A literary confession topic - Page 9

anamardoll · 08-31-2011, 05:25 PM

I seriously do not understand the fandom. Most fandoms, I can see why people would like the books. I even get the Twilight phenomena. But the Dresden books, these I do not get. And they're widely liked, and in some cases by people I respect. Husband and I both had to force ourselves to get through Storm Front; just hated it. How odd.

Nyssa · 08-31-2011, 05:56 PM

I just read Storm Front and really enjoyed it. I bought Fool Moon before finishing Storm Front and will be reading it in a week or two after I finish Anne of Green Gables (Book1), and then The Good the Bad and the Undead (Book 2 of the Hollows/Rachel Morgan series). I'm hoping by spreading the books out for all of the series I won't burn out on any of them.

Dresden and Rachel Morgan will be good company for each other as they're both Urban Fantasy/Supernatural, and both series have almost the same amount of books.

I'm reading the Anne of Green Gables series becuase I remember liking the TV series, its a nice change of pace, and its "safer" for me to read when I'm at the school.

alansplace · 08-31-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I thought I had heard that he had planned for 22 books. It might have been 24.

maybe i remembered wrong!?

Joybells · 09-01-2011, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjirlly

My favorite version of Wuthering Heights is that of Kate Bush!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQA5h...eature=related

You should hear the kiwi teenager Hayley Westenra sing Wuthering Heights - oh my, she is sublime.

Imre · 09-02-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think that the problem with a series of this length, and Wheel of Time and LOTR and other such long running series, is that it gets to the point where you are screaming "Get on with it all ready". In Dresden's case, each book the characters move farther and farther away from their original dispositions and it gets more and more depressing with no real sense that it is going to get better. I don't like how some of the characters have changed, even if the changes are realistic.

I've always sarcastically called this the "Has kids to put through college" phenomena of series authors. There gets to a point where the original story and premise has been run into the ground and (Especially in the case of Wheel of Time) the series plot is not being advanced by anything in the books that buying the new books feels like being suckered.

I can't stand 'classic' Russian lit, it isn't even the name variations but the boring three page descriptions of nothing. I have a cousin who loves to read classics and looks down his nose at the types of books I like. (Mostly Sci-fi and Fantasy) It almost seems to me that he feels there is some sort of elitism prize for reading the stuffiest books. I've been there and done that and found that reading classic lit isn't all that its cracked up to be.

Nowadays I just read for fun.

ps. Thanks, Akuma Takeshi for the welcome. I've been reading the forum on and off for a few months before deciding to join. It's a pretty cool place!

Nyssa · 09-02-2011, 08:45 AM

I'm confused. Why do people find LotR to be too long? Its a trilogy with a prologue (The Hobbit). That's just 4 books covering an epic action/adventure journey/quest.

anamardoll · 09-02-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I'm confused. Why do people find LotR to be too long? Its a trilogy with a prologue (The Hobbit). That's just 4 books covering an epic action/adventure journey/quest.

It's the padding IN the books -- the poems and epic stories and so forth -- that are being objected to. (And, technically, the series is 7 books long -- the Big Three were supposed to be six.)

I hate when they're lazing around in Rivendell and it seems like MONTHS are passing and it's like DIDN'T YA'LL HAVE AN EPIC QUEST OR SOMETHING? NO? JUST GONNA SIT AROUND AND MAKE UP COUPLETS ABOUT DEAD ELVES. OKAY THEN.

Not sure why that makes me speak in CAPS.

ProfCrash · 09-02-2011, 10:03 AM

I ended up skimming through a fair amount of the gentle moves, long days lounging, and the like. I enjoyed the overall story but the pacng was a bit slow at times.

Most of the longer series could very easily be shortened. There is no reason for Martin's Fire and Ice series to be as long as it is or Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Both seem to enjoy the noteriety and money that the extra books bring. In reality, it is not necessary and is kind of annoying.

I am glad that I came to Wheel of Time at the end of the series. I will have waited for the last three books to be published and Sanderson seems to be hitting his schedule regularly enough. I am hoping that he is able to hit his schedule for his own Stormlight Archive series. The first book was really good. The second book is suppose to be released in late 2012/early 2013. I know he is finishing the Wheel of Time Series and I imagine that is delaying things.

While the Dresden series is far too lengthy, Butcher is really good about meeting his deadlines and I can count on his work coming out. That is nice.

HomeInMyShoes · 09-02-2011, 12:15 PM

But language and history and all that stuff was a big part of Tolkien's world. I'll be the first to admit that it's not as exciting a read from an action adventure standpoint as most fantasy series are now, but I loved these books. In the end, the three books plus the hobbit is pretty much equivalent to not even two books by say Martin or Goodkind. It's not actually a big investment of time to read LOTR. I read the whole triology just after high school in about a month and it wraps up reasonably well after book three to boot.

My confession today is that I'm thinking of devoting an entire year of reading to re-reading. I think it's a completely batty idea and not sure I'll be able to do it, but I think I've almost got enough stuff I'm thinking about to make a go of it.

alansplace · 09-02-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

....While the Dresden series is far too lengthy, Butcher is really good about meeting his deadlines and I can count on his work coming out. That is nice.

i'm unfamiliar with the others you've commented on, but being a fan of the dresden series i'd like to know just what you mean by 'far too lengthy' as i'm always sad that the book has ended so soon.

Nyssa · 09-02-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

It's the padding IN the books -- the poems and epic stories and so forth -- that are being objected to. (And, technically, the series is 7 books long -- the Big Three were supposed to be six.)

I hate when they're lazing around in Rivendell and it seems like MONTHS are passing and it's like DIDN'T YA'LL HAVE AN EPIC QUEST OR SOMETHING? NO? JUST GONNA SIT AROUND AND MAKE UP COUPLETS ABOUT DEAD ELVES. OKAY THEN.

Not sure why that makes me speak in CAPS.

It all had a place and a meaning - All of that "padding" was to illustrate history, tradition, and character development; it added to the general understanding of that time and place. Wasn't the time in Rivendell after they had been on the road for forever and a day? If I remember correctly they were resting, healing, recharging and resupplying.

anamardoll · 09-02-2011, 03:39 PM

Hey, it's the literary confession thread and if the Dresden avatar guy can be cool about me being all ROWR DRESDEN MISOGYNY SUX, then we can all be cool about people saying RAWR LOTR EXCESSIVE WORLD BUILDING BORING.

Nyssa · 09-02-2011, 03:49 PM

^I wasn't fussing at you.

HomeInMyShoes · 09-02-2011, 03:51 PM

But we're not cool about all-caps.

I really don't like Charles Dickens. I read A Tale of Two Cities and Pickwick Papers and both were just tediums.

alansplace · 09-02-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Hey, it's the literary confession thread and if the Dresden avatar guy can be cool about me being all ROWR DRESDEN MISOGYNY SUX, then we can all be cool about people saying RAWR LOTR EXCESSIVE WORLD BUILDING BORING.

good point. here's two other important points (imho):

1. state your opinion without any apparent malice
2. make sure to make it obvious that it's your opinion, not fact

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08-31-2011, 05:25 PM	#121
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I seriously do not understand the fandom. Most fandoms, I can see why people would like the books. I even get the Twilight phenomena. But the Dresden books, these I do not get. And they're widely liked, and in some cases by people I respect. Husband and I both had to force ourselves to get through Storm Front; just hated it. How odd.

08-31-2011, 05:56 PM	#122
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	I just read Storm Front and really enjoyed it. I bought Fool Moon before finishing Storm Front and will be reading it in a week or two after I finish Anne of Green Gables (Book1), and then The Good the Bad and the Undead (Book 2 of the Hollows/Rachel Morgan series). I'm hoping by spreading the books out for all of the series I won't burn out on any of them. Dresden and Rachel Morgan will be good company for each other as they're both Urban Fantasy/Supernatural, and both series have almost the same amount of books. I'm reading the Anne of Green Gables series becuase I remember liking the TV series, its a nice change of pace, and its "safer" for me to read when I'm at the school.

09-02-2011, 08:45 AM	#126
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	I'm confused. Why do people find LotR to be too long? Its a trilogy with a prologue (The Hobbit). That's just 4 books covering an epic action/adventure journey/quest.

09-02-2011, 10:03 AM	#128
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I ended up skimming through a fair amount of the gentle moves, long days lounging, and the like. I enjoyed the overall story but the pacng was a bit slow at times. Most of the longer series could very easily be shortened. There is no reason for Martin's Fire and Ice series to be as long as it is or Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Both seem to enjoy the noteriety and money that the extra books bring. In reality, it is not necessary and is kind of annoying. I am glad that I came to Wheel of Time at the end of the series. I will have waited for the last three books to be published and Sanderson seems to be hitting his schedule regularly enough. I am hoping that he is able to hit his schedule for his own Stormlight Archive series. The first book was really good. The second book is suppose to be released in late 2012/early 2013. I know he is finishing the Wheel of Time Series and I imagine that is delaying things. While the Dresden series is far too lengthy, Butcher is really good about meeting his deadlines and I can count on his work coming out. That is nice.

09-02-2011, 12:15 PM	#129
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	But language and history and all that stuff was a big part of Tolkien's world. I'll be the first to admit that it's not as exciting a read from an action adventure standpoint as most fantasy series are now, but I loved these books. In the end, the three books plus the hobbit is pretty much equivalent to not even two books by say Martin or Goodkind. It's not actually a big investment of time to read LOTR. I read the whole triology just after high school in about a month and it wraps up reasonably well after book three to boot. My confession today is that I'm thinking of devoting an entire year of reading to re-reading. I think it's a completely batty idea and not sure I'll be able to do it, but I think I've almost got enough stuff I'm thinking about to make a go of it.

09-02-2011, 03:39 PM	#132
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Hey, it's the literary confession thread and if the Dresden avatar guy can be cool about me being all ROWR DRESDEN MISOGYNY SUX, then we can all be cool about people saying RAWR LOTR EXCESSIVE WORLD BUILDING BORING.

09-02-2011, 03:49 PM	#133
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	^I wasn't fussing at you.

09-02-2011, 03:51 PM	#134
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	But we're not cool about all-caps. I really don't like Charles Dickens. I read A Tale of Two Cities and Pickwick Papers and both were just tediums.

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