tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post7995331254648308597..comments2024-03-11T00:52:06.529+10:30Comments on MYSTERIES in PARADISE: Never mind the quality, feel the widthKerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-85560758919829036792008-09-22T06:56:00.000+09:302008-09-22T06:56:00.000+09:30As you mentioned, sci-fi and fantasy readers have ...As you mentioned, sci-fi and fantasy readers have become accustomed to large books, mainly because a whole new world has to be explained within the pages. However, I found myself skipping long passages in either the 6th or 7th Harry Potter where Rowling kept talking about them traveling from place to place. I was a big fan of the series, but I draw the line at extensive descriptions of the landscape in any book.<BR/><BR/>I don't tend to think about the length of a book unless it is unexpected. For instance, I put "A Hopeless Romantic" on reserve at the library. When I picked it up, I was surprised to see that it was over 500 pages. From the description I had read, I thought it was one of those light chick-lit books so I didn't expect any more that 250 pages. I don't ever expect contemporary young adult novels to be long, either.Dani In NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15032707452740200776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-17908637323757334272008-09-22T02:41:00.000+09:302008-09-22T02:41:00.000+09:30Very intriguing questions, Kerrie. I think looking...Very intriguing questions, Kerrie. I think looking back at the books I've read this year, including-- but maybe especially mysteries-- the bulk of the books I've read have been on the shorter side: under 300 pages. I think sometimes I have a bit of ADD and when a book is over 300 pages, I have to really focus, which is hard for me to do. Sometimes, though, I know the authors were paid by the word-- as with Dickens, who wrote serials-- and I think he could have used an editor. Anyway, just my rambling thoughts on the subject. Thanks for bringing it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-5713065699099225342008-09-22T00:54:00.000+09:302008-09-22T00:54:00.000+09:30Kerrie you made me look up the number of pages in ...Kerrie you made me look up the number of pages in my current read but I will forgive you as you quoted me. ;o)<BR/>406 pages and I just can't get interested in this one I am 60 pages in and would normally be about on page 200 by now. <BR/>I think it is all about the quality of the writing and getting the reader interested enough to face a long book. I baulk at the idea of reading 500 pages of some writers but Nesbo for instance can pile on the pages for me.Uriah Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02046023583067265187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-87423164096197480822008-09-21T23:01:00.000+09:302008-09-21T23:01:00.000+09:30Having finished an ARC of A Toss of a Lemon that h...Having finished an ARC of A Toss of a Lemon that has just now hit the bookstores at 600+ pages, I sympathize. I noted in my review in delicate fashion, how readers needed to prepare for a tome of epic size. <BR/>Honestly, the novel was too long and would have been enhanced by a shorter version. At times the writing was painfully detailed. I took your poll.<BR/>I'm curious too.wisteriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02620398484256424032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-57598001426977238232008-09-21T16:10:00.000+09:302008-09-21T16:10:00.000+09:30Michael Robotham made an interesting point in one ...Michael Robotham made an interesting point in one of the presentations he gave that for one of his novels, the publisher actually asked for more content.<BR/><BR/>However I suspect that the publishing firms like many other businesses have put the editors in charge of more authors, and they simply don't devote the time to actually editing that they used to.<BR/><BR/>I would imagine that Elizabeth george and Reginald Hill would be pretty intimidatory too. <BR/><BR/>I would be interested in responses from authors who are relatively new ot the game.Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-87451064898281290702008-09-21T15:49:00.000+09:302008-09-21T15:49:00.000+09:30I was discussing the size issue this morning with ...I was discussing the size issue this morning with my 13-year old niece who is a keen reader and we agreed that the quality of the Harry Potter series is inversly proportional to the size of the books (which got progressively longer over the series). My niece suggested that as Rowling became more popular the publishers/editors were intimidated and less likely to critique her work with the result that the dross that was edited out in the earlier volumes was left in for the later works. I suspect there's some truth in that for all genres.<BR/><BR/>I am not the world's biggest Tim Winton fan but I will give him credit for telling his stories with a brevity that is rare these days. His latest novel, Breath, is 224 pages. There should be an award for that :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com