While I'm declaring things...

[wednes]

I've never read any James Patterson before. It's just never shown up on my radar.

But my beloved Michael Emerson co-narrates a book called Four Blind Mice. So I'm checking it out. It's a kind of murder mystery with a bunch of sadistic, gruesome killings in it. The story is just compelling enough that I'm vaguely interested in how it ends. But it's all very ordinary.

First, let me say that Emerson's narration is excellent. I could listen to him talk all day. The other guy is fine, no complaints. But Patterson's use of language is very average and tired. The dialogue is also vapid and uninteresting. No one has an unusual speech pattern, or even a unique or revealing phrase they use. There's a guy who speaks English, Vietnamese, and French fluently, but his speech pattern is boring! It's all very mundane. Maybe he's making a point about something larger, but I don't think so. It just reads like uninspiring literature that has no real importance, no provoking theme (granted, I'm not done yet), nothing unique or original about it. Even the themes emerging thusfar (I'm just over halfway through) are tired and overdone. Ergo, I'm declaring it:

I don't think James Patterson is a very good writer.

But I hear that he's incredibly popular.
So...what's up with that?

Am I missing something here?

Comments

[roane.livejournal.com]

Marketing. Patterson was a marketing exec who decided to become a writer. He markets the ever living FUCK out of his books, and people fall for it. Also, since he always writes with a ghost writer (which I think translates to "he gives them an outline and they write the book"), he can put out several books a year, which keeps him in the forefront. But yes. He sucks.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

NO!

Grrr, that explains everything. It's just such a bad book, and I can't get my own book anywhere near a Borders store. If I do say so, my first book is pretty good. Even my second book is better than say, A Million Little Pieces. ;-]

Ghost writer?!? *spits in disgust*

[roane.livejournal.com]

His later books, for sure. If you look, most of them are "James Patterson with Unknown Author X". It's pretty disheartening to anyone who cares about their writing.

[locakitty.livejournal.com]

I tried to read "Roses are Red" many years ago. At least I think that's the name of it. I was so bored with the dialogue that I threw it down in disgust. It wasn't worth me getting in trouble for reading on the job, either. I was at B&N at the time. No reading at the cash wrap. :(

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm thinking that I might just read an online synopsis of how it ends. I'm sure I won't actually miss anything stirring. Even the gruesome murder scenes are trite and boring.

[hellamama.livejournal.com]

I've read some James Patterson books, but they've left no impression in my mind. That probably speaks enough. I'll usually pass him over, but if I was desperate for a read, I probably wouldn't turn it down. Sometimes I just need somewhere else to put my brain. I've read much worse stuff, but I've also read much better.

And I also say boo to ghost writers. If someone can write well enough to sell a book in someone else's name, why can't they write their own book? I think they are selling out.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

The whole concept of ghost writing seems insulting to the reader. If it's a shitty book ("Gary Troupe"'s Bad Twin leaps to mind) then they shouldn't publish it. And if it's a good book, it should have the author's name on it. Even a nom de plume is cool by me, but ghost writing is like paying someone to do your homework for you which I would never, ever--

well, you know what I'm getting at here. ;-]

[leemoyer.livejournal.com]

"I don't think James Patterson is a very good writer.
But I hear that he's incredibly popular."

You say that like it's a contradiction.
Never overestimate the intelligence of the American people.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

LOL I guess that's true.

I tend to cling to the belief that people, if given the choice, will choose something of quality over the alternative. Typical weekend box office receipts should have taught me otherwise by now...

[leemoyer.livejournal.com]

You're a dreamer.
I admire that.