I like Alice Hoffman in general, but I found Local Girls scattered and dull.
Yesterday, my life's like, 'Uh-oh, pop quiz!' Today it's like, 'rain of toads.'
Xander ,'Beneath You'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
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."
Micole - Mar 28, 2004 12:32:21 pm PST #1911 of 10002
I've been working on a song about the difference between analogy and metaphor.
Steph L. - Mar 28, 2004 6:00:03 pm PST #1912 of 10002
I look more rad than Lutheranism
Well, I have to admit that my first instinct is to guard each and every syllable of my writing as sacrosanct -- my God, it is PERFECT; how could anyone think of changing it? the Philistines! -- but every single time, once I get over myself, I realize that the changes people suggest make my writing better.
Tep, I have exactly the opposite - I'm all "Dude! Whoo! Here, read this and suggest stuff for me!" - but I think the urge to guard is the more natural one.
Heh. I'm an editor for a living, and we cheerfully loathe authors who cling to every word. As a writer, I *am* my worst nightmare!
Angus G - Mar 28, 2004 6:26:23 pm PST #1913 of 10002
Roguish Laird
msbelle, I like Conrad's Victory a lot, but it's one of his more problematic books; I probably wouldn't recommend it for a book club.
Ginger - Mar 28, 2004 6:33:34 pm PST #1914 of 10002
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
There may have been a time, back in the mists of time, when I believed that every word I wrote was golden. I have written and edited for a living for many years and now I'm happy to get input from anyone and grateful for a good editor. It seems likely that ego drives the lack of editing of some best-selling authors, but I also think that publishing companies have no idea what makes something a bestseller and they're afraid to meddle.
Consuela - Mar 28, 2004 6:35:21 pm PST #1915 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I also think that publishing companies have no idea what makes something a bestseller and they're afraid to meddle.
Probably true, although for people like King, I doubt there's anything an editor could do that would prevent the book from selling. Even bad reviews don't do that.
deborah grabien - Mar 28, 2004 6:44:29 pm PST #1916 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Yup - I'm with 'suela. Once you're a monolith, you're a monolith. Or in King's case, more like a menhir.
high plains grifter - Mar 28, 2004 7:07:10 pm PST #1917 of 10002
At dinner I am getting earful.
I've read several of the list above and quite liked A high Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. Not really one I'd recommend for a 'normal' book club, tho.
'Odd' bookclub? You're in bidness.
bon bon - Mar 28, 2004 8:24:46 pm PST #1918 of 10002
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.
doubt there's anything an editor could do that would prevent the book from selling
Makes sense not to edit it, then. Just leave it be and rake in the dough.
Jess M. - Mar 29, 2004 5:48:51 am PST #1919 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse
I loved Exodus. Great book. In the "can't put it down" category. I think my dad read it in a weekend when he was in college (and my dad's not much of a novel reader, much more into periodicals and non-fiction books).
Jesse - Mar 29, 2004 5:54:06 am PST #1920 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Makes sense not to edit it, then. Just leave it be and rake in the dough.
Especially if, even though you are an editor, your bosses think the most important part of your job is keeping your biggest-selling client happy, rather than putting out the most polished text possible.