What Are You Reading? Part Deux

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The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
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The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
Spent the night at my sister's place last night, and we debated that novel for a while. It's one of her favorites; I'd give it 3 stars at the most.
I'd say that's about right, not a great deal of it sticks out for me but I remember feeling it was too long for what the story was. Not bad but not great.

Whilst reading Let the right one in by John Ajvide Lindqvist I have discovered one similarity with king (who critics call him the Swedish version of) and that is my least favourite of stephen's traits - spoilers, telling you a specific character will die soon.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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telling you a specific character will die soon
Yeah, I don't see the advantage of telling the reader that a character is about to die unless there is a specific reason. For example, the writer may alert the reader of a character's impending death so that the few remaining scenes with that character become extra poignant. (Maybe a character will soon die in a war, or something like that.) We know about their death before any of the characters know which ensconces the reader in the God-like POV with the writer. It can pay off, in that way, but King sometimes needlessly pops his own balloon...letting out all of the building tension (at least regarding that particular character) in the story. It seems self-defeating.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
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Spokane, WA
Well, I started The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice last night. Got to the part in the 1st chapter where the main character is conversing at dinner with an older female who has lived the good life all over the globe, gone to college, knows many things and they were discussing something that the main character, even though he had gone to college for a few years majoring in English, he began talking like he knew exactly what she was talking about, which unless he had studied ancient History, he would have no idea what she was referring to. I closed the book and placed it on my Anne Rice shelf. Sorry, Anne, but I can't suspend my disbelief on that matter. :down:
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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Well, I started The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice last night. Got to the part in the 1st chapter where the main character is conversing at dinner with an older female who has lived the good life all over the globe, gone to college, knows many things and they were discussing something that the main character, even though he had gone to college for a few years majoring in English, he began talking like he knew exactly what she was talking about, which unless he had studied ancient History, he would have no idea what she was referring to. I closed the book and placed it on my Anne Rice shelf. Sorry, Anne, but I can't suspend my disbelief on that matter. :down:
I don't know, I am knowledgeable about certain subjects that may be esoteric to others and I never attended college. If this character is supposed to be educated and therefore places importance on higher learning then it is feasible that he could have, perhaps, read books about the subject in a library. I understand your point, though. I have not read The Wolf Gift so I don't know the full context.
Incidentally, did you like her latest Lestat book?
 
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kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I don't know, I am knowledgeable about certain subjects that may be esoteric to others and I never attended college. If this character is supposed to be educated and therefore places importance on higher learning then I would think it feasible that he had, perhaps, read books about the subject in a library. I understand your point, though. I have not read The Wolf Gift so I don't know the full context.
Incidentally, did you like her latest Lestat book?
But wait! ;-D There's more: The guy attended three years of college (studying English!) and dropped out. His mother is a world renowned surgeon and his father is a poet (which the mother thinks is far beneath her). I really doubt that he would have any knowledge about what was being discussed. Sometimes Anne just reaches too far in her writing. I have Prince Lestat in my TBR pile. It's been there for at least a year now. Maybe I'll pick that one up tonight and see if I can get through it?
 

Zone D Dad

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Apr 17, 2017
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I'm about to start the last chapter of A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. I don't have HBO so I've never watched the show - figured I'd go straight to the source. Turns out it's a terrific read, but there are several plot lines that will not be resolved (obviously). I'm not sure how far I want to go with it yet.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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But wait! ;-D There's more: The guy attended three years of college (studying English!) and dropped out. His mother is a world renowned surgeon and his father is a poet (which the mother thinks is far beneath her). I really doubt that he would have any knowledge about what was being discussed. Sometimes Anne just reaches too far in her writing. I have Prince Lestat in my TBR pile. It's been there for at least a year now. Maybe I'll pick that one up tonight and see if I can get through it?
Yeah, I follow you. Some things should be corrected by an editor. By the way, you have a great eye for detail. Have you ever thought about becoming an editor? Does Cemetery Dance have an in-house Editing Department? I noticed your last few posts were concerning corrections, ha.

In my novel in-progress I wrote about a character visiting his friends that own and operate an old-fashioned gas station. My friend pointed out that the character shouldn't have asked where the bathroom was because I'd earlier written he had been there many times. The best of us still make these goofs. Again, an astute editor can save a writer from a lot of embarrassment. You should look into that, seriously.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Yeah, I follow you. Some things should be corrected by an editor. By the way, you have a great eye for detail. Have you ever thought about becoming an editor? Does Cemetery Dance have an in-house Editing Department? I noticed your last few posts were concerning corrections, ha.

In my novel in-progress I wrote about a character visiting his friends that own and operate an old-fashioned gas station. My friend pointed out that the character shouldn't have asked where the bathroom was because I'd earlier written he had been there many times. The best of us still make these goofs. Again, an astute editor can save a writer from a lot of embarrassment. You should look into that, seriously.
I would love to do something like that, Doc. I doubt I could get a job in that field as I don't have any formal education relating to that. I keep hinting to Marsha Moderator to let me edit Steve's ARC's though!! ;-D Mistakes somehow keep slipping through on those ARC's.....
 

do1you9love?

Happy to be here!
Feb 18, 2012
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I'm reading this month's book club selection and I just don't like it. It's poorly written and I just don't care about the characters. They don't feel or act realistically and it's really frustrating me. Oh, and did I mention that Wednesday night is my book club meeting and the author, who lives locally, will be in attendance?:facepalm_smiley: I'm starting to think about not going, but I would hate to do that to the hostess. I am going to have to find something nice to say about this book before 7pm Wednesday. Wish me luck!

skimom2 - any advice?
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I'm reading this month's book club selection and I just don't like it. It's poorly written and I just don't care about the characters. They don't feel or act realistically and it's really frustrating me. Oh, and did I mention that Wednesday night is my book club meeting and the author, who lives locally, will be in attendance?:facepalm_smiley: I'm starting to think about not going, but I would hate to do that to the hostess. I am going to have to find something nice to say about this book before 7pm Wednesday. Wish me luck!

skimom2 - any advice?
I've been in this situation a few times but, fortunately, I was in charge of which authors came to the library so I didn't have to use my poker face that often. Be strong! Heh heh
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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I'm reading this month's book club selection and I just don't like it. It's poorly written and I just don't care about the characters. They don't feel or act realistically and it's really frustrating me. Oh, and did I mention that Wednesday night is my book club meeting and the author, who lives locally, will be in attendance?:facepalm_smiley: I'm starting to think about not going, but I would hate to do that to the hostess. I am going to have to find something nice to say about this book before 7pm Wednesday. Wish me luck!

skimom2 - any advice?
Don't go. Seriously. If you feel like you really have to attend, be polite and also do this: if you have criticism that can be constructive (i.e., you can point out what the characters did that was unrealistic or areas in which you think the author could improve (spelling, grammar, punctuation, pacing, etc.), write it down. This gives you the opportunity to look over what you want to say, be sure that you are being fair and clear, and that you've worded your con crit in the most objective manner. Make sure what you're saying is objective: "I don't like what happened here," with no explanation is personal preference rather than a real problem with the narrative. Then give the letter to the author privately.

Especially for a local author, book club meetings are positive affirmation, not an opportunity for what will definitely feel like an attack. A more experienced author might have a thicker skin (but not always. I can name two or three famous authors who have very thin skin about criticism. They argue with their critics on Twitter, which is slightly embarrassing to everyone), but a local boy or girl isn't likely to have had time to build that. It would embarrass the hell out of them to be called out in front of what they're expecting to be a positive audience.

I've actually had this experience--not mean people (lol), but fallout from a review of a local author's book. It was a good, professional review on a national platform (few non Big 5 authors get that), citing both the strong places and the weak spots in the book, but she was devastated because the rest of the local literary scene gushed over her book. I just couldn't. It was a decent book by a first-time author, but it had some significant flaws. I've since avoided local readings that she attends as a reader, out of deference for her feelings. I'm not sorry I did the review--she asked me to do it and I got permission from my editor--but I'm glad it was in professional, written form and not aloud in front of her friends and family.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I'm about to start the last chapter of A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. I don't have HBO so I've never watched the show - figured I'd go straight to the source. Turns out it's a terrific read, but there are several plot lines that will not be resolved (obviously). I'm not sure how far I want to go with it yet.
Read them all. A fantastic series (5 books so far), and one I dearly hope he finishes. Even if he doesn't, it's a wild and glorious ride.

P.S. I got bored with the TV series in the middle of season 4 and never went back. I'd re-read the book series in a heartbeat.
 

Zone D Dad

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2017
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Read them all. A fantastic series (5 books so far), and one I dearly hope he finishes. Even if he doesn't, it's a wild and glorious ride.

P.S. I got bored with the TV series in the middle of season 4 and never went back. I'd re-read the book series in a heartbeat.

That's good to know. I really enjoyed the first novel. I figured I'd hit the library and borrow the first season dvd to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!