Reading Pet Peeves

[billywiggy]

Do you ever get thrown clear out of a story you are reading by an inconsequential detail? This happened to me quite recently several times in the same book. The author really liked using brand product names, and I guess I've discovered a pet peeve:

I cannot stand reading about brand named items in books.Something as simple as relating how the

Comments

[foxestacado]

Oh man, I'm going to have this problem if I ever write again. I'm one of those gratuitous describers. I describe everything. I feel like I have to if I want to get the reader to visualize what I'm seeing. I guess that's not the point, is it? The point is to move the story along.

On the other hand, I *do* enjoy reading more details. So maybe it's just that my reading habit is different? I don't know.

[billywiggy]

Oh no - I love descriptions... even gratuitous descriptions! It really helps to set a mood. I just don't like brand names being dropped into a description in particular.

You can go on and on and on about the sound of the pop as the top of the can is opened; the glug, glug, glug of the drink being poured; the deep brown hue and the way the light sparkles off the effervescent bubbles... just don't tell me it's a Dr. Pepper! ;)

That being said, I can understand if the Dr. Pepper part doesn't phase you at all - I just seem to be allergic to that kind of writing, myself.

[randomneses]

I'm pretty sure I'm guilty of referring to Converse shoes in my MWPP era AU fic, but I usually only refer to them as canvas shoes. I love clothing description but when people go waaaay to far and, usually, describe the item in a shitty matter to begin with, it's very taxing.

But yeah, I'm usually turned off by people mentioning brands unless it was of specific historical importance or relevance.

[billywiggy]

Cute picture of you!

Oh, well the Converse make sense because you're trying to establish an era (the mid 70s) and those fit right in. I don't mind that at all.

I'm not too into clothing or fashion myself, so I guess that's why I don't like extensive discussion of it. I can see that if you were interested in that, that a lengthy description of it wouldn't annoy you - you would in fact, probably enjoy it!

[randomneses]

Heee, my AU takes place in the 60s actually but yes, I overall def agree with you.

(Snape + converse = surprisingly...believable)

[randomneses]

oh and I am now remembering that I also specify that Snape, in my AU, smokes Marlboros. Lolz, so I sorta fail at the brand thing to an extent.

At least nobody is wearing hollister or that bullshit

[billywiggy]

Hi ya *waves*! Yeah, I haven't been around as much - hoping to change that. ;)

I haven't read Haroun and the Sea of Stories, but it sounds magical and fun (I especially like the part about the watery moon)! I'm curious to read it now and know how it's discussed, because a material shorthand would only work, I would imagine, if you have the same world-view or background, culture, etc. It's quite an assumption to make as an author, I would think - if you're using the brand name as a shorthand, your readers might take it in a way completely unanticipated by you.

Ooh - but food descriptions I love! (tee hee!)

[billywiggy]

Yay! A shared pet peeve! It does kill the pace for me because I often stop reading and try and skip ahead to see how much farther the description takes. It's especially annoying when it happens constantly throughout the book - each new day is a new outfit! Whee!