tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post624342491012808332..comments2024-03-27T05:13:25.241-05:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: My Top Five Literary NemesesGreg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-29202701195573253562013-01-20T22:52:46.987-06:002013-01-20T22:52:46.987-06:00Salman Rushdie for me. Too pompous. I'm curren...Salman Rushdie for me. Too pompous. I'm currently in my second attempt at reading Midnight's Children, and believe me, it's a struggle reading this one. Can't figure why it won the Booker of Bookers.Arcopolhttp://blog.uread.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-59274913740041911342011-08-29T21:14:14.706-05:002011-08-29T21:14:14.706-05:00I completely agree with Dan Brown (I enjoyed The D...I completely agree with Dan Brown (I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and then made the mistake of reading his other books) and James Frey. James Frey sits in my hate list for the same reason McCarthy sits in yours. Everyone I knew loved his books and I just didn't get it. I thought they were terrible.Rachelhttp://booksinthesun.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-25743061942406348452011-05-20T10:41:50.862-05:002011-05-20T10:41:50.862-05:00Terrific post! (I haven't been by lately - lo...Terrific post! (I haven't been by lately - looks like I've missed some interesting posts.)<br /><br />If I may: "absolute turd of unmitigated anti-environmental and global-warming-skepticism propaganda". Once I finally stopped laughing over that one, I must say "Well put!" :)<br /><br />I agree with Dan Brown (hack), Cormac McCarthy (ugh), Nicholas Sparks (I admit I like his movies but the man cannot write, at all), and Greg Mortenson (also can't write).<br /><br />Glen Beck and Sara Palin - I refuse to read books by people who I find so completely irritating!Jannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05557437845667317036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-83119518969774805882011-05-19T01:21:32.810-05:002011-05-19T01:21:32.810-05:00Peeves, sheesh, everyone has covered them all! Ex...Peeves, sheesh, everyone has covered them all! Except maybe one I ran across yesterday, a woman who said she hasn't found a good book to read in years. But she shops at Walmart. How lazy is that? Can't look any harder? I'd like to find LESS good books so I can do other things.<br />Another peeve is people who bash Amazon. Yes, they probably are a bully and pushy, YET they are so freaking convenient-I can have a book here TOMORROW for $4. The prices, the convenience, the selection-I could start an Amazon Anonymous 12-step program but then I'd have to admit I have a problem. And with gas so high, I'm perfectly glad to have Fedex save me the cost of driving.<br />Okay: more stuff to gripe about: books with lifesaving dogs or cats on the cover. Seriously! If I get one more arc of a cute dog on the cover with an 'inspirational' story I will scream.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06982753200241942817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-68930097692319630882011-05-10T23:01:59.177-05:002011-05-10T23:01:59.177-05:00Man, nothing drives me more batty than celebrities...Man, nothing drives me more batty than celebrities who publish fiction. Steve Earle, whose music I like, just published a novel. I proceeded to delete all his music. That'll show him!<br /><br />As for Cormac, I am torn. I loved Blood Meridian and despised The Road. The first I thought was brilliant in its use of language and storytelling and I thought the violence was completely necessary to convey what he was trying to convey. The other was too transparent and melodramatic. But, hey, if you don't like the guy, you don't like the guy. <br /><br />My list would be Gary Shteyshit and Zadie Smith. Not sure who else would make it. I should do this, but I'm busier than a dog in heat. <br /><br />Great post.Kennethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08822449936450212892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-53765300632449175162011-05-09T14:49:14.704-05:002011-05-09T14:49:14.704-05:00Agh! I hate James Frey! Just reading about him in ...Agh! I hate James Frey! Just reading about him in this post has got my blood boiling. I saw him at a reading once (he was there with another author who I wanted to see). He was such an narcissus. And his new publishing plan is horrible. <br /><br />I need to go punch something now.Colin Matthew (TheBookPirate.com)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04352386043443302180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-9001232196897667812011-05-09T09:25:32.678-05:002011-05-09T09:25:32.678-05:00This post cracked me up! Brown was also sued for p...This post cracked me up! Brown was also sued for plagiarism by Lewis Perdue for copying his book Daughter of God. So some more ammo for you against DB.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-79562186106013901422011-05-07T11:15:28.535-05:002011-05-07T11:15:28.535-05:00@robyn - Ah, yes - I was wondering when someone wo...@robyn - Ah, yes - I was wondering when someone would bring up Mr. Grisham! I will admit to having enjoyed some of his book, but when people told me how bad and how silly Playing for Pizza is, I mentally crossed him off my list forever. Yes, Nicholas Sparks - he made my honorable mention list. I enjoyed your vent!<br /><br />@2manybooks - Interesting - why does that particular type of memoir draw your ire? Is it just because it's seemingly so common - that we've heard that story before? I'm also intrigued by Townie - I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts.<br /><br />@CB - Wow. I'm stunned. I have to admit, my first reaction to your comment was that I thought you were being sarcastic. I loved Zeitoun, and not sure I understand how being a great guy who donates his book profits to charity makes him a BAD guy. What about Zeitoun leads you to believe it was poorly researched? And I'd say Eggers is one of the LEAST self-indulgent writers out there - as evidenced by the fact that he doesn't write books for personal gain!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-11651521122039466722011-05-07T11:10:40.374-05:002011-05-07T11:10:40.374-05:00@bibliophiliac - Whoops, skipped you above - sorry...@bibliophiliac - Whoops, skipped you above - sorry about that! I haven't read The Bridges of Madison County, but "dreck" is quite a strong word! And yet another vote for celebrities who publish children's fiction - nicely done! That's surpassing James Patterson on the biggest literary nemesis list.<br /><br />@Brenna - Very cool that you got to meet him, and he impressed you. But I mostly agree with your other reasons. As I said somewhere above, though, I begrudgingly respect that he is under now false auspices about what he really is - he's about story, and the writing is secondary. (Which is why he doesn't actually do the writing for most of his books!) <br /><br />@Sandy - Yeah! ...another vote for Gilbert. And you win the prize for the most vitriolic condemnation: "sanctimonious, self-absorbed twit" made me laugh out loud! Disagree about Franzen, though. ;)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-68152620497925183482011-05-07T11:02:31.282-05:002011-05-07T11:02:31.282-05:00@Mozette - I'll have to take your word for the...@Mozette - I'll have to take your word for the Stephenie Meyers/religion thing - but I can definitely understand how the cliche plot is irritating. I also hate Dan Brown's writing - especially the italicized "thoughts" the characters have. It's his attempt to be profound, but they always make me laugh. <br /><br />@BooksaremyBFs - Oh, and don't forget shilling for Apple. I'll be interested to hear your take on Swedish Heaven. I wonder if it's like American heaven, only with fewer Jerry Falwells and more umlauts.<br /><br />@Jillian - Totally know what you mean about being consciously aware something's terrible, but continuing anyway - you know, that whole Train Wreck Theory. Janet Evanovich is one I thought would show up more frequently - what's your specific beef with her, though?<br /><br />@Barbara - You'd think so. Haven't read Bitter and Sweet, buy didn't notice sloppiness or anachronism in Water For Elephants. It's been a while, though. Any specific examples you could point out?<br /><br />@Patrick - I know, I know. Cormac and may wind up being cool someday - just hasn't arrived yet. I think maybe I just need to give Blood Meridian another shot. Well said: "flat, fractured, and uninspired tale." You let her have it! <br /><br />@Ben - Haaaa! The Nude Orc. I also very much enjoy the word nemeses.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-43914392855053036922011-05-07T10:48:43.414-05:002011-05-07T10:48:43.414-05:00@Man - James Patterson seems to be winning the uno...@Man - James Patterson seems to be winning the unofficial "comments" poll. Yeah, I hate how big his name is on the cover of his books, too.<br /><br />@Sarah - Uh oh - here we have the first one I disagree with. I'm a huge Franzen fan, though I will admit that that probably breaks my pet peeve about writers with huge ego. I'd argue that the Oprah dust up was less about his ego and more about hers, though. They're friends again now, so it's water under the bridge. Freedom is awesome - you should definitely read it! <br /><br />@IngridLola - He's a tool.<br /><br />@Jenica - I wish I could say I agree with you about All The Pretty Horses, but I don't remember it enough to comment intelligently. ;) All I know for sure about that novel is that someone made a terrible movie out of it that Matt Damon starred in, for some reason. Glad you enjoyed this - it was fun to write! <br /><br />@Trisha - YES! Thanks for reading the whole thing. I love seeing if readers are still paying attention near the end. ;)<br /><br />@bookspersonally - Elizabeth Gilbert seems to be high on a lot of folks' nemeses lists, so you're definitely not alone with Eat, Pray, Love. If I cared more, she'd make my list too for publishing a totally contrived "spiritual quest."Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-66630877361486410232011-05-07T10:42:05.816-05:002011-05-07T10:42:05.816-05:00@Amy - I've never read any of her novels, but ...@Amy - I've never read any of her novels, but I've never been really tempted. And your anti-Picoult passion is infectious!<br /><br />@Suzanne - Yeah, that whining about women authors and the NY Times is what landed her on my Honorable Mentions list. I've never read anything by her either. I actually have a begrudging respect for Patterson - he's a factory, but he fully admits that. <br /><br />@Ben - Looking forward to seeing that.<br /><br />@Sarah - Douche, indeed. Nicholas Sparks also landed on my Honorable Mentions list for the reasons you mention and also the fact that he tried to claim he ISN'T a romance writer. C'mon, man. I hadn't heard that about his Cross death threat on TV, but that definitely lowers him a few pegs in my book!<br /><br />@Anonymous - Your a better person than me, having trudged through both Ayn Rand novels. I have 'em both, mostly for show, but I don't think I have it in me to actually reading them. Annie Proulx is an interesting one - I know very little about her or her books. <br /><br />@lady t - John Updike isn't impressive to me, either. I read the first two Rabbit novels many moons ago, but quit after those two 'cause I was bored. And very good call on the celebs (like Madonna...or Terrell Owens!) writing children's books. That's a traveshamockery. And I'm fairly certain we know which ladies to whom you're referring. ;)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-52470691723532215932011-05-07T09:29:59.927-05:002011-05-07T09:29:59.927-05:00Dave Eggers. He wins all kinds of praise because ...Dave Eggers. He wins all kinds of praise because he's this great guy who works with kids and he donates sales from his books to good causes. And no one notices how poorly researched Zietoun is or how self-indulgent Eggers is in book after book.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906212382849291562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-50408302754070918182011-05-06T22:02:33.766-05:002011-05-06T22:02:33.766-05:00I'd have to say that my pet literary nemesis i...I'd have to say that my pet literary nemesis is almost anyone who writes a memoir about their abusive childhood and/or drug addiction. That puts Mary Karr and Jeanette Walls at the top of my list.<br />Having said that, I AM interested in Andre Dubois III new memoir, Townie, so go figure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-26752832683059410512011-05-06T18:38:01.946-05:002011-05-06T18:38:01.946-05:00JOHN GRISHAM!! yes, JOHN GRISHAM!! i used to think...JOHN GRISHAM!! yes, JOHN GRISHAM!! i used to think it was an exaggeration when people say they tossed (threw, flung) a book across a room from disgust, but i actually did it when i read the ending to The Broker. at that moment, i vowed never to read another grisham again, and i haven't. i would also add nicholas sparks (whose ego rivals that of james frey any day of the week - i live in greenville, sc where he started). thanx for letting me vent.robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430764308139527204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-40142583439102947602011-05-06T16:23:54.906-05:002011-05-06T16:23:54.906-05:00First place goes to Elizabeth Gilbert, that sancti...First place goes to Elizabeth Gilbert, that sanctimonious, self-absorbed twit. Right under her would be Jonathan Franzen and James Patterson. I get pretty bitchy when I talk about any of the three. <br /><br />Cormac? Really? I haven't read everything he has written but I think he has a great literary voice. Very unique.Sandy Nawrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-52466543929889927302011-05-06T14:30:43.879-05:002011-05-06T14:30:43.879-05:00James Patterson! For these reasons: http://literar...James Patterson! For these reasons: http://literarymusings-blog.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-in-seventeen-books-sold-are-written.htmlBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-58713428274560727932011-05-06T14:06:45.947-05:002011-05-06T14:06:45.947-05:00I can't think of any writers who really piss m...I can't think of any writers who really piss me off: not that I can justify, anyway. That almost disappoints me. Either I'm really undiscerning, really easy to please, or I haven't lived!<br /><br />I did start writing about non-people book stuff that irks me, but it became a blogpost of it's own (here: http://learningtoreadten.blogspot.com/2011/05/things-i-dont-like.html)Ben Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03308876297341347389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-47665980697207157062011-05-06T10:14:46.555-05:002011-05-06T10:14:46.555-05:00Wow. I read down the list nodding my head and chu...Wow. I read down the list nodding my head and chuckling until ... WHAM! ... you might as well have slapped me across the face with your number one. Blood Meridian is number seven on my all time list and I think it might deserve to be higher, but I'm not sure that I completely understand his genius.<br /><br />But I generally agree with your list. Thanks for pointing out the political pandering in State of Fear - I couldn't even listen to that audiobook all the way through. The same thing happened to Orson Scott Card - he's a genius of characterization when he's not trying to preach politics (see Empire).<br /><br />But there's no doubt who would be number one on my list. Elizabeth Gilbert--and not for EPL, which is trash but doesn't really offend me--it's for The Last American Man, which is hands down the worst book that I've ever read. See my review here (http://literateman.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-american-man-elizabeth-gilbert.html).Patrick (at The Literate Man)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05126952182728811711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-27618836691073003102011-05-06T06:38:30.184-05:002011-05-06T06:38:30.184-05:00Sloppy and anachronistic writing in general...Wate...Sloppy and anachronistic writing in general...Water for Elephants and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet in specific. If the author can't bother to put in the proper details and vernacular of his/her time period, shouldn't the editor be required to?Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155269771812977294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-55566609699695133192011-05-06T04:24:32.094-05:002011-05-06T04:24:32.094-05:00Mine would be Jodi Picoult, Janet Evanovich, Nicho...Mine would be Jodi Picoult, Janet Evanovich, Nicholas Sparks, and like you, Dan Brown. (I also did enjoy The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons but I wish he stopped right there!) <br /><br />Now the most annoying thing is that I actually read all their books. I'm like one of those people that are consciously aware that something's bad for them but they still do it anyway. <br /><br />Oh and as a huge HP fan, "people who protest kids reading Harry Potter books because they have magic in them..." Thank you!Jillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07629286727932554109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-3221608212923348692011-05-06T00:00:05.486-05:002011-05-06T00:00:05.486-05:00Stieg Larson and I have a standing engagement to d...Stieg Larson and I have a standing engagement to do battle over the fact that half of his mystery novels are people drinking coffee and saying boring things about the state of journalism. If his ghost doesn't come down to earth to get his ass kicked in the near future I'm going to have to go up to Swedish Heaven and get the job done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-51416912791983817722011-05-05T21:34:04.268-05:002011-05-05T21:34:04.268-05:00Well, as most of you have pointed out, Madonna is ...Well, as most of you have pointed out, Madonna is a sore point. Just because she's had children, she thinks it's time to put out a children's book. Okay, if every mother thought this way, there'd be *so* many books out there, it's not funny! <br /><br />As for the authors I've tried to love but hate? Here goes: Stephenie Meyers. She's tried to write vampire romance but got her religion involved to make the vampire love a human but not want to have a go and drink her blood... what's that? And as for her plot; there isn't a writer out there who hasn't thought of that one!<br /><br />Dan Brown. From his first book I hated his writing. I'd get into the story, then suddenly, he'd info-dump for the next three or four pages about stuff I don't want to know! Get on with the story and drop hints a few paragraphs at a time you idiot... or better still, slot it into the dialogue as something the characters find out as the readers do.<br /><br />Oh! And writers - any of them - who have written a book where they'll speed up in the first five chapters, then suddenly think it's fun to slow it all right down so the characters can have a good long think for the rest of the book! That's nice for the 1800's, but not now.<br /><br />There's a few other authors I've yet to try out to see if I like them; then I'll let you know about them soon.Mozettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-10996128906603219332011-05-05T21:02:21.203-05:002011-05-05T21:02:21.203-05:00How about Bridges of Madison County? What dreck? J...How about Bridges of Madison County? What dreck? James Frey certainly takes douchebagginess to a higher level.But you know what really ticks me off? Celebrities who publish children's books (undoubtedly ghost-written). Most egregious example? Madonna, who follows up a veritable porn-star career with a series of saccharine kiddie books. Cuz she's a MOM now. Sheesh.bibliophiliachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495943887513443615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-52786327403371942872011-05-05T19:22:51.531-05:002011-05-05T19:22:51.531-05:00Very interesting post, and will take your word on ...Very interesting post, and will take your word on skipping the last Crichton (though I, too, have enjoyed several of his others). I don't want to declare it a nemesis exactly- but I was very turned off by Eat, Pray, Love.bookspersonallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01931047825445272188noreply@blogger.com