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

[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