I just tried commiserating on a certain subject with my sweet husband, but I was met with a blank stare and a complete lack of sympathy. He just doesn't get it.
So I come to you, dear blog, in hopes of finding some solace for my angst. The issue is this: it makes me absolutely mad (crazy, annoyed, frustrated) when I devote a considerable portion of my highly-coveted free time to the reading of a book, and then the author goes and writes an absurd angle to the plot which I simply can not abide. I'll be lovin' the book, lovin' the book, lovin' the book . . . then WHAM! she has a character think or say or do something that I would never have him/her do.
I know, I know - author's prerogative, it's just a story, what's the big deal? But when I read a good book, it becomes a big deal to me. I start to relate to the characters, they become like friends and I care about what happens to them.
I plan to finish the book (Adam Bede) because, up to this point, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think George Eliot is a brilliant author and I look forward to reading more of her work. But right now, about 3/4 of the way into the book, she's written Adam into a real mess and I sure hope she writes him out of it soon.
6 comments:
That's happened to me too much lately. I've almost given up devoting free time to reading. I am amazed at how easily I can fill my free time with laundry. It's really depressing, actually. Have you read the Sea Wolf by Jack London? Zach insists it's really good and I keep trying, but I haven't made it past chapter one. Happy reading.
I totally understand what you mean...I try talking to Eric too, and he usually gives me the same look. It is only because they haven't read it, not because of their Y chromosome or is it?
Once an author publishes and sells a book, the story belongs to the reader. NOT the author. If the reader says the story is a cheat, then it is. End of discussion. There's no way the author can satisfyingly settle such an argument by saying: "Well, it's my art, deal with it." No, it isn't. Once you put it up for sale, you decided to ask for artistic validation from somebody else. And if you didn't get it, that's your fault ... not the fault of the reader. The reader is far more capable of seeing a story's forest for the trees than the author will ever be. The reader, therefore, is the best (in fact the, ONLY) judge of a writer's work.
Writers hate this argument. But the only way to end the argument is to write only for themselves and never publish their work.
The crazy fan in "Misery" had it right: It's her story, not the author she has chained up in her attic. And if wants to write, and make money from it, he'd damned well better deliver what she wants.
Poor George Eliot! I'll bet she didn't have a writing group! Now that I am attempting to write a book, I can't believe how incredibly complicated it is to keep track of everything. I don't know how writers in her time managed without wordprocessors! What did Adam do that bugs you so much? I think I might know, but it's been a while since I've read the book and I too, have no brain anymore!
Yes! When I start reading a book, Trent is like, "I'll see you in a couple of days". So it darn well better end well, (same as movies) or I am in a pissy mood for a while. I don't like to spend my free time on something that doesn't go how it should. If it doesn't wrap up nicely, then we have a problem. :)
Brooke,
I know this is an older post but I just found your blog. George Eliot is one of my favorite writers. I love Middlemarch. I've never read Adam Bede. Also, I have to comment on Amie's comment. The Sea Wolf is one of my favorite books and I loved White Fang by Jack London. It's so good to see your kids faces and read your blog. Love, Sarah
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