Christian Chiakulas's Blog: Christian Chiakulas's Goodreads Blog
June 2, 2017
Bill Clinton is Writing a Novel with James Patterson, Apparently
I know I said I'd keep politics out of this as much as possible, but "as much as possible" doesn't mean "completely" so....
I just learned that Bill Clinton and James Patterson are collaborating on a novel together. It's supposed to be some kind of thriller about a president? Sounds kind of like a Chrichton-Clancy ripoff if you ask me, although obviously the angle of having a former president's name in the byline is the main draw.
Couple things about this:
First, the phrase: "Bill Clinton and James Patterson are writing a novel together" should be translated as "Bill Clinton and James Patterson are paying some ghostwriter you've never heard of to write a novel based on an outline from Patterson and random suggestions and insights from Clinton,with maybe a few paragraphs by either of them thrown in to make it look real." Because that's what's actually happening.
Second, it makes sense in a weird sort of way, when you think about it: if Clinton is the single most shameless politician when it comes to doing literally anything for money (and I assure you he is), James Patterson is his literary equivalent. The only thing that should be surprising is that this didn't happen
sooner.
Finally, will the book be good? It's hard to say. Patterson is objectively terrible (although it's long been known that he hardly writes any of the prose within the books that bear his name), and Clinton is also objectively terrible, but as a person (at least he actually writes his own books).
I suspect the book will be an instant bestseller and millions of people will read it in airports or on vacation. It will appeal to the same sorts of people who vote for politicians like Clinton; bland, well-to-do white people who enjoy a clear line between good guys and bad guys and don't like to think too much. Like Clinton himself, that is who this book is for.
But will it be good? Almost certainly not.
I just learned that Bill Clinton and James Patterson are collaborating on a novel together. It's supposed to be some kind of thriller about a president? Sounds kind of like a Chrichton-Clancy ripoff if you ask me, although obviously the angle of having a former president's name in the byline is the main draw.
Couple things about this:
First, the phrase: "Bill Clinton and James Patterson are writing a novel together" should be translated as "Bill Clinton and James Patterson are paying some ghostwriter you've never heard of to write a novel based on an outline from Patterson and random suggestions and insights from Clinton,with maybe a few paragraphs by either of them thrown in to make it look real." Because that's what's actually happening.
Second, it makes sense in a weird sort of way, when you think about it: if Clinton is the single most shameless politician when it comes to doing literally anything for money (and I assure you he is), James Patterson is his literary equivalent. The only thing that should be surprising is that this didn't happen
sooner.
Finally, will the book be good? It's hard to say. Patterson is objectively terrible (although it's long been known that he hardly writes any of the prose within the books that bear his name), and Clinton is also objectively terrible, but as a person (at least he actually writes his own books).
I suspect the book will be an instant bestseller and millions of people will read it in airports or on vacation. It will appeal to the same sorts of people who vote for politicians like Clinton; bland, well-to-do white people who enjoy a clear line between good guys and bad guys and don't like to think too much. Like Clinton himself, that is who this book is for.
But will it be good? Almost certainly not.
Christian Chiakulas's Goodreads Blog
Just a place for me to journal about writing, books, reading, art, that kinda stuff. I'm gonna do my best to keep politics out of it as much as possible. For my political/religious ramblings, please g
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