This week I stopped reading a story by a favorite author and this quote by
Gustave Flaubert came to mind:
"An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere."
When I began reading I expected the author to grab my attention from the first page--and he DID. I expected the story to captivate and intrigue--and it DID.
Then, around the midway point, the author abandoned his story to lecture me on a matter near and dear to his heart.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm all in favor of a good cause. The problem is it became the focal point of an otherwise entertaining story. What began as a cozy whodunit, morphed into a tome on the injustice and cruelty of mankind.
I doubt I'll read anything by this author again. That sacred bond I shared with the author is not only broken but beyond repair. And all because of author interference.
Am I being too harsh? Too reactionary? Is author interference something you can overlook as a reader?
* * *
I'm not sure I've encountered what you are describing here, but I think I'd have the same reaction you did.
ReplyDeleteKaren
The strange thing is, Karen, it's only happened maybe three times ever. I used to give the author the benefit of the doubt and continue reading. No more! There are simply too many wonderful authors I don't want to miss.
DeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for abandoning the book but, since you've read other books by that author and enjoyed them, you might want to give the author another chance. Hopefully, he/she (who got a little too caught up in their cause) won't make the same mistake again.
Actually, what he wrote freaked me out so much, it was SO far off the original story and so horrific, I just can't do it. He lost me forever. For what it's worth, I'm not even sure he's till actively writing. Maybe he traded one passion for another.
DeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteA novel is not the place to preach. I'd be leery of reading more books by that author, too. I find I come upon a different type of problem. Recently, I've read two mysteries that were self-published. The stories, pacing, and characters were great. What bothered me were the many glaring grammatical errors in both books. In the future, I don't know if I'll finish reading books that clearly haven't been edited professionally.
That kind of thing terrifies me, Marilyn, mainly because I'm afraid of making the same mistakes. Not that I will, mind you, but craps happens. ;-)
DeleteIf I had a fairy godmother I'd ask for my very own personal Raymond. I worked with this amazing man at a weekly newspaper. A walking dictionary who understood grammar inside out, he always found those errors everyone else had bypassed, and he did it before the paper went to the printers. A few reporters disliked him for being so tenacious, but more than once he saved their story. He's probably in his 80s now, but gee, I miss him!
I totally agree Anne. The same thing has happened to me. An Author I once enjoyed reading went down that same path in several of his books and I have never returned. I'm there to be entertained not lectured to!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, John, and as always, happy reading!
DeleteI'm in agreement. I read to be entertained. Take the entertainment factor away from me and I won't read the author's books anymore.
ReplyDeleteMarja McGraw
We're SOOOO alike, Marja! Kind of scary, huh?!
DeleteSo many authors I like, so many I want to try for the first time--and so little time to read. Getting extremely critical these days--close books much more often than I used to. We all have booboos occasionally, and some "no no's" get by, but I really wonder sometime, "Where have all the good editor's gone..." (smile) I feel really lucky to have several that try to keep me on the straight and narrow, and another one I pay, a professional who "knows his stuff!" And I can't imagine them letting what you experienced get by. Maybe your author didn't listen??? Sometimes that's hard to do--my ego gets in the way--I know what's best, ha, ha. Sorry to go on and on... 'nough said. Thanks for the post, Anne, it's cold here today, and your post and comments have warmed me up! (smile again)
ReplyDeleteMadeline
Like you, Mad, my reading habits have changed. Perhaps it's a sign of how busy our lives have become.
DeleteSaturday morning I was just so sick of signing onto my computer BEFORE that first cup of coffee. Worse, I've been doing it for so many years I felt chained to the beast.
Solution? Time to breathe, go for a long walk, decide what is and what isn't important, and if that means tossing aside a mediocre book rather than read to the end, well, hey, I'll do it. As you say, there are so many wonderful books out there and so little time to read.