Ahaha, thanks for the 50 Shades quotes. I had no idea it was THAT bad. The small foot of the inner goddess made me laugh out loud. Trying to imagine what David Sedaris or Carl Hiaasen could do with that....
Two things I've learned: (1) Even a terrible book will have one brilliant line, and (2) writing badly *with sincerity* (as in "Fifty Shades" et al.) is a skill that cannot be faked.
Here's an experience I suspect everyone shares: reading a book that's so awful you can't stop. It's the literary equivalent of a train wreck into a tire fire on top of the toxic waste dump next door to the leaking nuclear power plant that overlooks the orphanage. You just can't look away. You've got to know what disaster will play out. Fortuantely, I can't remember any of the titles along these lines but I know I've read many such books in my lifetime.
Thatβs it! I couldnβt think of the bookβs name. Every chapter ends with a breathtaking action packed climax, and villains scarcely written in two dimensional characterizations. On the other hand, the dude made a fortune on that book so what do I know? Sometimes I wish I could write that poorly. It would solve a lot of problems.
You know a lot, and so do I. We know that simplistic thrillers with lots of action and thin characters have a huge market. But there's also a market for richly-realized thrillers like the books Joseph Kanon writes, for instance. Or Robert Harris.
Thanks Lev the only problem is time. If you are interested in a certain genre, there's not enuf time to read the good stuff, down thru history, let alone the bad
We can make time. And we don't have to read it all. Example: my first goal was short story writing so I read Poe, Chekhov, de Maupassant, Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf, James, Wharton, Faulkner, Hemingway, Mansfield, Maugham and just kept read as the months and years went by. If I'd see a review of someone contemporary like Steve Almond, I'd read it--or a contemporary classic like Mavis Gallant.
We are always growing as we keep writing and reading.
If somebody moaned into MY mouth, I wouldn't stop giggling.
For me it would depend on the Mouth and the Moan.
Ahaha, thanks for the 50 Shades quotes. I had no idea it was THAT bad. The small foot of the inner goddess made me laugh out loud. Trying to imagine what David Sedaris or Carl Hiaasen could do with that....
Two things I've learned: (1) Even a terrible book will have one brilliant line, and (2) writing badly *with sincerity* (as in "Fifty Shades" et al.) is a skill that cannot be faked.
And that line could be brilliantly terrible. David Baldacci's Absolute Power, which made a great movie, is filled with howlers.
Here's an experience I suspect everyone shares: reading a book that's so awful you can't stop. It's the literary equivalent of a train wreck into a tire fire on top of the toxic waste dump next door to the leaking nuclear power plant that overlooks the orphanage. You just can't look away. You've got to know what disaster will play out. Fortuantely, I can't remember any of the titles along these lines but I know I've read many such books in my lifetime.
The DaVinci Code comes to mind. It was awful and fun at the same time. Though the end was a major let down. Just boring.
Thatβs it! I couldnβt think of the bookβs name. Every chapter ends with a breathtaking action packed climax, and villains scarcely written in two dimensional characterizations. On the other hand, the dude made a fortune on that book so what do I know? Sometimes I wish I could write that poorly. It would solve a lot of problems.
You know a lot, and so do I. We know that simplistic thrillers with lots of action and thin characters have a huge market. But there's also a market for richly-realized thrillers like the books Joseph Kanon writes, for instance. Or Robert Harris.
Couldn't agree more, Lev.
Gee, here I thought The Bridges of Madison County was badly written!
LOL. 50 Shades is a classic.
"My inner goddess glares at me, tapping her small foot impatiently.β My inner god does the same on a regular basis.
Faulkner was right. I'd even go as far as to say that his advice applies to making other media besides literature.
There's always been a lot of trash in all the arts....
Thanks Lev the only problem is time. If you are interested in a certain genre, there's not enuf time to read the good stuff, down thru history, let alone the bad
We can make time. And we don't have to read it all. Example: my first goal was short story writing so I read Poe, Chekhov, de Maupassant, Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf, James, Wharton, Faulkner, Hemingway, Mansfield, Maugham and just kept read as the months and years went by. If I'd see a review of someone contemporary like Steve Almond, I'd read it--or a contemporary classic like Mavis Gallant.
We are always growing as we keep writing and reading.
Excellent
Yes! I have worked in a dozen different genres and even did some poetry readings when I hung out with a poet. :-)
My carefully "curated" quotes. :-)