tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post2516097488577161540..comments2023-09-28T15:15:38.478+02:00Comments on Beyond Strange New Words: What Makes a Poorly Written Book?Jo Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17041818732931215491noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-37139269590813069302011-07-05T13:18:47.413+02:002011-07-05T13:18:47.413+02:00@ Sarah: "A well-written book allows you to j...@ Sarah: "A well-written book allows you to just sink into the story effortlessly." - I totally agree.<br /><br />@ Irena: You are right, factual errors7bad research downplay the quality of writing, too.<br /><br />@ Yvonne & Lisa: Here, here! Naturally, people have different tastes about books and writing. A person might like something that someone else doesn't. I am very aware of that, so I don't trash-talk books I don't like and rather move on. I always try to emphasize it is just my personal take and other people might find the same book more to their liking.Jo Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00917704326736252690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-13107152234965032892011-07-05T00:56:54.784+02:002011-07-05T00:56:54.784+02:00Okay, so what you've said here, is exactly my ...Okay, so what you've said here, is exactly my take on Twilight, and also on what makes a poorly written book. I have a friend who has directed me to a Stephen King interview where he says Stephenie Meyer is a horrible writer. But I don't see in the printed article what he says makes her a bad writer. Someone else suggested she is a poor writer, but a good storyteller. So it leaves me confused, and irritated that people have to pick on something they don't like. If I don't like something, I just move on to something I do like. Like Yvonne above says, there are things I know other people like that I just hate, and so I'm okay with people not liking Twilight. It's when they have to say it is bad just because they don't like it that bothers me. I mean, I tried reading manga and comic books, but I prefer to make the pictures in my head myself when I read, so I didn't enjoy them. That doesn't mean that I go around saying they are stupid, because I know how many people do like them, and I also enjoy many movies and tv shows that come from them. Sorry, this seems to be a hot button topic for me, so I'll get off my soapbox.<br /><br />My main comment here is: great post! :-)Lisa Mandinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02691593776280004137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-57545026771174251692011-07-04T23:33:34.201+02:002011-07-04T23:33:34.201+02:00I haven't read either Twilight or the Sookie s...I haven't read either Twilight or the Sookie series, but I understand what you are saying. And totally agree. You explained it very well.Sarah Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10671051704990208661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-75015362230539696732011-07-04T23:10:06.604+02:002011-07-04T23:10:06.604+02:00I'm not a huge Twilight fan, but I don't t...I'm not a huge Twilight fan, but I don't think it's poorly written. It's just not my thing. I much prefer the Sookie series. It's hard for me to say something is poorly written. I just don't feel qualified to say that one way or another, but I do know what I like and don't like. Of course something I absolutely hate, could be someone else's favorite.Yvonnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261873308731564886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-72781398098160394282011-07-04T19:15:48.699+02:002011-07-04T19:15:48.699+02:00Great post! I LOVE your garden metaphor, very well...Great post! I LOVE your garden metaphor, very well (and lyrically) put. I agree with your points, and I'd also say that factual errors/bad research contribute to a poorly written book.<br /><br />Twilight is always an issue.:) Many people say it's badly written, and just as many praise it. The saga features some factual errors (perhaps the author could have done some research), but I can say that I enjoyed the books when I read them. So maybe sometimes, a gripping narrative is fine and all you need as a reader.<br /><br />Nice of you to mention Random Magic - I totally agree! It's a well-written book!Irena @ This Miss Loves to Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16127816068294702715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591212467365219458.post-7782540103051565842011-07-04T15:22:15.627+02:002011-07-04T15:22:15.627+02:00I agree with your garden entrance metaphor. A well...I agree with your garden entrance metaphor. A well-written book allows you to just sink into the story effortlessly. A poorly-written novel makes you focus so much on the writing that you can't concentrate on the story, it keeps distracting you.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196903315080725315noreply@blogger.com