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STAY:
1. Fresh voices. Be it a young, smart-alec teenager or geriatric major falling in love for the first time, just give me something that I haven't read in the last three books.
2. A new point of view. I want to read about characters that don't think like the crowd. I want to read about the fish out of water.
3. A thriller that can still thrill beyond what we see in the newspapers everyday or fiction that's stranger than the present day truth.
4. A true love story is timeless.
5. Editing. Every writer needs an editor. In this world of self-publishing the editing process seems to be disappearing. Not good. Very bad.
GO AWAY:
1. It's time for the vampires to jump back in the coffin. I am finished with them. They are so yesterday.
2. Ditto for zombies.
3. Alternating points of view from chapter to chapter allowing no one to remember who it is that is even narrating much less develop a relationship with a character or the story.
4. Books that are written with cliffhangers that force me into reading the 2nd in the series. I want to make that decision for myself and I don't need a cliffhanger to force me into the next in the series.
5. Long, drawn out endings. A really good book can be wrapped up in 25 to 30 pages. No one needs 100 pages to finish a story.
What do you all think? Have you noticed some of these same trends?
Funny yet thoughtful post. Yes, I second that: Go away, big green vampires and werewolves!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten list for this week:
Top Ten Trends You'd Like to See More Of
I hope you will stop by and join in Readerbuzz's August Giveaway! I'll be giving away a lovely copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares!
Man what you say is so true, I hate when they switch back and forth between different perspectives! Sometimes it works though, like in Across the Universe. I hate cliffhangers too, and we so need different paranormal creatures, none of this vamp craze anymore:D
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the long drawn out endings. So not necessary! And sometimes it makes you want to throw the book. I also agree with the romace. Sometimes a good love story is all that's needed at the moment. They'll never get old. Great list.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you set this list up--and I agree with all. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteI had Alternating POVs on my "stay" list, but I know what you mean. I have only read one book series in which the alternating POVs where really well executed, and allowed me to love all the characters and really get inside their heads. And I'd like to see more of that.
ReplyDeleteAgree on the cliffhangers, they are driving me nuts and actually often make me want to not read the next one just because I don't want to be forced.
ReplyDeleteI added vampires to my list too, Belle. I think EVERYONE is tired of them but it's taking the publishers a little while to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteLove your list and agree with all of 'em.
I really, really hate alternating points of view. Glad I'm not the only one.
Also not crazy about cliff-hanger endings.
AND the near death of editing is a very bad thing. Bad.
Had cliffhanger endings on my "less" list as well. Hate feeling manipulated into another purchase just to find out the answer to some big question!
ReplyDeleteMore editing is good! I hate hate hate sloppy editing in a finished product and there's no excuse for it
1girl2manybooks: Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI didn't take part this time but I think if I had my list would be much the same as yours. I am with you on the vampires and zombies (although I will still read them occasionally). Number 3 is a big one for me though. I just finished reading a book which was from the point of view of several different people. One or two actually did nothing for the plot. It was extremely frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAmen on zombies. They are so vile I have no idea why people dig them.
ReplyDelete