ROBUST discussion

This will be a rather modest rant. Ahem.

So far, I've sampled about five of the Amazon Singles. I probably need to read about a hundred more before having a decent statistical sample, but I'm too lazy. Anyway, is that blessed category restricted to modern literary whatnot? Every single one I read was, in my opinionated pov, mirror-gazing. Light on story and heavy on existential introspection.

Growl.

Come on, Amazon. You can do better than that.

When I first saw the tab when they were starting that section, I thought they were offering a dating service.

ISn't that supposed to be for Non-fiction? I thought it was scientific papers and boring stuff.

No, it's short stories. But as Christopher pointed out, it is thus far overrun by book club sensations such as Jodi Picoult.

Christopher wrote: "Every single one I read was, in my opinionated pov, mirror-gazing. Light on story and heavy on existential introspection. "

Nausea

I'm relatively certain Amazon has their finger on the market pulse, so there must be buyers for that sort of stuff (well, there are - just look at the rankings of some of those singles). Me, I just want a good story. Call me a barbarian, but I'd rather read Louis L'Amour in all his good-natured simplicity than any Picoults out there.

Picoult...hurk.

I haven't been to Amazon in a while, will have to check out the singles tab.

Claudine wrote: "Picoult...hurk.
"

Lol. "Normal" people always look at me funny when I express a strong distaste for books such as those. They will reply with aghast "But it's such a cute story!"

My sister keeps buying them for me and I keep giving them away. I read My Sister's Keeper and quite liked the idea but her writing is just so awful. I've tried to read others but I just can't. There's no intellect there. She doesn't challenge taboo subjects enough. In fact, I'd rather read the romance drivel that Barbara Cartland keeps pushing out than Piccoult (and I am not a fan of romance. At all.)

But she... pulls at your... heart... strings. My friend and I... have theories... that Barbara... Cartland's... period key... was stuck on her... typewriter...

Ah... those periods you're using are already having an effect on me. I'm feeling a strange compulsion to go out and buy a book with a half-naked couple grappling on the cover. Back in a moment.

Christopher wrote: "Ah... those periods you're using are already having an effect on me. I'm feeling a strange compulsion to go out and buy a book with a half-naked couple grappling on the cover. Back in a moment."

Not consummated. Ms Cartland was a virgin when she died. She didn't know what came after petting.

They checked? =s

OH - well I've got over 300 short stories looking for a place to roost. LOL I think I will crash that party.

Barbara Cartland should have hooked up with Laurel K. Hamiliton. (Wicked, evil laughter)

Alain wrote: "They checked? =s"

She married twice and bore a daughter out of wedlock by Prince George, Duke of Kent, and two sons by her second husband.

I was making a joke about her attitudes; her later books are no reflection of her life. She was a boss hypocrite:

1. "To sleep around is absolutely wrong for a woman; it's degrading and it completely ruins her personality. Sooner or later it will destroy all that is feminine and beautiful and idealistic in her."

2. She believed men should have experience. How should they get it in the light of 1 above? "Men could visit brothels to get the necessary experience."

Yup, there's a solution. Shift the degradation onto another class.

***
Her early books were pretty racey too, and a play she wrote was proscribed by the Lord Chamberlain, the British official Censor.

Go Barbara!

Those covers alone are enough to make me ill.

I checked out the tab there. Why would they even think to have one? Or is that another attempt at dumbing down things? IMO, there should only be two buttons : Fiction, Non Fiction. That's all you really need.

I've purchased my first Amazon Single (The Misfit) and am quite pleased with it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...

Here's the product description:

Dr. Ralph Greenson, the star of Hollywood psychoanalysts, treated Marilyn Monroe for fifteen months until her August 1962 suicide. He saw her seven days a week and brought her into his home. He never got over losing her. Written by a practicing psychoanalyst, The Misfit recounts this tragic alliance and Marilyn Monroe’s borderline personality.

Patricia Sierra wrote: "I've purchased my first Amazon Single (The Misfit) and am quite pleased with it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...

Here's the product description:

Dr. Ralph Greenson,..."

Thanks, Patricia. Sometimes I think I live under a rock. I had not heard of Kindle Singles before seeing your post. Some of them pose intriguing viewpoints.

That one sounds pretty interesting, Patricia. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Andre Jute wrote: "Alain wrote: "They checked? =s"

She married twice and bore a daughter out of wedlock by Prince George, Duke of Kent, and two sons by her second husband.

I was making a joke about her attitudes; h..."


But this is pretty standard in most romance novels. Or to make the guy seem like less of a douchebag they'll use the line "Compared to most, he had only had a handful of lovers. He had no interest in wasting time on loose women."

And yet even though it is IMPLIED they've only done the deed three times TOPS... they are natural experts.

Alain wrote: "But this is pretty standard in most romance novels. Or to make the guy seem like less of a douchebag they'll use the line "Compared to most, he had only had a handful of lovers. He had no interest in wasting time on loose women."

So it helps the aspirant Romance writer to be a hypocrite in personal life?

Just what I always suspected!