My family has encouraged me to give the names of authors I have tried and could not abide. I guess that "abide" is a pretty strong word…. but, there are several authors who I really cannot make myself read. The other night, when I put down that book (after trying unsuccessfully for more than a week to read it) I went to my list of authors and wrote a big "YUCK" by her name. I also proceeded to mark off the chronological list of her books… to make sure that I don’t accidentally buy any more. Once I finished annotating my "YUCK" and strike-out marks, I got both of the books that I own ready to donate to my library. I am that sure that I will never want to attempt to read her work again.
So, my family wonders why I don’t "blog" the name of the author. They think that I should be honest and "tell it like it is." But, that really isn’t how "it is." The main reason I don’t give a strong opinion about an author who I can’t force myself to like, is that there are other people who truly enjoy that very same author. I just don’t want to prejudice people who might want to give that author a try in the future who might become a fan of that author… like so many other people. I know it sounds VERY presumptuous of me to think that I might influence someone who is choosing an author for the first time, hoping to find a new favorite…
I have one friend in particular who absolutely loves an author who I have tried to read…. five times…. unsuccessfully! Each time I tried to have a positive attitude when I started reading the first book in her series, but each time I felt like everything about the book was "forced." I simply could not enjoy that particular author. This friend of mine knows how I feel about that author, and sometimes I wonder if she tries to avoid talking about how much she likes her. I know that she eagerly awaits a new book by that author, and, when I come across a new book by the author (while updating my cozy mystery list), I tell her about the new book. But, that’s as far as it goes……… she never tells me how much she enjoyed the book, or even if she read it.
Anyway, getting back to my family’s thought about this subject… Do people who come to this site want me to disclose which authors I simply cannot enjoy? I think that, no, they don’t. But, my husband and two in-their-early 20s children think that yes, I should "tell it like it is." If you have any thoughts on this question (or comments on how I could improve this site)…. please feel free to write a comment to me. (There is a very dim gray line under this blog post with a button to comment.) I’d love to hear what you think!
Molly says
I agree with you, don’t list the authors you don’t like. I do have some friends that know my taste well enough for them to be able to say "Well, I didn’t like it, but you might", but that’s a little bit different. Plus, I can see it causing a whole bunch of "ruffled feathers" and arguments,and that’s not really necessary.
I think you’re doing a great job just the way it is now!!!
cozy mystery list says
Molly,
Thanks for your comments… I totally agree with the “ruffled feathers” sentiment.
Please feel free to comment any time you want… even if you don’t agree with me!
And, thanks for the kind words… This site has taken on a life of its own!
Danna
Karen says
I don’t think there is a wrong answer. It’s just up to you. When I first read your blog on this subject I thought you should so that just like the friend who knows our personal preferences, I could better use the ones you give. Then I read the blog about audio books and saw you had a RAVE for an author, but I didn’t recognize him. When I saw it was for the Detective Agency books, I thought UGGHHH I COULD NOT get into them at all. So, we disagree on one, but no problem in disagreeing. As for the audio books, I had to travel a lot for business and I got to measuring time in books, ie it was 9 books from Cleveland to Topeka. Although I don’t think I ever heard a cozy that he read, I would probably listen to the New York City telephone book if it were read by John Glover (who now plays Lex Luthor’s father on Smallville). I love my cozies and my audios.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen,
First of all, thanks for commenting…
I agree with you about disagreeing… AND about audio books. (What on earth did we do before we had them?!)
As for Alexander McCall Smith’s books…
I can remember listening to the first book in the Women’s Detective Agency series, and wondering if it really classified as a mystery. So, I can easily understand why some mystery lovers “COULD NOT get into them at all.” I really enjoy the way he tells his stories, his characters simply come alive for me, and I also enjoy the settings, which are so different than any other book settings that I am used to.
As for John Glover… I just looked him up on line…. and I recognize him from several things he has done… and he has done many! In the roles I have seen him… he is especially good at being evil… (This will date me… very Bruce Dern-ish!)
Danna
Jan says
Danna, Well, sorry, but I am going to side with your family 🙂 I read blogs to get the personal opinions of books I might enjoy. If I simply want a “list” or book information there are other sites out there for that purpose. Blogs, by definition, are personal. An opinion can be given without trashing the author or the readers of that author. One facet of blogs I particularly enjoy is getting to know the blogger, and his or her likes and dislikes. It’s hard to get to know you unless you make it personal. We may not agree, but that is OK, that is what makes the world go round. I may take your opinion into consideration, but it wouldn’t disuade me from trying a book. Matter of fact, a difference of opinion might make for some interesting discussions in your comments. Personally, I’d love to hear some reviews and opinions!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jan, tell me it ain’t so!!!
Your comment is almost exactly what my family has been saying.
I will have to try to slowly get over this phobia I have about giving my negative opinions. I am very comfortable about giving my positive opinions… almost to the point of being over-the-top. (One viewer wrote me an e-mail about all of my blog entries Re: Alexander McCall Smith… and no, I am not related to him!)
Thank you for your comments…
Danna
Jan says
Danna, no, your family didn’t pay me, lol! I, for one, love Alexander McCall Smith. But if I didn’t I certainly wouldn’t send a scathing e-mail to you about your opinions, because they are just that, your opinions. An intelligent reader of your blog will respect that. Over-the-top? Nonsense! I suspect that person had his or her nose out of joint because you didn’t agree with them. Shrug it off and post on!
Take a look in blogdom and you will see what I mean. Readers give respectful opinions on books or authors, knitters will tell you if they don’t like a particular yarn or needles, etc. I have yet to see ruffled feathers or arguments. Unless of course you were to say you think an author, or everyone who likes a certain author is stupid simply because you don’t like the book…and that’s not likely to happen!
I look forward to getting to know you better 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jan,
I used to have the comments button turned off on my blog, so the only way the site’s viewers could write me was contacting “the administrator.” While the letter was not scathing… it did get its point across. I would have to go through my blogs…. but I think that I had several (all in a row) that were about him, and the writer just suggested that not all people like him. I went ahead and moved on with other topics…
Nancy says
Well, of course, you should tell us the authors you don’t like! It personalizes your site and, besides, and how do I put this diplomatically, doesn’t it sound a tad bit self-important to say you don’t want to influence someone’s opinion? What makes you think you could? Don’t you agree that most people who read cozies have pretty much set parameters for likes and dislikes? Your opinion would be taken and enjoyed as just that – your opinion. But, I’d still like to hear it!
Nancy says
It’s a woman thing. Boomer women were raised to keep our mouths shut and that our opinion didn’t matter.
Nancy says
I just sent two comments. The last one was in reply to the comment about a phobia. But, I forgot to say in the first, I really like your blog! Tell us more about you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Okay, Nancy… I will try to give my opinions… even if they are negative. But, I must say, it might take me a while to get into the swing of it…
Also, I just posted a blog about myself yesterday… after you asked me to tell a little more about myself.
Thanks for the comments…