrible, horrible, bad bad books.

Da Vinci Code is somewhat ok, and his best one to date is Angels & Demons imho. And even that is not exceptionally good

[Superlucky]

Originally Posted by Slite

Have you read Digital Fortress or Deception Point? Horrible, horrible, bad bad books.

Da Vinci Code is somewhat ok, and his best one to date is Angels & Demons imho. And even that is not exceptionally good

I think I read Digital Fortress years ago, but I don't remember it. I just really liked his descriptions of art, architecture and Vatican City in A&D and DVC. Like I said, I found the way he wraps up the plots maddening and preposterous, but I read the books for what they were (pop fiction). Someone who thought they were great insisted I read them. They were about what I expected, so I've got no problem with Dan Brown. I've read much, much worse. For example, someone also once loaned me Left Behind and insisted I read it. I think I made it five pages, but only because I have a high threshold for pain.

[Dr. Drib]

I just finished "Number9Dream," by David Mitchell. The title is a reference to a John Lennon song. In fact, the novel is awash in Lennon references, which I personally like due to the fact that I'm a Lennon Freak.

It was a very unorganized, but enjoyable novel. This was my first encounter with him, and I've just bought another one by him for my Kindle2.

If you like Murakami, then you MIGHT enjoy Mitchell. There are a lot of wonderful moments and some incredible writing but, as I said, the parts don't actually coalesce into one coherent whole. Having said that, though, I was so impressed by the writing - which has a very post-modern approach to the novel's construction - that I joyfully purchased another book by him.

There's a lot of dreaming by the character (true to the title of the book), and a lot of imagistic writing that is off-the-wall and enjoyable. This is NOT Murakami, but Mitchell shares some common motifs with Murakami.

Don

[MelC]

Just finished "Heart-Shaped Box" by Joe Hill. Nice to see that some of that talent is continuing on into the next generation. I'll definitely be interested in what he comes up with next.

Mel

[lilac_jive]

I finally broke down and got the Kindle app for my iPhone just for the Kindle only freebies. I'm actually liking it, I can read while stuck in traffic. On that I'm reading "I Heart Bloomberg." I just bought a bunch of books for my Sony and I'm trying to figure out what to read next.

[roger the rabbit]

I am about halfway through Prestwick by David Hough a stonking good read! - especially as it is free from BeWrite books to MR members - if you email Neil for your copy - sadly PDF but hey free!! - see this thread for details

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=bewrite+books

- a real page turner! - suspense / intrigue / conspiracy moving at a breakneck pace.

[roger the rabbit]

Originally Posted by MelC

Just finished "Heart-Shaped Box" by Joe Hill. Nice to see that some of that talent is continuing on into the next generation. I'll definitely be interested in what he comes up with next.

Mel

I read this some time ago, If I had not known the author I would have sworn it was from SK in his early days - good on you Joe let's have some more!!

[aeoro]

Just started reading "Nation" by Terry Pratchett. The first book on my 600!

Off topic...Could anyone recommend any other survival stories? I don't care if its in the woods, on an island, in the dessert, or at sea, I just love these types of stories and would love to find more.