IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back.
Did you ever look forward to a much-anticipated book
only to be sorely disappointed when it fell short of glory?
It happened to me. Twice in two months.
Two great series—one by a hero of mine and the other book written
by a new author who I had put on a pedestal—went thunk in my literary opinion.
It sure is a killer when a book
doesn’t live up to my anticipation. And not just the wasted money. But the eagerness,
the counting down the days until the release date, opening that fresh cover,
turning the page that’s no one’s turned before. Then, half way through the
book, you know it’s...blah.
As I’ve said before, giving bad reviews isn’t my style. Not
anymore. I prefer to let someone else slap them upside the head. I can’t. It
hurts too much when I receive them. How can I do it to other authors?
I hope my literary hero starts a new series. I think his MC
has been-there, done-that. The other author has a third book in the series that
I won’t buy. The second was just that bad.
So, is there a book that you desired greatly thinking it would quench your thirst only to find a damp palm to lick instead?
****
Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.
These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs.
To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.
I don't do the bad reviews either.
ReplyDeleteSometimes my favorite authors will write a dud and it's a bummer.
Wait a whole year for the next book and then it's a crash-and-burn.
DeleteThat happened to me with a favorite author twice. And sometimes a series just goes on too long. I hate it when I waste money on a book and then I can't finish it.
ReplyDeleteThere's times when I say, 'eh. maybe the next one will be better'. Other times, it's "i'm never buying another of her books." *sigh*
DeleteI live in dread that the sequel I am writing will turn out to be a disappointment to my readers!
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what was going through my mind too. Not your book. Mine.
DeleteAt first I was disappointed with Sanderson's debut Elantris, but soon after the halfway point I realized that the first half had to be the way it was to set up the second half, which was almost definitely the best half of a novel I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteWhen I skip to the end of a book (after skimming through the last half), it sounds the death knell to the tome.
DeleteOh, there are plenty of books out there that took a sharp nose-dive. Maybe that's why I'm hesitant on writing sequels? Movies sometimes make great sequels to their first counterparts, sometimes you can feel them trying TOO hard that it disappoints. I don't want the sequel to be better, bigger, faster--to outdo the first. A reader, a viewer, can sure smell a rat!
ReplyDeleteBut to make the first book great, uh, well, that is another thing altogether. But if it appeals to many and not you, then you are not that author's target audience... x
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Too bad they don't look at "interesting" or "riveting" as their goal huh.
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DeleteSorry, I had a typo in there--wishing for an edit button! I had said that maybe these authors truly believe their books are riveting, interesting. I honestly hope mine are... :X
DeleteYeah, it sucks when I've enjoyed a series and then suddenly it goes to hell. Along the same lines, I hate when I constantly hear how great a book is and it is on the top of the bestseller lists, etc. so I get all excited to read it, and I totally hate it. Such a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI don't write bad reviews either. Not only because I don't want to write negative things, but also because if I hate a book I never finish it so I can't review it anyway.
Yes actually. I don't want to say the name tho hahah. But it started off beautiful and fresh. Then scenes added nothing, took me nowhere. It's a hella long book and it doesn't have to be. It's a shame. The storyline was... Wtf. The ending wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. I definitely will not read books two and three.
ReplyDeleteThat really is the worst, and it happens ALL the time. I love getting a new book from a favorite author, and when that book flops...heartbreak. Sorry that happened to you too!
ReplyDeleteHappy ISWG Wednesday!
Sometimes when an author writes too many in a series they fall flat. You can sort of tell when they cranked it out and the love of writing it just isn't there. I don't do the bad reviews either. I'd never want to hurt anyone's feelings.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been disappointed by a book recently, thank goodness! Yay! I remember being so happy, back in the day, when I read The Hobbit, and discovered that the rest of the books were just as amazing!
ReplyDeleteThere are literary novels that I've attempted to read that I wish I liked better than I did. And I feel badly that they don't do it for me. But so much of what we like to read is subjective. I try not to beat myself up too much about it. And I still want to finish those books someday...
ReplyDeleteSeems like summer movie season is like that every year. Highly anticipated films. Blah movies.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I've ever had that happen with a book, though.
I'm at that point right now! I'm finishing reading a book series and the last two books haven't been as good. But I don't want to write a bad review either. I guess I just take it in stride. Sometimes books don't end the way I hope they would.
ReplyDeleteON a side note, IWSG: the Final Frontier - I about died laughing! That is genius and the Trekkie part of me is very proud of you. I'm a new follower now! :)
I've been reading more and more new, up and coming authors lately and haven't been disappointed for the most part. I do review books, but will always emphasize the positives and try to downplay the negatives.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that most writers want honest reviews of their work as long as it is written in a respectful manner and offers constructive feedback. The only reviews I don't do are for books that are so bad that I can't even finish them. Have a great night. Eva
That really sucks.
ReplyDeleteI really do hate not finishing books but I've had quite a few recently that I just can't stomach.
Hope you find another good one soon!
Heather
That is horrible when it happens. One of the worst feelings in the world
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're disappointed. I can't tell you how many books I started and DNF due to basic suckage. So when you finally find a series that doesn't disappoint, it's cause for celebration. I hope you find one soon! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't write bad reviews either. I figure someone might like the book (even though I didn't) and I don't want to discourage them. I'm so glad you refrained from naming the series or the authors, even though you are so disappointed. Very classy.
ReplyDeleteAww, that sucks. I've met that disappointment before. I've only written one negative review, and don't anymore. Hopefully your pedestal author will redeem him/herself.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I took a couple of attempts at one book by my literary hero. In the end, I managed to get all the way through but still didn't think it was her best. In a long running series, I think authors can sometimes get jaded and run through the motions - hopefully they'll write something completely amazing next time :-)
ReplyDelete"CD Coffelt" has been included in our third edition of Thinking of Christmas Gifts in July 2014. Be assured that we hope this helps to point many new customers in your direction.
ReplyDeletehttp://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/07/thinking-of-christmas-gifts-in-july-2014_6.html
Thanks for the shout out!
DeleteI don't like leaving negative reviews either, especially when I've interacted with an author on Facebook or blogs. This recently happened to me with two books I read by authors I know through Facebook. I don't know whether to give them private, constructive feedback, or just pretend like I haven't read the books. It really is tough.
ReplyDeleteI've had that feeling before, both with an author I've long loved (and own all of their works, bar one) and with a new-for-me author (which I didn't finish the whole series).
ReplyDeleteBut I'm also a forgiving sort and have picked up more from that second author. I just haven't gotten around to reading them.