tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post2056446172819683488..comments2023-11-28T02:14:46.571-05:00Comments on Random Thoughts of the Reading Obsessed: Figured it out...Tara Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15963704767440694312noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post-12862438981352831782007-05-14T11:01:00.000-04:002007-05-14T11:01:00.000-04:00Sam, Bad writing simply can't lift a good story ou...Sam, <I>Bad writing simply can't lift a good story out of the muck (for me.) I know, picky picky.</I> Bingo, what a perfect description why good story can't save bad writing.<BR/><BR/>Amie, I think I can actually expand Sam's thought, a good story can't save bad writing, but a good writing can save a less than stellar story.<BR/><BR/>Jaye, for me if the voice doesn't work then the story needs to be extraordinary, which is tough to do.<BR/><BR/><I>I was completely captivated by character/setting/phasing/emotional content/sexual tension even if there were plot holes a mile wide.</I> I had to laugh when I read this, because it's so darned true for me too. I have keepers others consider wallbangers simply because something completely clicked for me.<BR/><BR/>Cindy, I have to agree, the concept of a writing voice is complicated. And on some level I expect an authors voice to evolve somewhat, it's impossible to be completely stagnant. <BR/><BR/>Linda Howard works for me because her voice is incredibly strong and even though the stories she's telling now are different, her voice really isn't. I can live that because it ties back to the fact I'm comfortable with other genres and only need a hint of romance.<BR/><BR/>I always liked Julie Garwood's historical style, I read her suspense, but am consistantly disappointed in them.<BR/><BR/>I don't read Brockmann anymore simply because there's a sameness to her books these days that doesn't work for me. She has a great voice, but something in her stories don't work for me and I really hate that 1. she strung us along so long for Sam's story and 2. The constant series baiting.Tara Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15963704767440694312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post-23711269719329336822007-05-14T00:51:00.000-04:002007-05-14T00:51:00.000-04:00Voice was one of those scary concepts that writers...Voice was one of those scary concepts that writers would bring up every once in a while and I'd go running. Complicated stuff if you try and analyse it but I agree with you. Voice is top of the list for me as well. The thing about voice is that if an author doesn't change it up a bit, the reader begins to feel it's the same old stuff after a while and then other authors change things up and you want to weep.<BR/><BR/>I loved Linda Howard's love stories but she seems to have moved onto suspense and I just can't follow her there. I get so disappointed when I don't find the romance and sexual heat I have become used to. <BR/><BR/>Julie Garwood lost me also when she went contemporary but then I didn't feel her characters were acting very modern.<BR/><BR/>Brockmann's voice became a little 'same old, same old' and I have stopped buying her.<BR/><BR/>And yet, I know what I'm getting when I buy an Anne Stuart. I know what I'm getting when I buy MJD. I know (for the most part although nowadays it's hit or miss) with Evanovich but there must be just that something more that makes me crave them.<BR/><BR/>CindyCindyShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18349459903336460467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post-19486838322750391522007-05-13T20:31:00.000-04:002007-05-13T20:31:00.000-04:00Ditto, ditto, ditto, and Amen, Tara. I'm exactly t...Ditto, ditto, ditto, and Amen, Tara. I'm exactly the same way. There are authors I'd loved to read. I pick up their books and I recognize the 'craftmanship/skill' of their writing,but their voice/characterizations leave me cold.<BR/><BR/>I can/will/ and have put down *great stories* because the author voice doesn't work for me. By the same token Ive stayed up well into the the night reading because I was completely captivated by character/setting/phasing/emotional content/sexual tension even if there were plot holes a mile wide.vanessa jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11059178422559443067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post-84175038892705971122007-05-12T08:57:00.000-04:002007-05-12T08:57:00.000-04:00The story has to interest me but ulitimately, I re...The story has to interest me but ulitimately, I read for all teh same reasons you do. If the story does interest me and I read a few pages and the voice doesn't grab me, I'm gone.Amie Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145328243563702260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11597422.post-47245643346905141062007-05-12T06:23:00.000-04:002007-05-12T06:23:00.000-04:00I love good writing, and authors that write well a...I love good writing, and authors that write well always get my book money. I can't stand sloppy writing. Hate, hate hate buying a book and finding out the author can't write, which is why I rarely read reviews, but I always try to read an excerpt before I buy a book. Bad writing simply can't lift a good story out of the muck (for me.) I know, picky picky. But a look at my keeper shelf confirms this.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05943062466398436785noreply@blogger.com