R.I.P. The English Novel 1485 - 2009

[HarryT]

It's elitist because, to my mind, there's room for both in the market. I read Dickens and Austen, yes, but I also enjoy reading Dan Brown's latest "blockbuster", trashy though it may be. I really don't want people to "look down" on me because of my choice of reading matter.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's elitist because, to my mind, there's room for both in the market. I read Dickens and Austen, yes, but I also enjoy reading Dan Brown's latest "blockbuster", trashy though it may be. I really don't want people to "look down" on me because of my choice of reading matter.

Yeah, you're probably right. I mean what's the point in caring about any of this, none really.

So hey, screw it

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's elitist because, to my mind, there's room for both in the market. I read Dickens and Austen, yes, but I also enjoy reading Dan Brown's latest "blockbuster", trashy though it may be. I really don't want people to "look down" on me because of my choice of reading matter.

I read, write, and enjoy science fiction. The majority of the public already looks down on me for my choice of literature!

Me, I can think of a lot of reasons to be upset with people who let Madison Avenue (on this side of the pond) tell them what to wear, what to drive, what to buy. In many cases, they are their own worst enemy, and too often drag down some part of my quality of life. Often I am never more frustrated with myself than when they very occasionally con me into buying some piece or c**p, too.

But I prefer to expend my mental angst on those who contribute to the unhealthy warming of our planet, the continuance of conspicuous consumption and credit-deficit spending, and the overall health and welfare decline of the planet.

Trash reading? Not high on my list of things to gripe about (especially as, by some standards, I'm on that list too! ).

[krisk]

ok what the hell IS she doing in that photo?

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by krisk

ok what the hell IS she doing in that photo?

The real question is what is going on behind the book display that has her all humped up like that?

This photo is so gross! So she is Britain's Britney Spears, huh?

[Bluesman7]

Originally Posted by krisk

ok what the hell IS she doing in that photo?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...07&postcount=4

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

This photo is so gross! So she is Britain's Britney Spears, huh?

"Gross?" Silly as all hell, sure, but "gross?" Hardly! Austin Powers' teeth... Roseanne Barr singing the National Anthem... the very concept that Joan Rivers had a child... that's gross.

[UncleDuke]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Well fine, if you want the whole industry to be just that. Well, hell why not have our novels sponsored by Coca-Cola while we're at it and have every other page an advert? I mean, it's just literature after all, it's not important. It's just entertainment. It's not like reading is important or anything.

Coming soon, The Grapes of Wraith 2 - The Wrathening (by a faceless conglomeration of US sitcom writers hiding behind the face of a celebrity)

next up: 1985 - The Year After (by David Hasselhof)

If you're seriously suggesting fiction and literature should be run like the soulless TV & movie industry then I have to wonder if you have actually read a book before, if that is the esteem with which you hold literature.

i suggest just that, it is happening already, you may call it product placement or as this memo from my boss says "real world product involvement"

she didn't order a soda or a cola, she ordered a "pepsi"
he won't bring the car around, he'll bring the "benz" around
it isn't a 6" electronic reading device with an e-ink screen and wifi, its a kindle

i made up the last one but the first two are from this memo we have on putting real products into scripts, major sponsors are mentioned whereever we can without sounding like we are just shouting brand names at each other

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by krisk

ok what the hell IS she doing in that photo?

Just trying to be as outrageous as possible while staying legal (dressed) so as to get her picture taken and published and looked at everywhere - even MobileRead!

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

. . .Doesn't that worry you? That a person who can barely speak, a person who spelled her own name wrongly when she chose it, is at the top of the most-read list? Christ, can we dumb down our culture any more before we stand up and say 'no'?

It worries me but I see no way to do anything aobut it. Here in the U.S. the problem begins with parents who don't/can't read, who spend more time taking care of their employer's business than their children's business.

Then comes school and we entrust our children to teachers who can't distinguish a noun from a verb, who penalize their students for grammatically correct prose because they (the teachers) can't recognize a grammatically correct sentence, and whose only concern is higher pay for less work and lower skill set.

The saddest part of my business is editing books written by teachers for fellow teachers. It simply brings to the fore how poorly educated our teachers are.

(BTW, there was an excellent article in The Economist last week about poor teachers in Britain. Could easily have substituted U.S. for Britain in the article.)

I do not expect to see any turnaround in the U.S. in my lifetime.

[nomesque]

I must admit, I'm with MoeJoe in getting irritated at one particular part of the equation - ghost-written fiction. WTF? I mean, ghost-written autobiographies (which, hey, are usually fiction with a veneer of reality) I can deal with. There's a point. But I _would_ like to see some legislation come out to protect consumers a little - eg. the real author's name and no-one else's must be on the front cover. Back cover can contain whatever crap necessary. This whole concept of famous people - authors included - sitting back and cashing in on their reputation while getting other people to do their work for them... GRRRRR. Fine, do it, but ya gotta put every writers' name on the front cover. That'd stop em dead! *mutter*

[Madam Broshkina]

Originally Posted by nomesque

I must admit, I'm with MoeJoe in getting irritated at one particular part of the equation - ghost-written fiction. WTF? I mean, ghost-written autobiographies (which, hey, are usually fiction with a veneer of reality) I can deal with. There's a point. But I _would_ like to see some legislation come out to protect consumers a little - eg. the real author's name and no-one else's must be on the front cover. Back cover can contain whatever crap necessary. This whole concept of famous people - authors included - sitting back and cashing in on their reputation while getting other people to do their work for them... GRRRRR. Fine, do it, but ya gotta put every writers' name on the front cover. That'd stop em dead! *mutter*

I'd expect that a lot of authors would probably just be happy with a cut of the money rather than have their names associated with the book.

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

I'd expect that a lot of authors would probably just be happy with a cut of the money rather than have their names associated with the book.

Meh. It's the customers I'm concerned about, not the authors who signed contracts. Ever been halfway through a series and the writing's changed so noticeably that you're reading with a squint wondering what the hell happened, then you look at the cover to find that 'Author' has changed to 'Author's' and that you were supposed to know that that meant it was written by a team using the author's plotline?

Bah! Humbug! Ptooie!

[Over]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

this wazzock comes along and flashes her boobs, the next thing she's at the top of the best-seller list.

She did?! Where? Now I'm gonna have to buy the book!

[kaan]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

We can't continue to let our culture spiral down into this morass of shit for much longer.

When you write "spiral down" you assume that culture was better in the good old days.

Like you, I am appalled at the world of "super"popular culture. But unlike you, I have realised that there is nothing new in this, but the convergence of media.

I got rid of my television and cancelled my newspaper subscription.
I'm much happier now