I pulled this up from the archives today because there is some relevance and new info to discuss. When I wrote this post back in October of last year, I blamed the editor. I’ve learned a lot and after painfully working through yet another poorly written book, I’ve decided the blame does not belong to the editor. Well, okay. Maybe they have some of the ownership, but I think the whole darn publishing system is to blame – including the writer.
The book that prompted this latest rant was written by a relatively known writer with more than 30 novels under his belt. I’ve not read anything else by the author so this one may be the exception, but somehow I don’t think so. here’s the scoop:
- He moves the entire story along though dialogue almost exclusively. I don’t have a problem with that necessarily but I think a balance of narrative and dialogue works best.
- His dialogue rings hollow and seems stilted and untrue. I could overlook moving the story with just dialogue if the conversations had some kind of substance. Part of the problem is that it makes any foreshadowing stick out like a sore thumb.
With that said, I’ll let you folks get back to the original post:
As a writer, I also read. That’s what writers do. I mean, besides the whole writing thing
I ordered up some books from the Mystery Guild Book Club to replenish my reading material for what should prove to be a long, cold, dark winter. I chose the books based on little more than the one or two paragraph description. I wasn’t familiar with most of the authors but I figured that was ok. After a week or two, the ubiquitous pale orange parcel slip from my friends at the Post Office was hanging out in the ol’ mailbox.
I love books. I’m always excited to see a new batch arrive. I got this bunch home and spent a little bit of time reviewing the jackets and the first few pages, trying to decide which to delve into first.
With my first selection in hand, I cozied up in the chair and prepared my self for a good reading session. At least, I thought it would be good. I ground through the first dozen pages. The story line was ok, but the writing style, well it sucked. Much of the dialogue was done in sentence fragments. Now, I think for dialogue that’s ok, because that’s how a lot of folks talk. The problem is that it was peppered throughout the narrative as well. And I don’t mean a light peppering either. Darn near every paragraph had a non-sensicle fragment.
That’s cute and effective if used a few times throughout the book, but it was apparent in this case that it was part of the style. Frankly, it did more than just irritate me. It pissed me off. How could an editor believe for an instant that this was acceptable for publication? The style is so distracting that the story line is lost.
I’ve put the book up on the shelf and I have no intention of opening it again.
That got me thinking about social norms and book reading. How many of you have slugged your way through the first chapter of a book and then just walked away? I’ll bet most of you have. Library books don’t count because you’ve no vested interest. Now, how many of you have ever walked out of a movie theater ’cause it was terrible. I’ll bet if you looked at the ratio, you’ve suffered through a lot more movies then you have books.
Why is that, I wonder? Is it because it’s considered rude to walk out of a movie theater? Maybe. After all, ditching a book can be done under the cover of night, when no one is watching.
So that’s my query to you. Do you book ditch? If so, what makes you give up?
Oh, and I don’t want to slam the book I just tromped all over in public, but if you’d like the author/title then just comment or shoot the moose an email. (I can’t believe I just wrote, “shoot the moose”)
I am a notorious book ditcher, largely because I’m impatient. If a book doesn’t grab me within the first 15 pages, I tend to put it down. I try to avoid this by reading the first page of any book before committing to the whole thing.
As for movies, I’ve only walked out of one – “Oscar” with Sylvester Stallone. I’ve also stopped a few DVD’s mid-run. I’d probably walk out of more movies if they took as long to watch as books do to read!
Monica´s last blog post..Can Writers be Purple Cows?
I tend to try to get at least half way through a book before I ditch it, it wastes alot of my time but I generally find that if a book doesn’t grab me in the first chapter its not great, but I’ll give it untill halfway through just to give it a chance, and because I believe in giving chances.
With movies I’m not quiter so geneous though!:)
Webesi3´s last blog post..Funday Fridays Videos
Hey Moose,
I love books too, and I have a reading backlog was we speak. My ditching is do to distractions, other books, work, play-that darn computer. I just received “Abraham’s Well” and I’m dying to read it but the queue won’t allow it. I’m thinking of shuffling the queue. Oh, and baby time takes priority over everything.
@ Monica – I’m impatient too. It better grab me, and grab me quick. The only big exception for me was the Gabaldon Highlander series. Made it through the first book – it was great. Pushed myself through 150 pages of the second before I gave up. I think part of that was sheer intimidation – About 19 books in the series, all of them from 1000 – 1800 pages!
@Webdesi3 – That’s cool that you can make it so far before ditching. I have had a few I’ve given that much of a chance but for the most part I’m too impatient.
Yeah, yukky DVD’s don’t stand a chance.
@ E Abramson – Ha! Darn distractions anyway. On the weeks I have my daughter, it’s almost impossible to get anything done. My advice – Shuffle the queue!
Cheers!
George
I’m reading, “Big Boned” by Med something or other right now. What a piece of crap. Boring, sloppily written, annoying, ugh. I keep reading though….because I am a masochist
I think the last time I looked up “masochist” in the dictionary it said, “See ‘Writer’”
Cheers!
George
Reading bad books is a good way to inspire myself to write mine. I mean, if the author of the bad book actually got that garbage published then I shouldn’t have any problems at all.
Hey Doug,
That’s EXACTLY what I thought. If this drivel can make it through the gauntlet than I’m a shoo-in!
Cheers!
George
I book ditch left and right, heh, sometimes even when the book is well edited!
Generally speaking, if I notice the words and the sentences, something isn’t right. I know some writers pride themselves on a nice turn of phrase, but at the end of the day, nothing should distract me from the story.
You go, Lindsay!
Exactly my point. If style gets in the way of story, you can kiss it goodbye!
Thanks for commenting.
Cheers
George
I totally know this frusteration! Poor writing is the number one reason I’ll put down a book, but even then, it has to be pretty bad. I don’t want to read a book that makes my unedited novel look like a finished work.
Ronnica´s last blog post..Fruit Cocktail
Hmmm…. I don’t go to the theater a lot. I never have. I do remember years ago when I went to see The Brady Bunch movie. I didn’t like it. At all. I stayed, though. Guess you’re right: I felt like it’d be rude to walk out.
As for books (well, movies too) I can’t sit through them if they’re boring and it seems like it isn’t going anywhere. I’m not really into “action” movies, really, but if there’s no action it’s boring! LOL
I can’t believe you said shoot the moose either! Bang!
*smiles*
Michele
.-= Michele´s last blog ..Too sick to post… =-.
Michele,
It pains me to read something that I can’t believe in. Sometimes I’ll trudge my way through, but more often than not, I’ll kick it to the curb and move on.
I’m still recovering from the gunshot wound, too!
George
I have an informal “20 page rule”…if I get 20 pages into a book, I don’t care how bad it is, I finish it. I rationalize it by thinking I’m reinforcing what I don’t want to do with my own writing. I’ve read some truly bad books in my time following this rule =)
Matt
.-= Matt | Small Biz Bee´s last blog ..Declare Your Small Business Independence =-.
Matt,
Persistent fella, eh? You know, I think that’s ok. From a writer’s perspective, it can be counted as a learning session.
George
I used to make myself finish every book I started. Then I realized I’ll never have enough time to read all the books I want, so waste my time reading something I don’t like. Now I ditch a book as soon as I decide I don’t like it. That doesn’t happen often, though, because I usually read reviews and/or excerpts before I buy.
That’s also why I offer the first chapter of my books for people to read free online. By that time, you should know whether you want to read it or not. If not, just don’t buy it.
But, of course, I hope everyone loves my stories.
.-= Lillie Ammann´s last blog ..What I Learned from a Blooper =-.
Hi Lillie!
My bookshelf has quite a few books I still need to get at so I’m likely to ditch early on.
I would just bet that folks love your stories. I’m heading over to have a look today!
George
My mom taught me to read at least the first 20 pages…and if it doesn’t grab me by then, I can stop. Sometimes it does take awhile for a book to leap out and compel you to read more.
I just wrote a lens about the two most precious authors who have touched my life – you can see it at http://www.squidoo.com/touch-lives . Hope you like it!
.-= Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach´s last blog ..I’m quoted in the LA Times about Twitter, Scams, Buyer Beware, and Reading the TOS =-.
Hi Barbara.
It’s always so nice to see you here. Of course I’m headed over to have a look through your lens right now!
George