I keep walking past Fifty Shades of Gray in my local supermarket and thinking 'Don't jump on the bandwagon!' But I'm interested in the fact a lot of the critics say it's not well-written. It's not the sort of book I would usually read, so I have been avoiding it, but I saw the author interviewed on Newsnight last week and she was asked about whether it was properly edited. She started a sentence and paused. The interviewer asked her another question so she was saved from answering properly, but it looked as if she was trying to say it was appraised rather than copy-edited, or that it was edited by a friend rather than a professional.
So I just keep thinking 'How badly written?' Is it as bad as its generic front cover? (I might well have succumbed earlier if the cover wasn't so bad.) Hmm, think I might have to give in and buy it tomorrow. Have you bought it?
I agree with both previous comments. I don't know the book you mention but if you hesitate about buying it, why not get a copy form the library - they will order most books for a small fee.
While reading the best - however you define "best" can be helpful in improving your own writing, occasionally reading something really badly written and poorly edited with numerous mistakes can be encouraging - at least my stuff is better than that!
I picked up a book recently at a craft fair that was really badly written and presented. I'm saving it to use as an example of what not to do in creative writing groups or classes!
Likewise Louise.
I do not believe in teaming up with th masses.
I am dismayed at the lack of quality on supermarket shelves. Ghost-written autobiographies of twenty something year-olds. And spare me those vacuos celebrities.
Am I in the minority who have never read Harry Potter or seen any of the films. But then again, I do not have a television, but I still would not watch if I had one.
I have better things to do with my time. Like Louise, I have a stock pile of books to read. About seventy at the last count. I am constantly adding quality books to my collection.
I read ruthlessly. I am only interested in books by award winning authors. I tend to read a lot of Carnegie Medal winners and runners up.
I believe you can vastly improve as a writer by reading the best there is out there.