I’m Really Tired of Poorly Written Books!
I’m really tired of reading fiction with loads or backstory and telling and head hopping. I’m not sure if some/most of the books I’ve been receiving are self-published or not, but I can’t take it any more. Though these stories might be intriguing, they’re ruined for me because of the telling and backstory which slooows down the read. I literally yawn and daydream while reading! And I contemplate whether to even give them away or not, though I conclude that a nonwriter might enough these stories.
I’m working so hard on my craft, hacking out the backstory and going over the sentences to nix telling, and yet I hold in my hands stories that do these things. Can you tell it really bugs me? I just want to read a really good book, which I do have on my shelf, but since I committed to reviewing some of these books I feel compelled to finish them. So what do you do? Finish them? Give them away?
How do you write a review of a book that might have an interesting story line, but is just poorly written?
My StumbleUpon Page
I seldom review books, but I know that if I cannot get through a book after I have given it a good try that I just give it away. Poorly written books is a pet peeve of mine as well. I almost stopped reading fiction entirely for that reason.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:44 amAmen.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:41 amWriting is an art, and if art is embodied theology, and if we don’t pursue our art with excellence, we are settling for bad theology.
The art in itself should be good (as well should the theme, story, whatever). To have less bugs me.
I’m thinking of a particular book that’s selling well but did a poor job of telling the story (though it got better about halfway through). I’ll get off my soapbox now.
I would do as time permits. If you have given a book a good chance to catch your interest then finish it. As a non-writer that is what I do. The giving away part is hard to answer. The only thing I can think of is that if you do the review and post it then a non-writer would be able to read it and then decide for themselves if they want to enter the giveaway.
I think that you should be honest if you do finish the book and do a review. Say the problems you are finding as kindly as you can and praise the good parts.
If a writer is not given an honest evaluation of their work they may never realize that they need to make changes. This is said as a non-writer.
I hope this has made sense.
April 5th, 2008 at 1:08 pmThanks for all the advice. Bev, it helps to get the perspective from a nonwriter because what stands out to me, might not stand out to a nonwriter!
April 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pmI give a book about 5 chapters before I throw in the towel (how’s that for a bad, bad cliche?) After that, I set it aside and maybe give it to people who might enjoy it. I know what you mean about the frustration! The other day I started reading a book that had an error one page one. PAGE ONE.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pmSpeaking as a writer and also a voracious reader, I don’t think “it makes me sick” is too strong of a phrase to use when it comes to less-than-quality writing. Especially when I see errors which are mirrored in stories I wrote when I was 10 years old. If I cringe at them in my childhood writings, I am no less lenient on adults who are supposed to be professionals.
I try to be honest in my book reviews, as Bev suggested above. As far as giving them away, if you are not comfortable hosting an online giveaway, would your local library be an option?
April 6th, 2008 at 9:23 pm