Hits and Misses in Fiction

[rj_anderson]

sartorias aka Sherwood Smith has a fascinating discussion going over on her LJ about when you only like one (or, if they're prolific, two or three) of an author's works and bounce off the rest. So far the responses have mostly been people commisserating and sharing which authors and which books affected them this way, but there's also been some discussion

Comments

[robinellen]

For truly prolific authors (such as the example of Agatha Christie that someone mentioned on the other thread), I suspect it would be pretty hard to produce books where any reader loved ALL of them...but there are a couple of authors who are my go-to writers (Donna Freitas, for instance), where (to date) I've truly loved everything they've put out. (Robison Wells is also like this -- though his strength is in the exciting plots and intriguing world building.)

I also liked everything Brigid Kemmerer wrote (in her Elementals series), but her latest wasn't nearly as good (too many plot holes for my taste). However, when something like that happens, I tend to give the author one more chance, as the pattern up to that point was a positive one. :)

Others like that would include Tamora Pierce (I love most of her YA books -- only the Trickster books didn't please me as much as the others), OSC (though I mostly just love Ender, as a character, and thus all the Ender books -- the Bean ones were okay, but I doubt I'll reread them), Linda

[kerravonsen]

And one other type exists for me -- authors whose books I loved until I met them...
Yeah, it's very sad when that happens.
The opposite can happen too, though; you can meet (say, at conventions) authors who have been fabulous people and you respect them a lot... and it can be hit or miss as to whether you can get into their books.

[robinellen]

Definitely. Because I have many friends who are also writers, I read many books that I *want* to love but sometimes don't...so when you do read friends' books that you do love (for instance, my friend Katie Kennedy has her debut coming out in June, and I got an ARC at PLA in April -- and it's amazing!), it makes it that much better. :D

[rj_anderson]

Oh yes. It is so awful when you love the writer as a friend but you can't honestly say you love their book(s), and such a vast relief when you discover that you do, in fact, love both.

[sartorias]

I think that's true re Agatha Christie and some who have written a great deal.

Donna Freitas--a new name to me! Where would you recommend I start?

[robinellen]

I read The Possibilities of Sainthood first, and I thought that was a great introduction. It really showcases her gentle humor. This Dangerous Game is about sexual harassment (and worse), and The Survival Kit looks at a girl who's lost her mom. Then her newest (which comes out this fall, I believe) is science fiction with a slow build (Unplugged).

[sartorias]

Thank you!

[rj_anderson]

I tried to read Tamora Pierce by starting with the first Tricksters book, and bounced off it so hard I've never quite mustered the willpower to try again. So many people love her work that I feel a bit guilty not making more of an effort, but I suspect that the window for my Tamora Pierce Appreciation may have passed.

As for OSC, I did like Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, but couldn't get into the rest of either series. I've read a few other Card books (Enchantment and the Homecoming Saga) but there's something about his writing that makes me feel vaguely queasy.

It is so unfortunate when an author's behaviour puts you off their books, though. I've had to quit reading a couple of author blogs for just that reason... not that they were behaving badly as such, at least not in the sense of being cruel, but their carping tone and negative attitude made me uncomfortable enough that I decided I'd rather just stick to the books.

[robinellen]

Oh, starting with Trickster is definitely not the way to go (as those were my least favorite of the bunch). I *adore* Keladry, though (PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL). I'm re-reading it right now, in fact (and have re-read this series probably a dozen times, at least).

My husband has read more OSC than I have. I discovered him in college (and introduced my husband to Ender when we started dating). He's a good story teller (to me), but some of his books just aren't to my taste.

[kerravonsen]

As for OSC, I did like Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, but couldn't get into the rest of either series. I've read a few other Card books (Enchantment and the Homecoming Saga) but there's something about his writing that makes me feel vaguely queasy.

Yeah, I get that. Songmaster - fascinating. Enders Game - good. Speaker For the Dead - fabulous. Others... not so fabulous.
I couldn't get into the Tales of Alvin Maker at all, never finished Capitol
As for Wyrms, just don't. Do NOT read it. Don't.
I don't think I've read anything of his after Children of the Mind.