What Are You Reading?

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Kurben

Kurben

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Apr 12, 2014
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skimom2 said:
So here's the issue I have with a few younger writers that I've read for review: especially in the case where the writer has grown up in privileged circumstances, they have a sort of brittle non-style that irks me to no end. They want to be John Irving or Wes Anderson--all 'quirky' characters and pseudo sophisticated dialogue and quasi-pithy observations--without the life experience to make those characters live. The characters are a collection of oddities with no souls. Writers like Irving and Anderson can carry it off through talent and a keen ear for real dialogue and an ability to show heart in their characters. I'm not sure if it's because the writers are just are too young, or because their own lives have limited the persons with which they've come in contact; in other words, they've cobbled together a view of common humanity from stories or movies without actually meeting common people. As a result, their characters sling witty comments at each other and make grand statements, but have no actual dialogue that sounds like anything you'd hear if you listen in on 'the man in the street' (and if you know any writers, make no mistake: they're listening to you--lol). Even my kids have noticed this with a VERY popular YA author (who shall remain nameless here)--they observe that no kid they've ever met speaks like his characters speak. As a result, the books are no reflection of anything remotely resembling real life. They're 'NYC lifestyle books', and they get published because these admittedly literate kids (and they should be, given the schools they've attended) have the clout to see it happen.

I am disgruntled today, so pardon the vent. I want to be gruntled (lol), so I will put aside this lifestyle book and dive into something that has people who act and speak like people, regardless of the fantastic situations in which they find themselves.

Hello, Firestarter, my old friend...
Click to expand...
I do agree with you Skimom, Seems to be a common sickness. Authors want to be that or this author instead of finding their own voice. Hopefully they grow out of it. Don't know much about young authors in the states but there is something like it here too. (even though i don't know much about their circumstances).
 
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MadamMack

MadamMack

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Apr 11, 2006
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skimom2 said:
So here's the issue I have with a few younger writers that I've read for review: especially in the case where the writer has grown up in privileged circumstances, they have a sort of brittle non-style that irks me to no end. They want to be John Irving or Wes Anderson--all 'quirky' characters and pseudo sophisticated dialogue and quasi-pithy observations--without the life experience to make those characters live. The characters are a collection of oddities with no souls. Writers like Irving and Anderson can carry it off through talent and a keen ear for real dialogue and an ability to show heart in their characters. I'm not sure if it's because the writers are just are too young, or because their own lives have limited the persons with which they've come in contact; in other words, they've cobbled together a view of common humanity from stories or movies without actually meeting common people. As a result, their characters sling witty comments at each other and make grand statements, but have no actual dialogue that sounds like anything you'd hear if you listen in on 'the man in the street' (and if you know any writers, make no mistake: they're listening to you--lol). Even my kids have noticed this with a VERY popular YA author (who shall remain nameless here)--they observe that no kid they've ever met speaks like his characters speak. As a result, the books are no reflection of anything remotely resembling real life. They're 'NYC lifestyle books', and they get published because these admittedly literate kids (and they should be, given the schools they've attended) have the clout to see it happen.

I am disgruntled today, so pardon the vent. I want to be gruntled (lol), so I will put aside this lifestyle book and dive into something that has people who act and speak like people, regardless of the fantastic situations in which they find themselves.

Hello, Firestarter, my old friend...
Click to expand...


That is spot on . . .
 
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MadamMack

MadamMack

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Kurben said:
I do agree with you Skimom, Seems to be a common sickness. Authors want to be that or this author instead of finding their own voice. Hopefully they grow out of it. Don't know much about young authors in the states but there is something like it here too. (even though i don't know much about their circumstances).
Click to expand...

I'll add that there are many writers that 'just don't have the voice' young and old. They just don't have it at all. I just finished a book with a wonderful plot but 'the voice' needed to make it believable just wasn't there. The only reason I finished reading it was because there was only one believable character and I think I had a crush on him!
 
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AchtungBaby

AchtungBaby

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Dec 5, 2011
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skimom2 said:
So here's the issue I have with a few younger writers that I've read for review: especially in the case where the writer has grown up in privileged circumstances, they have a sort of brittle non-style that irks me to no end. They want to be John Irving or Wes Anderson--all 'quirky' characters and pseudo sophisticated dialogue and quasi-pithy observations--without the life experience to make those characters live. The characters are a collection of oddities with no souls. Writers like Irving and Anderson can carry it off through talent and a keen ear for real dialogue and an ability to show heart in their characters. I'm not sure if it's because the writers are just are too young, or because their own lives have limited the persons with which they've come in contact; in other words, they've cobbled together a view of common humanity from stories or movies without actually meeting common people. As a result, their characters sling witty comments at each other and make grand statements, but have no actual dialogue that sounds like anything you'd hear if you listen in on 'the man in the street' (and if you know any writers, make no mistake: they're listening to you--lol). Even my kids have noticed this with a VERY popular YA author (who shall remain nameless here)--they observe that no kid they've ever met speaks like his characters speak. As a result, the books are no reflection of anything remotely resembling real life. They're 'NYC lifestyle books', and they get published because these admittedly literate kids (and they should be, given the schools they've attended) have the clout to see it happen.

I am disgruntled today, so pardon the vent. I want to be gruntled (lol), so I will put aside this lifestyle book and dive into something that has people who act and speak like people, regardless of the fantastic situations in which they find themselves.

Hello, Firestarter, my old friend...
Click to expand...
I know which young adult author you're speaking of. And I feel the same way about him. ;)

I need to reread Firestarter!
 
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Mr Larry Underwood

Mr Larry Underwood

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Aug 8, 2014
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So yeah, I think I have never read so many books in an entire week. Here ya go:

1. Foundation by Asimov - Recommend only to sci fi afficionados
2. Fear Nothing by Koontz - Recomend the first half to everyone, the second to no one
3. The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein - Recomend to everyone, dearly.
4. Double Star By Robert Heinlein - fun, but not as good as the aforementioned.
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin - Everyone fond of dystopian, alternative realities with lots of humanity and good ideas in between.

I now ask you for a recommendation from you within these parameters. Thank you.
 
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Walter Oobleck

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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Mr Larry Underwood said:
So yeah, I think I have never read so many books in an entire week. Here ya go:

1. Foundation by Asimov - Recommend only to sci fi afficionados
2. Fear Nothing by Koontz - Recomend the first half to everyone, the second to no one
3. The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein - Recomend to everyone, dearly.
4. Double Star By Robert Heinlein - fun, but not as good as the aforementioned.
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin - Everyone fond of dystopian, alternative realities with lots of humanity and good ideas in between.

I now ask you for a recommendation from you within these parameters. Thank you.
Click to expand...

The Broken Sword...More Than Human...The People of the Wind...The Lathe of Heaven...The Man Who Bridge the Mist

reading Killing Plato now...Phuket lobsters...heh! finished A Questionable Hero from SKMB member Steven Gane, a good story, check it out.
 
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Kurben

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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Mr Larry Underwood said:
So yeah, I think I have never read so many books in an entire week. Here ya go:

1. Foundation by Asimov - Recommend only to sci fi afficionados
2. Fear Nothing by Koontz - Recomend the first half to everyone, the second to no one
3. The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein - Recomend to everyone, dearly.
4. Double Star By Robert Heinlein - fun, but not as good as the aforementioned.
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin - Everyone fond of dystopian, alternative realities with lots of humanity and good ideas in between.

I now ask you for a recommendation from you within these parameters. Thank you.
Click to expand...
You're into a SF-ride I see. Have read all of them except Koontz. I think LeGuins book is the best of them. Brilliant SF. Possible one of the most, perhaps even the most humanistic, sf-writer there is. Some other greats by her are The Left Hand of Darkness, The Word for World is Forest and Four ways to Forgiveness. Heinlain is a competent storyteller. Stranger in a Strange Land and and Methusalems Children can be recommended. If you liked Door into Summer you'll probably like other werllmade timetravelstories like There Will be time by Paul Anderson or Up the Line and Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg. Also The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. For dystopian humane stories with good ideas i can recommend Where Once the Sweet birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm.
 
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