Between the Lines discussion

A too pat ending in what had otherwise been a good read.

A good series of books that deteriorates to a set formula and churns out same old predictable plots.

An author that bludgeons us over the head with an aspect of the book, whether it be a theme, a foreshadowing, or metoaphor.

In other words an author who underestimates our intelligence?

To some people witches and vampires is what they choose to read. If that is their choice I would let it be. One of the freest things to me is to be able to choose what I do and do not choose to read. Harry Potter for adults may be nothing more than a harmless escape from reality. A change to go back to being a child for a little while. Is that so awful? I went with a child to see the first Harry Potter movie. It was fun but tiresome after a little while. Once in a while I read a sappy romance, maybe twice a year. I need different books for different moods.

Shannon wrote: "An author that bludgeons us over the head with an aspect of the book, whether it be a theme, a foreshadowing, or metaphor."

I thought about what you say for a while, but I couldn't quite see what you meant. All I could think of was a certain popular book about vampires which shall remain nameless. Would you mind giving us an example of what you mean?
I understand that whatever you use as an example is just your opinion and, for my part, I promise not to bludgeon you for having an opinion different from my own.

Ken wrote: "Two of the better books I have read in the last year have been from the "young adult" genre, and were recommended to me by one of my kids (she's 15) - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and the non-fi..."

People often look down on YA or children's books, but according to what I learned in a seminar recently some of today's best writers are writing for that audience. They are not what you might remember from your youth.

Wonderful point. I think some writers have a set number of pages they include in their books and having run out of things to say just trundle on.

Now that you mention it , that is so. Stick to your principles.

Ken: How was the Burn Journal? I really loved book Thief.

I truly enjoyed the Book Thief as well.

Fiona- or the other way around is truly vexing as well, when you read the back of the book for a slight idea and then you are attacked by the whole premise of the book, spoilers and all ... annoying.

My pet peeve are books that start to get really preachy. Little Women is a good example of what I'm talking about. Although I like the book b/c it reminds me of my childhood, if I read it as an adult and had no sentimental attachment to it, I would throw it across the room.

Yes, I think I share you opinion. Marmee is a bit too much, isn't she? I guess I just have to think of it as a product of its time. The girls were so unbelievably sugary. Jo did differ a bit.

Rhonda wrote: "Shannon wrote: "An author that bludgeons us over the head with an aspect of the book, whether it be a theme, a foreshadowing, or metaphor."

I thought about what you say for a while, but I could..."

It wasn't in reference to the Vampire book (which I haven't read but can guess at and I imagine would apply). I have blanked from my mind the book I was thinking of but it would out an out tell the reader, "if she had only realized that the ___________ meant that _________ was going to happen." And then repeat in various forms until the long expected event acutally happened. Rather than letting us get it or not. Sorry that I cannot be more concrete in my example or more clear in what I mean. I am a reader not a writer for a very good reason.

"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."
— C.S. Lewis

Richard, try reading a child's book called On the Day You were Born. It is an example of what I call good literature for children. I read it to a jr. high class where I been invited to read on Dr.Seuss day.
They were enthralled. And it was not my style of reading that did it.

Shannon wrote: "An author that bludgeons us over the head with an aspect of the book, whether it be a theme, a foreshadowing, or metaphor."
[A book of the type to which I was referring} would out an out tell the reader, "if she had only realized that the ___________ meant that _________ was going to happen."
Thank you and I think you expressed yourself perfectly. I thought that perhaps you were objecting to a single theme which was constantly amplified, but I now understand you to mean that it is reprehensible when the author does not allow us to come to a conclusion by ourselves. I tend to agree that this is a great failure in writers who perhaps believe that readers are a bit beyond any reasoning or critical abilities.

I finaly remembered which book had irritated me enough for me to comment here (so inadequately). It was Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay

In it the author repeatedly indulges in foretelling: a character is going to have some sort of feeling or three things will happen to someone, which I found extrememly annoying. In the instance of 3 things were going to happen she would tell us when and then remind us each time one of the things happened.

I hate it when the story is a little bit "too conveeenient", as Church Lady would say.

I just finished reading The Pillars of the Earth, and the good guys would always show up in the nick of time, despite the fact it was the Middle Ages, and communications were not advanced like they are now. They had no 911 lines back then. Otherwise it was a quick read, and somewhat entertaining.

I also hate when a novel gets to "preachy". Little Women is a good example. I have read it numeorus times, but more because of memory by association than really loving the story.
A more recent example for me was Snow Flower and the Secret Fan A Novel. It seemed the point of the whole book was ot show us the error of the main characters way, without giving us a reason to love her, and so really care. I enjoyed the setting, and style, but the "moral" was always forefront in my mind, and so changed my experience of the book.

Richard wrote: "as i have just found out that Remembrance Of Things Past has been turned into a series of graphic novels-and i have ordered them sight unseen out of curiosity-we geezers are not as close minded as you seem to imply-i would like to see a real meeting of the

Richard, do you have a title or a link or something on this series? It sounds intriguing!

Beth A. wrote: ""A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."
— C.S. Lewis
"

love that!

Authors who have a pet word - one they probably got from their 'word of the day' calendar - that they gratuitously throw in every page or so.

too many blank pages. like the filler pages at the end and front of the book. Is is suppose to look asthetic? because it just looks wasteful to me

Adjectives. After reading Ha Jin who hardly uses them, I get pissed off (in a very minor way) with the over-use of adjectives.

Fiona wrote: "Slow beginnings. I can cope with a slow middle bit or a slow ending even, but slow beginnings are stupid!"

You must loathe Michener's Hawaii!:)

Kipahni wrote: "too many blank pages. like the filler pages at the end and front of the book. Is is suppose to look asthetic? because it just looks wasteful to me"

Kipahni, it's just because printing presses work with 16-page sheets (or sometimes 8 I think). If the author didn't happen to write something that will fit in an exact multiple of 8 or 16, you are going to get blank pages! They don't try to do it that way ...

Veronica wrote: "Kipahni wrote: "too many blank pages. like the filler pages at the end and front of the book. Is is suppose to look asthetic? because it just looks wasteful to me"

Kipahni, it's just because pri..."

Thanks Veronica: I had no idea that is why the blank pages, I thought it was for esthetics as well! LOL Glad to hear there is a real reason for it.

Of course, if the typesetter ends up with something that will use just 1 or 2 pages on the last 16-page sheet, they will try to tweak it to bring the page count within the previous sheet!

I hate it when there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in a book. I have had a few that have been riddled with them. It makes it harder for me to get into the book.

Perpendicularandi wrote: "I hate it when there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in a book. I have had a few that have been riddled with them. It makes it harder for me to get into the book."

I hate this as well. It's an indication that neither the author, the editor, nor the publisher take any pride in their work and, if that's the case, it's probably not worth my time to read it.

Perpendicularandi wrote: "I hate it when there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in a book. I have had a few that have been riddled with them. It makes it harder for me to get into the book."


Oh I agree! I've seen this is a few YA books I have read, and you are so right about losing interest, it really bothers me! I'm thinking, I paid for this??! Errors!? HAHAH thank goodness the books were great! lol

Oh my gosh, here's another one. That these groups' comment boxes don't have spell check. I tend to type too darn fast and then I always forget to look over what I wrote before I post. LOL I know all my words get jumbled up. LOL See.. that word doesn't even look right to me. HAHAHA

People who keep calling us thinking they have the bank. We have three sevens and a zero; bank has two sevens then two zeroes. They sound so mad when they find out they have wrong number. A few are so nice we joke with them about how often it happens to us.

I don't think that is what they have in mind.
Maybe I should bill bank for handling their calls.

My worst pet peeve is when there is bad editing in the book. I HATE catching spelling errors, or mistakes in how it is written. I also dislike when the characters on the cover don't match the descriptions in the book.