He *really* needs to stop re-telling the same stories
That's why I haven't read anything of his since Beach Music. Although I guess if you write long enough, you're going to start repeating yourself.
Tara: 'Your One-Stop Spot to Shop for Lots of New-Age and Occult Items.' Catchy. Giles: Think so? Tara: Uh huh. In a... hard to say sorta way.
'Sleeper'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Fred Pete - Jul 06, 2011 5:11:56 am PDT #15579 of 28293
Ann, that's a ferret.
Amy - Jul 06, 2011 5:15:36 am PDT #15580 of 28293
Because books.
I think the only one I ever read was Prince of Tides. I loved it, but wow, heavy stuff.
Aims - Jul 06, 2011 5:20:34 am PDT #15581 of 28293
Shit's all sorts of different now.
That's one that doesn't get a re-read.
Steph L. - Jul 06, 2011 5:42:27 am PDT #15582 of 28293
I look more rad than Lutheranism
Although I guess if you write long enough, you're going to start repeating yourself.
Nah, he repeats himself in every novel. There's always a Damaged Mentally Ill Woman and always a Horribly Abusive Father and always Oh My God Mother Issues. And usually some weirdness with the Catholic Church. Some that show up in most, but not all, of his novels are Dead Brother, Inexplicable Jewish Character (often Damaged), and Backwoods Hillbillies With An Unbelievably Traumatic Past.
I think the only one I ever read was Prince of Tides. I loved it, but wow, heavy stuff.
God, that's my favorite. I re-read that at least once a year.
Amy - Jul 06, 2011 5:44:37 am PDT #15583 of 28293
Because books.
I found Anne Rivers Siddons doing the same thing after a while, and although I loved her earlier books, I looked at some of the later ones and they seemed like the same old plots with new names.
Sophia Brooks - Jul 06, 2011 5:53:30 am PDT #15584 of 28293
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here
John Irving does that too, but in a way that I do not mind. I like looking for the bears.
ETA: His plots are not really the same, just there are elements that appear in each book (bears, wrestling,)
ETA: According to Wikipedia, bears aren't used as often as some other things ( Hotel New Hampshire seems to hit ALL the themes) [link]
Fred Pete - Jul 06, 2011 6:05:35 am PDT #15585 of 28293
Ann, that's a ferret.
There's always a Damaged Mentally Ill Woman and always a Horribly Abusive Father and always Oh My God Mother Issues. And usually some weirdness with the Catholic Church. Some that show up in most, but not all, of his novels are Dead Brother, Inexplicable Jewish Character (often Damaged), and Backwoods Hillbillies With An Unbelievably Traumatic Past.
Hmmmm. Lords of Discipline has a Damaged Pregnant Woman but very little (arguably none) of any of the others. And the Damaged Pregnant Woman is Damaged mainly because she's Pregnant. Or maybe all of the Charlestonians are damaged in one way or another.
Steph L. - Jul 06, 2011 6:09:55 am PDT #15586 of 28293
I look more rad than Lutheranism
My bad. It's been more than 20 years since I read Lords of Discipline, so I disremembered it.
Still, in his novels other than Lords of Discipline, I stand by my criticism of the repeating themes.
Ginger - Jul 06, 2011 6:10:45 am PDT #15587 of 28293
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
If you ever have a chance to hear Pat Conroy speak, take it. He's very funny.
Amy - Jul 06, 2011 6:11:56 am PDT #15588 of 28293
Because books.
Diana Gabaldon was the opening speaker for the RWA conference last week, and I missed it! She was apparently hilarious.