book talk my bisshes.

[gfrancie]

This comic artist did a couple of funny pieces on getting hooked on the Twilight books. (and she gives a great summary of the four books) I found it entertaining as I know many people who found themselves hooked on them. They are in many ways the antithesis of good literature, but that isn't why people read them. We don't need to go into any long discussions about these particular books as there are plenty of places that can handle that with a deft hand.


There are plenty of books that can be described as literary droolers (a fantastic term from the 19th century) that do sell well. They come at the right time, are marketed just so and shazaam, an author can buy a round of ponies for everyone. I remember seeing it fairly often when I worked in book shops. I admit it put me off a fair amount of popular fiction at the time. There were a number of best-sellers I didn't read because after a long day in the trenches I really didn't want to "take my work home" with me. Does that make sense? I only read Atonement about a year ago, despite shilling it like it was a dimebag when it was at its initial height of popularity. (quick opinion: while I admire McEwan for being a good friend to many authors, I still would like to take that book, attach it to a brick and throw it at a window of his house and say, "WTF PAL???")

I read a few things that were big. I read a galley copy of The Da Vinci Code. I knew it was going to be a hit and the Church was not going to be a fan. It had tighter editing than his previous book had and had the kind of pacing that was good for the beach or airplane. It didn't demand much of you. That is what droolers typically have in common. You can pick it up, have a good time and call it tasty. It allows for quick escape. Some popcorn hits have a little more depth to them and that is always pleasant. Nothing too scary or morally vague but good solid Joseph Campbell-esque themes. I don't have any problems with that. I like a number of those books just fine. Some people have a hate-on for things like Harry Potter and how well it has done and again one could get into a big giant Academic wank-a-thon about its place in the grand literary canon. I don't have enough boxes of tissues to handle that party.
Everything has a bit of validity in the grand scheme of things. Yeah people will be irritating with their, "OMG YOUMUSTREAD THIS" and "I dont read such things, excuse me while I read Stendhal." Here you go folks. A gold star for reading or not reading. Wear it proud.

I haven't read the Twilight Books. I have a giant pile of books to read. Okay I will be honest here, I have several piles around my house of books to read. I also have my giant list of books I desperately want to get my paws on. I had a conversation the other day with a friend where I was suggesting books to read after reading Mariana by Monica Dickens. (if you can get your paws on this, do read it. It is such a brilliantly written book. It is just an absolute gem of a book) I read it recently, fell completely in love and I grieved it being over and she was about to enter the same situation so I began to rack my brain for similar things. Then because the ex-bookseller in me will never die, I began to look around for things and I found an author I really want to read. (I shared this author with my friend and I think we both want to read a few of the same books now) And so it makes the list grow longer. Plus I have the pregnant brain so getting through books is hard. very hard. I am also on a current theme of inter-war fiction with English people being mildly repressed and mildly rebelling against that repression and falling in love and out of love and well you know the same old same old. (yes. Me and the Cazelet chronicles are tribe these days) Pretty much I am always on a repressed English people having repressed English people problems literary kick. So until I get through my piles of books, Twilight will have to wait. I suspect I will knock off those abstinence allegories sometime in my late 80s. I know I know... what a twit. But I want to read all of Dawn Powell's books. And I want to read all of Angela Thirkell's books too. They trump vampires. Plus I have this enormous book on the history of Venice that I have been reading off and on for a few years. I would like to finish that before I die. I have excuses. Look at my house.

Comments

[lightprincess89.livejournal.com]

You don't want to read them anyway. I read three quarters of the first book, and she kept changing up how the characters were sitting, or what the setting was like all in the same scene. It got a bit tiresome to keep up.

I hate spring break the most. Especially this year. It's my one chance to get as much pleasure reading out of the way before getting back to the grind, and I can barely concentrate. School work has fried my brain.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Were they in mass? Sit down, stand up, sit down, kneel. heh
You should read Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day if you haven't. It isn't taxing on the brain at all and it is very soothing and cheerful.
I finished Watchmen -good stuff. Mr. Jenner is now reading it and enjoying it too.

[lightprincess89.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed the book. I really want to read "Miss Pettigrew". The movie was cute, and it made me want to read the book even more.

[queenthesixth.livejournal.com]

The book is better! I am an unashamed hawker of "Miss Pettigrew". I heart that book so so much; I've read it countless times since getting it last year and it never fails to entertain and cheer me. And actually it was Gen who raved about it so much that I just had to read it for myself! So I can blame her for being one of those irritating "OMG YOU MUST READ THIS!" people. ;-)

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I have to agree here. The movie is a delight, but there is something so effin' perfect about the book. I only rave when I know a book is totally and utterly awesome and I know I am right. *snorts*
Have you read Mariana? If you haven't you should. I think this is the new book I am going to wrestle to the floor and make them read. I should make it the new SF girl book of the year. Like Lost Art of Keeping Secrets.

[queenthesixth.livejournal.com]

Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is another favourite of mine. I made my mother read it and Miss Pettigrew, and she thoroughly enjoyed them. Which made me very happy because she has a lot of hardship dealing with my grandmother so I try to make sure she gets some fun stuff too. I got them for my cousin as well this past Christmas because everyone should read them!!!
Ahem.

I have not read Mariana. I've been looking for it in town (trying to support my local bookshops) but no joy. I think I may be going to ye olde amazon because I really want to read it.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Obviously if you can't find them it must mean you need to do an order from the persephone book shop. Pronto. I know I know life is rough.

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

Aren't the Twilight books for children? Why on earth should they be on a grown woman's to-do list. It's like that whole Harry Potter business. There are millions of books for grownups out there and yet everyone was reading those.

And yeah, my list grew a lot longer after that conversation too.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

They are aimed at that YA market. And there are some YA-marketed books that have been great reads even for adults. I have always been interested in children's books as well as books for adults so I can understand some of the appeal. I read all of the HP books and they were a fun read. (some were better than others) I can see why kids like them a lot. Many classic themes and children have always LOVED main characters where they are treated like crap and the parents are in the background. But I think in some ways it was hijacked by some adults who tend to get worked up about more kid-oriented things and want to make it their own. These are the jerks who complained about kids at HP releases. Their vanity was astounding.

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

Don't get me wrong, children's books are wonderful, I loved them as a child myself and I get a big kick out of seeing my daughter enjoy things like the HP books. I definitely get the appeal of those books - to children. But I don't know. It is a bit like adults with piles of stuffed animals in the back of their car. There's a lot in the world I don't really get. So, each to her own...

When does one transition from being a child to being a young adult, in the eyes of the publishers?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

When the kid has worked her way through Judy Blume but wants to read about really miserable teenagers. *snorts*

[lindaslaments.livejournal.com]

i got sucked into the Twilight stuff much against my will, and now i can't stop. it's like crack. plus that kid is hottttttttt. actually he's not very good looking but the whole vampire thing...that's hot.

consider me twelve years old.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

You need to wean yourself. I won't make you read Trollope but it is time to find some other hot dysfunctional people to read about.

[lindaslaments.livejournal.com]

p.s., that was the best comic i've ever read in my life lol

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Her other stuff is really good I enjoy it a great deal.

[skyblade.livejournal.com]

The most popular thing of any medium is probably not going to be the most well done work in it. There are some things large masses of the public "aren't ready for", and eventually it gets mined into the mainstream. I don't think it's not so much about the intelligence of people, but that works that are, shally we say a more sophistcated use of the medium require a kind of commitment.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely right.