Befuddled

[ksmith]

So, a few nights ago I started reading the first in a series by an author I've never before read. Older though it is, the book is doing quite well, as is the entire series. Bestseller-quite well. It is to envy.

There are times when I read such books, and yeah, I understand even when I don't fall under the spell. Whether it's the characters, the undercurrents/atmosphere, or the twisty-turny plots, I can see why this work has engaged so many people and why it's doing well. More power to the author in question. As a storyteller, you don't need to nail it all. You just need to nail enough, and they succeeded.

But then there are times when I just don't get it. Characters, situations, descriptions, plot. Atmosphere. I know there has to be a pony in there somewhere, but damned if I can find it. And I've enjoyed this type of book before, so it's not a case of genre gap. It's just...zippo engagement. No moment, scene, or phrase that hooked me.

Read a few more chapters last night. Skipped to the end to see who did what. I don't know if I'll go back to read the rest. Not as long as there's Pratchett to reread.

What concerns me a little about this, though, is that I don't get why it works. I like to know why various books work because, well, it's good to know what works, especially in genres you'd like to explore yourself sometime.

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

If I can't read them, I probably can't write them...

This is what worries me. I content myself with the fact that I like *some* of them, so maybe there's hope.

[aitchellsee.livejournal.com]

Well, if you *did* like some others of those bestselling series, those of us who like your books would be the worried ones.

HLC
(who wonders, by the way, if your icon could possibly be Our Mutual Friend, ole 007, Licensed to Guilt, himself? BAWH!)(er, I mean, Young 007. Very very young...)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Well, if you *did* like some others of those bestselling series, those of us who like your books would be the worried ones.

As much as I appreciate that, well, I think there's a lot of room to maneuver when it comes to story. They may be character-lite, but fun, plot-lite but rich in background detail. They may have everything going for them, damn 'em. And they sell, and I can understand why. I do not fall into the if-it-sells-it's-crap camp. Sometimes crap sells, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes good to great sells, and sometimes, regrettably, it doesn't, although one thing that can happen with good-to-great is that it can be rediscovered and brought back into print.

And I'm rambling at this point, because it gets difficult to explain, at least for me. What I'm trying to say is that, even in books I don't like overall, I can usually see the hook. When I can't see the hook, it bothers me.

(who wonders, by the way, if your icon could possibly be Our Mutual Friend, ole 007, Licensed to Guilt, himself? BAWH!)(er, I mean, Young 007. Very very young...)

Ah, no. This is an anonymous guilty beagle. NO relation to the guilty beagle we know so well.

I think Guilt is simply a look they do very well, usually because they're, well, *guilty*.

[connerybeagle.livejournal.com]

BAWH!!

*practicing baleful expression*

*trying really hard*

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Oh, you do Guilty Face the best, Connery. Skritches to you!

[connerybeagle.livejournal.com]

I let mymom read this and she nodded a lot.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Yourmom understands.