Thankfully, I wasn't working at a library during the Oprah years, although I was a faithful patron. I didn't watch her show either, but many of my neighbors and friends did and were sucked into the frenzy of the book club books. I have only read a few on her "list" but when my friends would tell me how one made them cry throughout the entire book, all I could think was, Why would I want to be depressed, too? The Frey book fiasco didn't really affect me. I didn't read it so I wasn't emotionally invested (or financially as I didn't buy it), and the only thing I wondered about was if he had plagiarized - which he apparently hadn't. He was just a dishonest jerk in a different way.
In regards to Patterson, it boggles my mind that people still put in requests for his books, then after they return them, tell me the book wasn't good. Especially if it was "written" with another author. This happens constantly, and I'll ask them if they want to find another author, or another series, and they just say no. Then they'll put in another request. Wash, rinse, repeat. Patterson's books and his "empire" reminds me of Tom Clancy's. His Net Force series - which bears his name in huge letters, is written by Steve Perry and the latter's name is in very small print, which isn't lying, just seems sneaky.
There are always going to controversies about books and authors. Here is one that happened a few days ago and is still being talked about.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lynn-shepherd/jk-rowling-should-stop-writing_b_4829648.html
Thanks for the Huffington Post article--I'll definitely read it. Since I had both an emotional and a financial investment in "A Million Little Pieces" and since I just finished reading it at the beginning of the term, this week's assigned reading really hit home with me. As I said in my post, I don't mind reading fiction as long as it is labeled as so!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine. It's funny how actors or musicians can do stupid stuff, and we are disappointed but somehow expect it - but if authors do, it's like a betrayal. I was annoyed with Frey, just because of how so many people were upset. Let me know what you think of the article. I was amazed that the author of it was so honest - who would publicly suggest such a thing? And is she right? Or out of line? Especially as she is a published author herself!
ReplyDeleteWhen I got to the end of the article you posted, I had to check the URL and make sure I wasn't actually on The Onion or some other satire new site. The whole premise of the article seems to be "it isn't fair that famous people should be famous when the rest of us aren't." I understand how hard it is to break into the publishing industry, and that we are a celebrity driven culture that constantly goes to extremes. And if the author wants to sit there and tell bad famous writers to stop writing, then that's fine. But there are tons of bad writers out there doing just as much, if not more, so-called 'damage' to the literary world than just Rowling and I honestly can't see what the point of that article was except for A) sour grapes and B) a little coat-tail publicity of her own out of the drama.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing that stood out the most for me, though, was her honest (almost bragging) admission to having never read the Harry Potter books. Followed by the oh-so-superior mini-rant about adults reading them. Because how dare a fully grown adult read YA Fantasy. Her whole tone reminds me of professors I had during my English undergrad who thought anything that wasn't mainstream, literary fiction was somehow lesser. Drivel read by the masses with no redeeming quality. Full disclosure: I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. Full disclosure: I consider Rowling kind of middle of road in terms of writing skill. You want to debate the faults in her books, I can go all day, but this article makes no logical arguments. It's just a whiny rant because boohoo, Rowling sells more books than Lynn Shepherd does.
Sarah, I completely agree. The only reason I even read this was because a few authors I follow on twitter had a link and were like, "WTF?" I read it and was basically flabbergasted that she is either a) so desperate to sell her own books (which seem like they have gotten decent reviews, so why the drama?) that she wanted this controversy, or b) she was stupid to think she would actually GET new readers when she just alienated, and insulted, a huge number of people. There are so many books and so many other authors out there - and so little time! - that this approach is ridiculous if that is/was her intent. The most amusing part to me was on her other postings she had maybe 2 comments, and when I read it there were like 800 on this one! So as far as attracting attention, it worked, but in a positive way, it's doubtful.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great piece to add to the conversation this week, Christina.
ReplyDeleteThe blog article is an absolute magnet for WTF reactions. It's difficult to imagine that the writer didn't know that when she posted, so I can only infer that she is courting controversy by choice. And in some ways that makes it even more interesting! If her intent is actually to discourage JKR to stop writing books -- obvious FAIL. If she hopes that staking out a place on literary high ground by noting that she's "never read a word (or seen a minute)" will increase her professional reputation -- another FAIL. But if her purpose is to generate conversation about the public's appetite for popular writers, then she can count the article as a win.
If I remember right J.K Rowling did not want to get her pen name out, but it slipped out. I agree people should not just buy or read a book because of who wrote, but because it is a good book. I know a lot of adults who watched and read the Harry Potter books. I believe she can write want she wants, so leave her alone. I can see why you put that after the Patterson books because people read his books too for the same reason.
ReplyDelete