What I'm Reading at the Moment
I'm not going to tell you the name of the book or the author because I'm going to be critical--something I seldom write about a book. Usually if I don't like a book, I won't do a review. If I've received the book from the publisher, I'll send a polite email saying that it wasn't my kind of book.
Because the book I'm reading now is by a well-known and best selling author I am rather surprised by what I'm going to tell you about it.
One of the things that bothers me a lot is there are so many characters--characters that the author has taken pages and pages to tell about in complete back-story form, mostly narrative. Yes, they all have a place in the plot, which brings me to the plot.
For me, the plot itself is far too complicated and convoluted. Obviously others must like the way the author goes about telling his stories as this is a popular series. But reading this is almost like a chore. I want to finish to see what will ultimately happen in the end.
Some of you may say, you've just gotten used to reading short novels. And yes, that is true and I write short novels too. But in my defense, I love reading Stephen King who also has lots of characters in some of his books and very complicated plots, but I don't have any trouble finishing his books which are very, very long.
I'm using Stephen King as an example because the book I'm reading now could easily qualify for a horror novel, it has many of the same elements.
Because I know this author has many fans, let me finish by saying, I know that we all have different tastes in reading, and this book might be exactly what someone else might love.
Marilyn
Because the book I'm reading now is by a well-known and best selling author I am rather surprised by what I'm going to tell you about it.
One of the things that bothers me a lot is there are so many characters--characters that the author has taken pages and pages to tell about in complete back-story form, mostly narrative. Yes, they all have a place in the plot, which brings me to the plot.
For me, the plot itself is far too complicated and convoluted. Obviously others must like the way the author goes about telling his stories as this is a popular series. But reading this is almost like a chore. I want to finish to see what will ultimately happen in the end.
Some of you may say, you've just gotten used to reading short novels. And yes, that is true and I write short novels too. But in my defense, I love reading Stephen King who also has lots of characters in some of his books and very complicated plots, but I don't have any trouble finishing his books which are very, very long.
I'm using Stephen King as an example because the book I'm reading now could easily qualify for a horror novel, it has many of the same elements.
Because I know this author has many fans, let me finish by saying, I know that we all have different tastes in reading, and this book might be exactly what someone else might love.
Marilyn
Comments
One of my favorite authors has a rambling way of writing. The first half of her 1,000-word books don't go anywhere, but then you can't put the other half down. She's like a train that takes some time getting her momentum going, but once she goes, she's steamining! I'm talking about Diana Gabaldon, by the way.
~ Heidi