Welcome to Gaia! ::

My view on the whole "Let's hate on the most popular student literature of the time right now," goes a little something like this...

For some of the older readers, I can see where Twilight and Eragon maybe a little "meh" to them. This is on the basis of taste really. I don't really believe that every story has to be different. I believe there was only one original story, what it is, I do not know. But I feel that it allueds to everything we read, therefore nothing we read is ever 100% original.

So for older readers, things may only be a maturity level in the reading and writing. Where as many younger readers, read them, and say they dislike them. Then I find, they cannot back up their statement with a valid reason. It seems like a teenage rebellion in my mind. For all I know, it is an act put on and they have devoted their entire life to the series, have copies of the book sitting right next to the keyboard as they typed.

Some book are never perfectly written. Especially in an author's first couple books. Eragon and that series, is the first of the author's published work. Alot of the story line is being determined by what editors think will make money and so on.

I cannot really make valid comments about Twilight or that entire series because I have not read it myself. And because of that, I do not want to be a hypocrite in any fashion of the word.

As for Harry Potter, even though I have yet to read the last book, I agree on how the first three books were amazing. That is because she relased the first three books together. Those copies were less wanted by readers in the beginning before the Harry Potter Boom. It was her way to make a quick buck and do something she enjoys.

But as author's get more popular, they are given time scheduels about when to release their next book. This is a hassel from the Editors and Publishers of their books. They want to make money, rather than publish a good story. So once Harry Potter Boomed, they were pressuring Rowling more and more to get books out faster, which could explain the drastically "darker" books from the fourth on.

So really, the only reason for not liking a book rests mostly on taste in my opinion. And even if on other things, it doesn't necessarily mean the author is a hack or the one who is at fault. Editors play a huge part in the publishing and marketing of a book. If they don't think it will bring in mass money and fast, they snap their fingers and the author may very well have no choice but to follow suit.

Now, I don't want everyone taking this word for word, since this is my OPINION! And I hate when my opinions are taken out of context.

Yeah, a lot of people *cough*Kirby*cough* thinks the books I read are weird. xd

Others cannot get passed the first page. I believe it is all about taste. Reading a book is like eating food. Not everyone likes the same thing.

Some people like mysteries. Others like Quests. Even more still like history bassed or biographical novels.

- Beautiful Losers. Leonard Cohen
- The Alchemist Paulo Coelho
- The Shamanic Way of the Bee. Simon Buxton
- Leaving My Father's House Marion Woodman
- The Hero With A Thousand Faces Joseph Cambell
- Women Who Run with the Wolves. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D
- 'Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion' Selected and Edited by Diane K. Osbon
- A Woman's Worth Marianne Williamson
- King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. Robert L. Moore
- The Tao of Pooh. Benjamin Hoff
- The Fountaianhead Ayn Rand
- Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini
- Angels and Demons Dan Brown
- How to read Literature like a professor. Thomas C. Foster


wow. That is my nerdiness right there.

I don't have a valid reason for disliking Twilight and Eragon? cry Now I feel all elitist and lame.

That said, I have similar taste in books, Tak-Jak. Except for when it comes to Dan Brown.

Why the heck would Christian be popular in a mostly non-Christian society? You expect that? Except for C.S. Lewis, I mean. I think he's an exception.

Er, no, I don't. Why the ominous ellipses?

IS THIS MY INHERENT ELITIST VIEWPOINT COMING OUT? *more sobbing*

You don't understand why people would criticize books, Kirby? Well, in the hopes that somewhere along the line that that criticism will improve my or someone else's writing by the thoughtful observations involved, I suppose. Also because it's fun. xd Hey, I never claimed to be very reasonable.

Also, Serenity: what about Tolkien? He was pretty Christian and his books were pretty Christian.

Authors than. I edited the post.

I guess the Christian genre is popular in non-Christian society is because of all the 'mysteries and controversies' surrounding it. "thinking about the Da Vinci Code..."

And I agree that what you read is a matter of taste, but you have to break free of that boundary you set once in a while to find new material. I was a HUGE fantasy fan for about three years and absolutely refused to read science fiction. (Odd, that, since I am a science nerd.) But, finally, the day came that I was forced to read a science fiction book and I murdered my prejudice against it in one minute. Taste is good, just don't let it shackle you.