No, I've not seen that. I know there are stories and films out there (My Beautiful Laundrette springs to mind, and The Buddah of Suburbia). I hated Queer As Folk, it was so misrepresentational. My own novel is full of many horrible characters, and flys in the face of someone being 'good' just because they are 'gay'. Sorry to have gone off on a bit of a tangent. Pet hate and all that.

I hate it when I love a book, and pass it on, only to be met with a puzzled stare and a 'you really liked this crap'?

Oh, Walking on Glass by Ian Banks. Love all the others, thought that one was headache inducing.

JB

I can't remember the last time I gave up on a book, although there have been some where I nearly did. Larry Niven's Rainbow Mars is one that comes to mind. The narrative was terse and minimalist to the point of being almost incomprehensible in places, in stark contrast to all of his other stuff that I've read. It was almost as if he felt he was a big enough "name" that he didn't have to bother anymore.

There are books that I won't read because of feeling they're being hyped (e.g. all of the Harry Potter saga), and there are some authors whose books I started reading only to discover that I didn't really get on with them. Two examples of this are Martina Cole and Douglas Adams. I found Martina Cole too depressingly violent and EastEnders-like, and Douglas Adams' humour was too forced for my taste. I read 3 books from each of these authors before deciding I didn't like them, so at least I gave them a fair chance.


Alex

Me too, JB. I love Iain Banks, but just cannot get through this one... So glad I'm not the only one!

JennyWren

Larry Niven's Rainbow Mars is one that comes to mind.

Glad I wasn't the only one that found the book sub-par. I read it through to the end solely becasue I was on the Larry Niven Mailing List at the time. I also thought that the last two Ringworld novels were anything but exemplary. Lucifer's Hammer or Protector on the other hand can still engage me on the fifth read.

I've not read any Iain Banks yet. It's one of those authors I keep meaning to try out some day. Most recently I've been sidetracked by absorbing all of Ian Rankin's novels instead.

I've read a few Iain Banks novels, and usually find them hard going, but nice to reflect upon. Espedair Street was good, but I think Dead Air is my personal favourite. I tried re-reading The Wasp Factory recently and ended up chucking it under the bed. I found the voice totally frustrating. Maybe the magic only works once with that one.

Colin

I've read all of Banks's work apart from his Culture novels the genre I write in. I loved Whit and identified with it a lot, I also thought Dead Air was great. The bits when he is locked in that guy's house is just terrific tension by any standards, and had me literally gripping the book, breathless with apprehension. I also loved the whole page dedicated to a very small swear word.

I have a friend who, try as she might, cannot read my stuff. She says there's nothing wrong with it, but she can't stop imagining my voice as she'd reading it. Charming. Anyone else come across that problem - can people be too close to you as a writer to enjoy a story objectively?

JB

<Added>

That was weird. I'm sure I typed 'which is strange because it is kind of the genre I write in'.

I also loved the whole page dedicated to a very small swear word.

As I recall, it had its very own chapter!

(ooooh, nearly Christmas!!)

I have a very kind friend who said she couldn't criticise because she got too engrossed in the story. Wonderful! She did say there was one comment a character made where she could hear my voice - but she liked it.

I gave my brother my first three chapters to read and he said nothing at all - I'd rather he'd said anything! My sister said it flowed well and there was a full stop missing somewhere but she couldn't remember where.

Latest enthusiastic comments from family on my work include "I quite liked it". Oh good!

Of the ten or so people I breathlessly sent sample chapters to in the first flush of excitement - "Hey look - I've written a book -isn't it amazing?" several ignored me, others made polite comments and two got enthusiastic and kept reading.

I do wonder sometimes if my family regard my writing as an eccentricity I will grow out of if everyone pretends I'm not doing it?

OK - to be fair, I'm exaggerating but I think people who think they know you well are surprised as much as anything by what you write - "is it chicklit?"

Sarah

I do wonder sometimes if my family regard my writing as an eccentricity I will grow out of if everyone pretends I'm not doing it?

I hear ya

JB

Me too. I got used to people thinking I was eccentric while I was at school getting good academic results. Between that, working in software development and writing, I think I've yet to do anything that is deemed worthy of "street-cred" by the general British populace. All the things that people are saying here about reactions to writing apply equally to having a physics degree or developing software. I could sum it up as, "Good for you. Now, I must go and talk to someone about soaps/football/cricket/(insert fashionable pastime here), if you'll excuse me."


Alex

can people be too close to you as a writer to enjoy a story objectively?

I think anything is read very differently by people who know you, though I haven't had anyone yet say they didn't enjoy it because they knew me too well. (But then I don't give my work to many non-writers anyway, having learnt how damagingly their reactions can skew my own judgement). When I was a drama student, an audience made up of the department was very different from one that was largely other people - all sorts of things had different overtones, and the laughs came in completely different places.

Emma

You are all so right!

I know they don't mean it...

My brother does write - I think his stuff is "more accessible" than mine.

Loved the "insert fashionable pastime here".

Back to the Christmas card list - "it's last posting day, you know." Well I make it a matter of honour not to rush these things.

Thanks for making me smile, everyone!

Sarah

<Added>

I should say, different to mine.

Thinking about it - neither of us can be objective about the other's work. Part of the reason I like his writing so much is probably because I hear his voice in it. So in this case we are too close to each other's writing.

Sibling rivalry? Nah

Well I make it a matter of honour not to rush these things.

Like a game of chicken? Or should it be called "turkey" at this time of year? See who blinks first and sends out their cards. I lost - sent them all out about 3 weeks ago.


Alex

(My first time on here, so first off: Hi everyone!)

I have to admit that I can't remember the last book I gave up on. I tend to stick with something even if it means struggling for weeks. I hope I can gain something from even the most tiring slog through the most impenetrable prose.

Having said that I have so far been reading David Foster Wallaces 'Infinite Jest' for... well it must be several years now. If you're not familiar with it, it's a 1000 page mammoth about a video tape that's so compelling you die watching it. Or so I gather. Haven't got that far yet, but that's hardly my fault because when I asked for it all those xmas' ago I assumed I'd get the nice lightweight paperback edition... but no. I got the back-breaking, fellow-train-passenger annoying hardback.

But other than that, I'll finish anything.

Hello from me, Martin, and welcome. (I sound like David Frost, all of a sudden.)

it's a 1000 page mammoth about a video tape that's so compelling you die watching it

That is just so funny as the subject of a book you're having trouble finishing! Are you sure it's the video, and not the book, that sees people off?


Alex