Ok - so in apparently everyone's opinion, who IS a good author? Throughout this thread, you've named quite a few authors whose work I enjoy that apparently suck. Now, they are by no means Shakespeare (I apologize if he sucks, I enjoy his work too), but I don't go into a Dan Brown book expecting a literary classic and I'm sure that when he wrote them, he didn't intend to write a literary classic. I assume that he meant to make some money - which he did. REALLY well. And apparently he is doing ok, because his books do tend to sell pretty well. Although most people are pretty dumb I guess.
McDonalds sells a lot of hamburgers, but that doesn't mean they're all that tasty.
I understand the idea of critiquing people's work, I read reviews of just about anything that I watch or read....but I'm really curious what everyone DOES consider good work?? Do I have to pick up a copy of Moby Dick or Crime and Punishment to be reading a good author? Lately, my serious reading involved non fiction works on Leadership and Management....but just like my fun reading, I'm interested in content, enjoyment, and what I get out of it. General Patton probably wasn't the greatest author in terms of language and literary devices, but he certainly had a lot of great things to say.
I highly recommend Shackleton's Way. It's the true story of a stranded Antarctic expedition. Great book on leadership. Another good one is the Oz Principle... talks a lot about personal accountability.
But the real point you're making here is this:
I agree with Grendel here....If you can't get through it because of the writing, fine...don't read it. I don't understand that....but it is your call. Because I like all of these mediocre authors doesn't make me a moron.
I think this is more about you feeling personally insulted than any critique of the authors. Personally, I think Anne Rice, Dan Brown and whoever the lady was who wrote Twilight stink. If you like them, fine. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I never said you're a moron, and certainly have no reason to believe so.
So seriously, I'm genuinely curious - who IS a good author?
I was going to say Gaiman, as well. I like John Irving. Lian Hearn is pretty good. I read his Tales of Otori series and enjoyed them.
Stephen Lawhead is great, too. I just got the third in his new Robin Hood series for christmas. I'm a sucker for anything King Arthur or Robin Hood. I'll even read the bad ones.
But Hood and Scarlett were excellent, and I'm looking forward to reading Tuck.
James Lee Burke is good, too, if you're interested in fiction. His Dave Robichaeux mysteries are terrific, and I'd also recommend the Lost Get-Back Boogie.
Another I think is great is The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
These are all off the top of my head, but if you're really looking for some suggestions, I'd be happy to give it more thought. And once again, these are my opinions. If you don't agree, i'm totally cool with that.
I have a lot of problems with the twilight books, including the writing style, some of the grammatical errors, and some huge holes in the plot....not to mention the personalities or lack thereof of the characters. But that is when I stop to think about it. But when I shut my brain off and just read to enjoy, they aren't bad. I could do with less whiny inner monologue, but I think that they are popular because people like the story.
I play video games to shut my brain off. Maybe it's a personality flaw, but there's a point where I am so distracted by bad execution that I can't concentrate on the story anymore. This goes for movies and for books. If the writing or the directing/acting/editing is so bad that it distracts from the story, the story is lost. They say in culinary school, "Presentation is everything." While I wouldn't go that far, it's definitely important.
Particularly because it is a love story that I imagine teenage girls like a lot and maybe identify with - except the whole werewolf and vampire thing.[/quote]
Buzzy, you are taking it way too seriously, I posted the thread to poke fun at Brown's atrocious writing, not to condemn anyone who enjoys his work.
QFT!
Good writers..well I guess in the thriller genre I enjoyed Len Deighton when I was younger, as for fantasy I think Piers Anthony is a much better writer than Rowling , so is LeGuin.
A recent favourite is Neil Gaiman who I think is vastly more talented than Rowling.
A friend of mine who is more literate (and also despises Dan Brown) recommends Thomas Pynchon, I intend to read Gravity's Rainbow in the next while.
Not heard of Pynchon. I'll look him up.
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