Word of mouth

[wayfaringwordhack]

I'm curious: How many of you have stumbled on a now-favorite author because of word of mouth?  Anyone care to mouth off here about someone they think others should be reading? Conversely, have you ever been let down by a book that your friends raved and gushed about? I say friends because I'm assuming we've all, now and then, vehemently disagreed with the quality, interest, and readability of established bestsellers.

Comments

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

I started the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian (19th Century naval adventure) because of amy34's suggestion, and I love them.

Conversely, I heard The Name of the Wind by Parick Rothfuss talked up at Worldcon and in the blogosphere, but I'm a hundred pages in and unconvinced.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Interesting to hear about Name of the Wind because I was considering looking into it because of the talking up. I've also heard that the story is pretty...hmm, don't want to say cliché...but that the voice is what makes it worthwhile. Has that been your experience?

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

My problem is more that I find the MC too high above the common lot of humanity and I don't feel like reading about him.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

That's a good thing to keep in mind when creating characters, especially the MC.

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Kage Baker's The Garden of Iden was literally placed into my hands with a "you must must MUST read this," and the series (though the latter books are iffy) has become something of a holy grail in the kind of quality I aspire to.

Conversely, I am underwhelmed by everything Neil Gaiman does. Yes, even that one. Yes, even that one. People need to stop it.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

pjthompson has often mentioned these on her Goodreads account. Looks like something I may have to check out. :P

I liked Gaiman's Neverwhere, American Gods less so, and found Stardust to be outright meh.

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Are you on GoodReads? Wanna be buddies? ;)

I liked Neverwhere. Well, I thought it had potential. I feel like he's a very good prose stylist with little emotional follow-through; everything is nicely worded but I am unmoved.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

YES! That's exactly how I would describe him. In the end, I don't care much for any of his characters, but I do enjoy the prose ride. Not being moved, however, means that I'm not very likely to give the books a second read. I will also only recommend the book specifically to fellow writers so that they can study the prose.

And yep, I'm on GoodReads and would love to be your buddy. I believe my very original handle is Miquela Faure. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, not exactly a favourite, but definitely an author I've enjoyed: Robin Hobb. Recommended by you and Rabia, I believe. :)

My favourite author was discovered through embarassing lazy and non-intellectual reasoning from my side: "Oh what an interesting title and cover - and look! It's thin!"

Let down...yup, several times by books my brother-in-law and mother-in-law raved about. He no longer buys me books, I'm just not a chick-lit girl. *lol*

...and I didn't like "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel".

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Not by Rabia! :P She only has the books because I bought them for her and she never told me that she liked (or even if she read them for that matter. :P )

You know I need to read Soucy in English to see if I can appreciate him. He was really a no-go for me in French.

In any case, like PJ said, reading really is an "each to her own" field. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Nor Rabia eh? Must have been either Holly, Jodi or Jo then. :)

Definitely try Soucy in English. I know you like dark, gritty, horrifying stuff, so in theory, you should like the books by him that I've read.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It was Jo, most likely. She's a huge Hobb fan, too. :)

[pjthompson]

None of my faves, no. But then, I'm a perverse creature and I tend to shy away from books that everyone raves about or tells me I must read. That's why it took me so long to read Diana Gabaldon's book. Now I must read the others.

Who do I think others should be reading? The aforementioned Kage Baker, I guess. I also hate to tell people what they should read because reading is such an individual thing and tricky. Who I'm really enjoying now would be a better question...Lilith Saintcrow (urban, fantasy, but not urban-fantasy--unique), Sandra McDonald's Outback novels (absolutely loved those). I know I'm forgetting others, but...

Have I ever been let down by a book others gushed about? Yes, frequently. See above about reading taste being such an individual thing. I never take it personally when someone doesn't like a book I've recommended because I know how individual it can be. I have, of course, been mystified that someone doesn't agree with my incredible good taste. :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

You perverse creature, you! I actually tend to be the same way if the book (or movie) is something viewed as WOW by all the masses near and far.