January 22, 2008
…love her not … love her
I go through fits and spurts when reading usually. It’s been many months since the last fit (and I terribly missed reading, but life can get in the way of . . . everything), so I was glad that I signed up to be a RITA judge. I received my case of books in the mail about two weeks ago and was happy to see that I had an obligation to read a bunch of books.
It took me about a week to get around to the books (I had to finish up my GH reads first). I read through the first book and kinda got that Zen feeling where everything was right with the world. My mental escape had taken off and I felt normal again (and the book was awesome, too!). Next book was good. Not something I would have bought so it was fun reading something out of the norm for me.
Cut to book three (I totally made a pile of the books, didn’t look to see what was next; sorta as a surprise factor when I grabbed the next read). I look at the author and damn it all to hell, it’s someone whose book I read last summer and absolutely HATED. I mean I bitched to my DH about this book for months–I hated it that much. I can’t really say why I did, it was just one of those totally-didn’t-mesh-for-me kinda books and I was bound and determined not to EVER read her again, so you can imagine my displeasure and HAVING to read her.
Let me add here: the book last summer was a completely different genre than my RITA selection . . . for whatever that’s worth.
So with much trepidation I cracked open the book, read the first few pages and didn’t vomit. Not only did I not vomit, I read the entire book in ONE SITTING. I enjoyed the hell out of that book. It made me laugh out loud. It made me make sure the kiddos couldn’t read my mind in the uber-hot parts and once or twice I got a little misty eyed. (As a matter of fact, I gave it a near perfect score, I enjoyed it so much).
Color me majorly chagrined that under normal circumstances I would have probably never even touched the book were it not for the contest. I will definitely be looking for more by her .
Wow, that’s a head scratcher. Not in terms of ‘how the hell did that happen?’, but I know i would have had the same reaction you did after the first book and resolved to never read another book by that person. Still can’t say your experience makes me more willing to try (again) an author whose book i absolutely *loathed* the first time round. But good for her that you were forced to give her another try.
I really think the fact that the two books were completely different genres made a big difference. I would probably not ty again/read her in the first book’s genre.
But I’m weird so maybe it’s just me
Now that’s interesting. Sounds like the author found their true genre in the second book you read…
But like you, I don’t think I would’ve given that author a second chance normally. Makes me think I might’ve short-changed a writer or two.
…Or twelve…
LOL probably me too!
A couple of years back I got an Inspirational novella to read. Inspirationals are not normally my cup of tea, but I read it and it was wonderful. I liked it so much, I read all the other novellas in the book and they were all good stories.
As for this situation, maybe the author was in the wrong genre and just needed to find the right voice for what she was doing. Sounds like she did.
Like you, however, I probably would not have given her another chance though.
LOL Raine!!!!
Dennie you know of course I’m DYING TO know what book…
Ames - we’ll make her tell us.
I, too, probably wouldn’t have touched any of her books again unless I’d received a free copy.
Caridad, I really think the most recent book was really her nitch. She had a great voice and the whit she used was perfect for the characters. I
Ames, I am pretty sure I told you about it. But maybe not. . . .
Bailey, I may be . . . coerced :rasta: hehe
I cannot even tell you how much I groaned and moaned when I grabbed the book to read.
I love surprises like that, Dennie! Isn’t it a treat to stumble upon something you think isn’t your speed, but you find yourself being drawn in little by little? Those are the best kind of books. The ones you discover. For instance, I felt the same about Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series as well as a few other YA books. I never thought I’d like them, but gradually I started buying them, and now I’m hooked.
That’s funny Tanya, because I hadn’t thought about it like that, but just last night I sent SJ a link for a book I was telling her about and I remembered I found the book by accident at the library. It was Gillian Roberts Amanda Peppers series. I was looking for Nora and I think I had already read all the ones on the shelf and saw the G Roberts books so I grabbed it. I have since read all but the last two in a 14 book series. I’d never heard of her and grabbed it impulse.
I’ve had authors that I totally loved, picked up a book I just knew would make me happy and… NO. I’ve been burned and then I’m hard pressed to give them another chance because I’m afraid they’ve changed their voice so much or tried to stretch too far outside their ability. I hate spending the money that I’m willing to dish out for a really good book (in hardback) to be disappointed. Again.
IMO that is the bigger disappointment to me.
That’s a good point Lynn, hadn’t thought about it working in reverse!
Y’know, our likes change too. There is a series I was reading like crazy and had an auto buy for new books and suddenely I couldn’t read it any more. His voice didn’t change, so I know it was me–it’s been forever since I read a new one–I think at least five more have come out.