Things in books that annoy you

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by dwig

While many of my pet annoyances have already been mentioned, there is one that doesn't seem to have been given the light of day, the Idiot Plot as formally defined by Siskel & Ebert.

The Idiot Plot refers to plots where the action and suspense can't proceed unless the characters chose to make the one decision at each and every juncture that is the worst, only only bad, choice. If they, even once, made the better, often only intelligent, choice there would be no story.

That kind of harkens back to my post where I dislike it when characters do something out of character without explaining WHY such a choice was made.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by theducks

Personally, using ANY product model or brand, quickly 'dates' a (non-period) story.

I don't disagree, but I don't consider that a strike, either. Using brand names helps cement a story in the time and place. It can make a current story feel more real and can be a subtle way of reminding future readers of the time and place the story was written/took place in. Stephen King books are well known for mentioning brands of items.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I always say I love romantic suspense, but I really mean only a few old-time authors: Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Dorothy Eden. If you ever decide to give the genre another look, try one of them. I avoid the newer books that call themselves romantic suspense because they seem to have too much romance/sex and not enough suspense.

Thanks for the recommendations

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I don't disagree, but I don't consider that a strike, either. Using brand names helps cement a story in the time and place. It can make a current story feel more real and can be a subtle way of reminding future readers of the time and place the story was written/took place in. Stephen King books are well known for mentioning brands of items.

Maybe it is because I have been around a while here in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Moms friend had a NEW Hudson Hornet. How many Car brands are now gone?

Sun Microsystems, DEC, Compaq, Atari, Fairchild. Nortel. gone

Some brands got absorbed and the name dropped. Others went belly up.
When they get mentioned in older books, it is depressing.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by theducks

Maybe it is because I have been around a while here in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Moms friend had a NEW Hudson Hornet. How many Car brands are now gone?

Sun Microsystems, DEC, Compaq, Atari, Fairchild. Nortel. gone

Some brands got absorbed and the name dropped. Others went belly up.
When they get mentioned in older books, it is depressing.

One person's depression is another person's nostalgia, I guess.

Do you have a hard time watching Blade Runner? How many of those corps fell victim to the dreaded Blade Runner curse? Still, seeing real brands makes a fictional world feel more 'real.' (I suppose you could argue that watching those companies disappear before this future world comes around makes it feel less real. But in contemporary fiction, I have no issues with it.)

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by sjfan

Hence the genius of Columbo, which showed you the perpetrator in the first scene and inverted the formula from “whodunit” to “howcatchem”.

Van Guilk says this was traditional in China, hence the Judge Dee books (recommended)

[DNSB]

There are all the books from the 30's, 40's and 50's where it seemed that every character smoked. It doesn't bother me that much but my wife has it as one of her pet peeves.

[Thasaidon]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

Van Guilk says this was traditional in China, hence the Judge Dee books (recommended)

I will second the recommendation. It is a pity no one ever did something similar with a different Judge. Perhaps in a different period of Chinese history.

[Penforhire]

Just to amplify Zod's response to theducks, I much prefer some authenticity details in thriller, action, or other genres set in the current day. It is easy to get heavy-handed with these references but some of my favorite authors sprinkle the details in gently, "as he slipped a Benchmade folding knife into his pocket."

I agree such details will eventually date these books but that is not a bad thing. An 80's thriller is allowed to evoke the 80's, or nostalgia if we are old enough. Some novels like "Ready Player One" absolutely depend on it (else you will not enjoy it as much).

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by theducks

But people do import personal vehicles.
I did a check drive of a RH drive Datsun 1600 roadster ( I had the US model) for the boss.
Sometimes, it is just the badge that varies.

But point taken, the exceptions need to be explained away.
Personally, using ANY product model or brand, quickly 'dates' a (non-period) story.

With 99% certainty, those two model cars were never made or sold anywhere on the planet. I hedged in my original post because I have no way of telling whether there wasn't some Toyota station wagon marketed as a Supra in some country somewhere.

[Jozawun]

Originally Posted by DNSB

There are all the books from the 30's, 40's and 50's where it seemed that every character smoked. It doesn't bother me that much but my wife has it as one of her pet peeves.

Or Dashiell Hammett's Nick Charles in The Thin Man slugging away the Scotch.
In bed.
Before breakfast.

[sjfan]

Originally Posted by Jozawun

Or Dashiell Hammett's Nick Charles in The Thin Man slugging away the Scotch.
In bed.
Before breakfast.

But that was meant as commentary/caricature even at the time. He and Nora were meant to be seen as gluttonous drunkards. At one point Nora orders 6 simultaneous martinis (the one she has plus 5 more) for herself.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jj2me

With 99% certainty, those two model cars were never made or sold anywhere on the planet. I hedged in my original post because I have no way of telling whether there wasn't some Toyota station wagon marketed as a Supra in some country somewhere.

Did you Supra? I did. Towncar did seem to cross brand lines

OTOH
There is what Sue Grafton did
I started reading one of her novels (first for me). 'I know this STREET' even though she gave the town a different name (and left some of the surrounding communities as named)

<Ducks' used to live up on the 'Mesa' >

[GlenBarrington]

I once opened a Library book and there was a "smooshed" bug in it, and something unidentifiable, but gross, on another page. I really hated those.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by theducks

Did you Supra? I did. Towncar did seem to cross brand lines

I did before my original post just to be 99% certain, and found nothing (you have to exclude the hits that use your search terms to lure you to their site, and exclude hits for Chrysler Town & Country minivans). I also have been a car nut all my life. Please show me what you found of Supra station wagon and Chrysler Town Car. I'd love to see pictures of such vehicles.