Along Came a Spider discussion

I've read a few of his Books, and only liked a few. I keep telling myself I need to get with the program. What am I missing? Why do you guys Like Patterson so much?

I like most of his books. I started off reading Along Came a Spider, Hide & Seek, etc. I liked the characters, but most of all - the plots. I thought they were creative, and they creeped me out. Over the past few years, I haven't liked his writing as much. I think he just got to churning them out too quickly (and not doing all the writing himself).

I agree with Lori, his early books were really good. Creepy, great character development and the plots were page turners that took a while to figure out. I started to stray away from reading Patterson because the chapters are so short that by the time you get into the rhythm of the story-line the chapter ends and he changes direction - it just got too choppy for me. I have a longer attention span than 5 or 6 paragraphs. Like Stephen King, when authors start cranking out multiple books per year the quality goes way down.

I don't think Stephen King generally pumps out multiples per year. Every once in awhile, but usually he's a large book writer. Nora Roberts is another who writes a ridiculous amount and is popular.

I haven't read enough of James to comment in depth - but he mainly uses ghostwriters now and just his name is attached. He does approval over them. That's why you get so many of his books now published, it's a brand name thing.

deleted user wrote: "I've read a few of his Books, and only liked a few. I keep telling myself I need to get with the program. What am I missing? Why do you guys Like Patterson so much?"

I read "Along Came A Spider" and loved it. I've read 3 more of the series and I'm just done with it. Like you, I just can't get with the program. I don't like this writing style. I'm going to try a few other books that are not part of the series before writing him off as an author completely. But so far I am completely underwhelmed by the last 3 books.

I read "Along Came A`Spider" out loud to my wife. It was more painful then a root canal sans anesthetic. The man's writing is awful. The plot has holes you could fly a starship through (The hypnotist in court, in front of a jury comes to mind, but there were many more). And the dialogue... Oh. My. Gawd. He has a tin ear.
Patterson may be richer than Oprah, but he is a mediocre writer, and I'm being generous.

I decided to give Patterson another chance. I am just finishing "1st to Die". Mediocre is probably the best I could give it. What's sad for me is that I purchased about 30 of his books when I ran into a sale thinking that there had to be something to his writing because he is so well liked. Don't know if I will try the rest of them or not.

people like patterson because it takes zero effort to consume his work. There is nothing deep, no hidden messages, just 125 gloriously short chapters between beginning and end ...

Ive grown to "hate" his stuff but sometimes I want to read something that has no value, sort of a palate cleanser for reading something amazing

Side Note: Patterson is a genius, he made a name for himself writing the Alex Cross books then he realized his name on the cover will sell THOUSANDS of books, so he signs confidentiallity agreements with authors who are not allowed to talk about the process of writing the novel. They slap his name on the cover, he collects thousands of dollars and does little more than steer a plot in a direction

Great beach or poolside books.

I find Patterson to be easy reading. He writes reasonably well and his story lines are good. He is a writer who can hold your attention for the duration of his novels without boring you.
Good for escapism and I love his characters.

I love James Pattersons Alex Cross series. I currently am on Mary Mary. I bought the whole series and I can't put them down. I love that they are so unpredictable.

I love James Patterson's books. I have read quite a few of them. I will admit that now he is cranking them out too quickly and using too many ghost writers, but I think his books are super easy to get into and I love the short chapters...I work with a lady that owns all of his books, and I have read quite a few of them mostly the old ones and the Private Series!!!!

I like this book. It showed me that there are a lot of people in this world. I did not think a teacher would kidnapp children and he would be a killer too. In this world no one suspects about serial killers unless you hear it in the news.