James Patterson - Your Thoughts?

[Grit]

James Patterson is an incredibly wealthy and successful writer. There can be no argument about that.

I'm curious what you think about the quality of his writing. I was just reading Kill Alex Cross, the first book I've ever read of his and I was struck by the oddity of something. There are an insane amount of chapters. I'm on page 134 and it's chapter 43. That's roughly an average of three pages a chapter. Those are some really short little guys.

Then there's the constant POV shifts. There are usually only a few chapters focused on a character, and then it shifts to another. Many of these characters are bad guys, and in a suspense based crime novel, it's not all that suspenseful to know what the bad guys are up to.

Then there's the fact the main character Alex Cross is written in first person while every other character is written in third. It's jarring to switch styles that drastically in such short bursts so frequently.

I'm not saying I don't like the book, I'm enjoying it fine. It's good, nothing special but not bad either. Still, I'm curious what you guys think.

Thoughts on James Patterson as a writer?

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/03/30/james-patterson-explains-his-why-his-books-sell-like-crazy/

I just read this and it adds some perspective. He doesn't even write them, he probably didn't write this one. What do y'all think about that writing style?

[chrisvia]

Along with Dean Koontz and other writers who employ a "copy & paste" method for quickly releasing novels, i.e. fulfilling publisher contracts, I am not a very big fan; but I will also not waste time tearing them down because there is definitely a place for them.

I believe that literature like this is made for the same purpose as big-budget Hollywood movies: catharsis. The point is for the viewer/reader to simply sit back and take a break from life and physical/mental effort and simply enjoy being dazzled by a story. I, myself, have gorged on Stephen King and, to a more extreme extent, Richard Laymon for this very purpose!

In my opinion, short chapters provide a quick sense of accomplishment for readers who don't have a lot of time to devote to reading.

[qimissung]

What he said. I recently read one, over Christmas I believe. It's kind of like drinking down a glass of cold chocolate milk. Tasty, but little (if any) nutritive value.

If he doesn't actually write them, how can he put his name on them? That doesn't seem right, somehow.