Comments - Readers in a Rut - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T11:31:06Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=537324%3ABlogPost%3A197618&xn_auth=noI think many writers continue…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-09:537324:Comment:1977552009-05-09T23:11:02.430ZSandra Parshallhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SandraParshall
I think many writers continue their series long past the point where they should end. I get tired of the characters and lose interest, even if the books aren't outright bad, because I can tell that the writers are bored with the characters. The publishers rely on readers to keep buying the books, though, and it's probably difficult for writers to turn their backs on guaranteed sales. Who is being served in such a situation? Not the reader, certainly, nor the writer.
I think many writers continue their series long past the point where they should end. I get tired of the characters and lose interest, even if the books aren't outright bad, because I can tell that the writers are bored with the characters. The publishers rely on readers to keep buying the books, though, and it's probably difficult for writers to turn their backs on guaranteed sales. Who is being served in such a situation? Not the reader, certainly, nor the writer. I was in the same situation.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-09:537324:Comment:1977202009-05-09T14:42:33.402ZJ. F. Juzwikhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Crimewriter
I was in the same situation. For years, I have read a series of books by a particular best-selling author primarily because of the main character. He was a terrific high-level detective and the stories were all fresh and exciting. I pre-ordered one in the series (before the latest one) and I read it from cover to cover in no time flat. I was never so disappointed in my life. The story was beyond lame and boring, and my favorite character? You wouldn't think it would be possible for a made-up…
I was in the same situation. For years, I have read a series of books by a particular best-selling author primarily because of the main character. He was a terrific high-level detective and the stories were all fresh and exciting. I pre-ordered one in the series (before the latest one) and I read it from cover to cover in no time flat. I was never so disappointed in my life. The story was beyond lame and boring, and my favorite character? You wouldn't think it would be possible for a made-up person, but he got old and boring. The overall story was so ridiculous, only you couldn't really tell until close to the end how ridiculous it really was. Anyway, now he's come out with another in the series. Now, this one might be spectacular as they were in the past, but what if it's lame like the last one? My reading time is valuable to me and I have no intention of taking a chance. It's time to let the character go. I have the feeling though that this author will keep writing this series as long as people keep buying it, and there will be some that will even though they're terrible.<br />
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Yes, I would most certainly take a chance on a new author. I do so on a regular basis. Sometimes I am absolutely amazed and look for other work by them. Other times, I am disappointed and refuse to read anything else they've written.<br />
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I don't believe it's a good idea to keep buying whatever an author writes just because you like some of their work. I say this because that's what I've done for a lot of years, but I'm finally learning to be more selective. Buy a book that looks to be interesting and worth reading--don't just go by the writer's name. I honestly don't see the Catc…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-09:537324:Comment:1976642009-05-09T00:14:16.245ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
I honestly don't see the Catch-22 B.R. Every year new authors are published. I wish it were more but then I have a vested interest.
I honestly don't see the Catch-22 B.R. Every year new authors are published. I wish it were more but then I have a vested interest. Never bought a book by someon…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-08:537324:Comment:1976542009-05-08T21:28:40.150ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Never bought a book by someone I thought little of. Cornwell started out strongly with her first three novels. I might have bought another but picked up an atrocious one in the library instead. Never read Cornwell again. Most of the people you mention I never read and won't read either. There are so many poorly written, mindless books out there that I tend to sample an author in the library before buying. Occasionally this backfires. I admire Martin Cruz Smith and bought his latest (STALIN'S…
Never bought a book by someone I thought little of. Cornwell started out strongly with her first three novels. I might have bought another but picked up an atrocious one in the library instead. Never read Cornwell again. Most of the people you mention I never read and won't read either. There are so many poorly written, mindless books out there that I tend to sample an author in the library before buying. Occasionally this backfires. I admire Martin Cruz Smith and bought his latest (STALIN'S GHOST). It was disappointing.<br />
And B.R., my biggest complaint about publishers is that they throw all their promotion money on the bestselling authors, thereby making it even harder for newcomers to be noticed. It takes a miracle these days to be noticed. Good reviews won't do it. Unfortunately, most bestselling novels are written to lowest common denominator (they are fast, easy reads about sensational subjects). There is something to be said…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-08:537324:Comment:1976312009-05-08T19:05:44.007ZB.R.Statehamhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
There is something to be said (again) about the unwillingess of publishers to open up the ranks and allow new voices in. New voices have to prove they can sell books---but if no one knows about them or sees them on the shelves, how do they sell books? Catch-22 if there ever was one!
There is something to be said (again) about the unwillingess of publishers to open up the ranks and allow new voices in. New voices have to prove they can sell books---but if no one knows about them or sees them on the shelves, how do they sell books? Catch-22 if there ever was one! There was an author I stuck w…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-08:537324:Comment:1976262009-05-08T18:45:25.605ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
There was an author I stuck with longer than I should have, mainly because I'd developed an affection for the characters in his series and, as you noted above, kept hoping he'd start fleshing the books out a little more again. When his style continued to become even less engaging, I cut him loose a few years ago, knowing in the middle of the last book I read that it would be the last.<br />
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I think people have comfort zones, and author name is the most easily recognizable part of any book. As…
There was an author I stuck with longer than I should have, mainly because I'd developed an affection for the characters in his series and, as you noted above, kept hoping he'd start fleshing the books out a little more again. When his style continued to become even less engaging, I cut him loose a few years ago, knowing in the middle of the last book I read that it would be the last.<br />
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I think people have comfort zones, and author name is the most easily recognizable part of any book. As writers--or serious reader, as those on Crimespace clearly are--we tend to forget most people don't look too closely for reviews, or research new writers. They stay with what's comfortable.<br />
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It's a little like golf. A person can flog away for four hours and generally be miserable, but won't quit because what he remembers most is that drive on 11 and the 30-foot putt on 16. Readers remember the books that formed their impressions of the writer at hand, and it takes a lot to disabuse them.