Comments on: We Admit That We’re Easily Amused

By: kate

kate — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 01:54:21 +0000

I have no problem with your entry in the contest, but here I am and not sure what I’m looking for in terms of review whatnot? Do you mean the meeting strangers thing in Dan Green? as a review of the reviewer of the guardian?

Aeeeiiiiii

By: booksquare

booksquare — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 16:50:34 +0000

I feel you pain — I promise! Great description of Brockmann’s plotting. I may steal it…

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 08:22:35 +0000

I agree, and I wish you were an editor–all my rejections went like: “Love the voice, just didn’t like the story”.

So many people say “voice” is the hard part, but to me it came easy. When it came to plotting, however, no amount of mental gymnastics could make that easy. I admire people who can do both, but they’re rare.

So I read people like Suzanne Brockmann, who plots like she’s driving drunk (“Obstacle? What obstacle?”) but her voice sings.

By: booksquare

booksquare — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 05:46:54 +0000

I know why I read blogs — voice. Blogs allow people to unleash themselves. I respond to voice. I can forgive plot weaknesses (to a degree) and inconsistent characterization (ditto) if the author’s voice captures me. I know (really!) that I make fun of Ayn Rand a lot, but the truth is, her voice resonates. If I read a few pages of Atlas Shrugged, I fall into her rhythm. This may be why I don’t open my vintage ninety-five cent copy.

Finding new voices is rough, but when I find someone who makes me sit back, it’s all worth it. The problem with being a book addict is that you read a lot of chaff, and the wheat is rare. Sure, if our favorite authors could pretty much spew thougts onto page and skip all editing, etc processes…

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 22:00:05 +0000

Funny, I’ve noticed lately I spend WAY more time reading blogs than books. Books have lost their edge. What’s up with that? An editor, a marketing dept, and a few royalties suddenly chew away at quality? Or am I just reading the best of the blogworld?