I decided that I was becoming rather repetitive with my answers to your comments from yesterday’s post, so I’m going to answer all of them collectively in this entry… sort of a second part to yesterday’s “dilemma” …
If this author had filled her books with regularly-participating secondary characters who I really enjoyed learning about and befriending (so to speak), I would have probably had more of an inclination to stay with the author.
You all were a tremendous help to me. I have been deliberating about dropping this author for a while. There have been times when my family would be out to dinner, and I would actually talk about this “to drop, or not to drop” “dilemma” of mine. And, let’s face it, I have a lot more worries than whether or not I should continue reading a favorite author of mine!!! Trust me!
As for “formulaic mysteries”>>> I totally agree… There are a lot of authors who may not start out that way, but who end up being just that… same old/same old types of plots, and characters who don’t seem to ever grow.
I think you all are correct in saying that if you keep putting off reading a favorite author’s mysteries, then you really shouldn’t consider that author a favorite any longer. I have a lot of other books and authors in my TBR bookshelf, why should I feel obligated to continue with this author – who I have almost started dreading?!? Good grief!
So, I just got back from donating her paperback mysteries to the library. They will either keep them or sell them (if they already have too many copies), which is a win/win for the books. And, I already have a new mystery book started, which I am enjoying. Now if I could just: Guilt Be Gone!
linda says
hey danna, it is a free country, read what you want, discard what you don’t
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You’re not kidding, Linda. I actually feel “relieved” not to have to worry about this author anymore!
linda says
Danna, I think some of us keep reading these “gone stale” authors in hopes that they will go back to what made us read them in the first place. It just seems to me that in an attempt to not become stale some of these authors will try something else. Most of the time, it just doesn’t work!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
That’s exactly what I think, Linda. We just keep hoping they will “get back” what they once had, but a lot of the time, they don’t.
K says
Good call…I’ve been thinking lately about unexpected things that can clutter up our lives, and I think authors can go on that list. You’re just doing a little decluttering.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
K, I feel like you’re right about the “de-cluttering”… I’m glad to have made room for authors I look forward to reading.
readerdiane says
Sometimes reading formulaic mysteries can be comforting-like the old Nancy Drew. We knew what to expect. Hopefully though the main characters change, grow and learn, Some of those very long series do have a tough time keeping it fresh. Sometimes it is time to say good-bye, but most of the time I am too hooked and too loyal.;)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Readerdiane, I know exactly what you mean when you say you’re “too hooked and too loyal.” I am sure that is why I kept asking others if they thought it was “OK” for me to drop this author.
Donna (Merry Mishaps blog) says
I have to read at least three books by an author before developing any feelings of loyalty. If the writer keeps my interest that long, chances are good that the entire series will hold my interest. Formulas seem to become clear to me by the third book too, so if the author sticks to the same formula for each book, I won’t be reading many of them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I’ll try to keep the “three book” theory in mind, Donna. I hope it works for me, also!
Kejia says
I looked for Guilt Be Gone on amazon and couldn’t find it. Does anyone know where to get it? It’d be handy to keep in the medicine cabinet…
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Ha! Let me know when you find it. It’s probably next to the robotic bathroom cleaners.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kejia, they’re probably out of it!
Susan says
On an online book forum that I belong to, there are two oft-repeated sayings: “So many books, so little time!” and “Life’s too short to read / finish a bad book.” Both so true!
I’ve been going through a similar ‘de-cluttering’ of my mysteries, lately, so you’re not alone, Danna! Cheer Up! (And try to look forward – to all the great new mysteries you haven’t read yet – rather than back .)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
And, the beauty of those sayings about time and reading, Susan, is that there are plenty more books out there… With so many authors – now writing so many books that they have to acquire three or four pseudonyms – books surely aren’t lacking!
Anne says
I know exactly how you feel about dropping an author that you have invested time reading previous mysteries. I have one author who I do not like but have read all her books and every time a new one comes out I say … well, one more. The conversations are stilted, the people are not that likable (to me), and the location isn’t appealing. So why do I keep reading them? Because I have already read the previous ones. If you find Guilt Be Gone please post!
I got a new Kindle for my birthday and am so enjoying it. Opened up a whole new world of buying books. Talk about instant gratification.
linda says
Anne, I have tried to weigh the benefits of having a Kindle but I now sure do wish I had one for myself. My hubby and I are moving into a less expensive apartment, a great one for Seniors on SS. So they wouldn’t get mixed up and lost in the move, I took all of my library books back. I don’t have very much to read right now and IT IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!. A Kindle sure would be nice to own right about now!. Oh well, I’ll go to the $ store and get a cheapie! Hey wait, SS receipients are getting a raise come January. Goodness, I’ll be able to buy the world!!!!!!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, I did the very same thing with one of my favorite (I guess I should say “ex-favorite” authors. I just kept prolonging the inevitable… I found the conversations were stilted, the people were unlikable… but I did like the location… (When I read your comment I wondered if we were thinking of the same author… until I saw that your author’s location is unappealing.) I should have stopped reading her after the 26th book, but I stayed with that author through 44 mysteries!!! Good grief! When I think of how many V-8s I could have had!!!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Danna, you’re hilarious. And all those other books needed your attention. No guilt, you’re just spreading your attention to needy books!
Edie Dykeman says
Danna – sounds like a good decision. What cracked me up was how quickly you got the books to the library. Once you made the decision, you definitely went with it.
But, doesn’t it feel liberating in a way? You’ve made the decision, reduced your TBR shelf, and moved on. Way to go!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Edie, as guilty as I felt about dropping this author, I knew that if I kept the books in the house, they would “make me” read them… better to get rid of them!
Mary Joy says
Good for you – enjoy your new, fresh book!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Joy, I am!