who is the most overrated writer ever?

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I'll second!

I must agree with PabloQ that such one-line comments are completely useless... if not inane. "That Mozart guy was over-rated" "Yeah, and Raphael couldn't hold a candle to Bob Ross".:rolleyes: Personal opinions are fine... but when they seemingly contradict the opinions of generations of literary figures: writers, critics, scholars, literature lovers... then it would seem that one might feel somewhat obliged to offer up something along the line of reasoning behind such blanket statements. You feel Nathaniel Hawthorne is over-rated? Why? What books have you read by him? Who would you compare him with by way of comparison and contrast. I find it interesting that JBI got taken to task for having taken the time to offer up a reasoned analysis of why he didn't like the harry Potter novels... but we still get these continual comments dismissing Hawthorne, Hemingway, Joyce, Proust, and the like.

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I'll second!

I must agree with PabloQ that such one-line comments are completely useless... if not inane. "That Mozart guy was over-rated" "Yeah, and Raphael couldn't hold a candle to Bob Ross".:rolleyes: Personal opinions are fine... but when they seemingly contradict the opinions of generations of literary figures: writers, critics, scholars, literature lovers... then it would seem that one might feel somewhat obliged to offer up something along the line of reasoning behind such blanket statements. You feel Nathaniel Hawthorne is over-rated? Why? What books have you read by him? Who would you compare him with by way of comparison and contrast. I find it interesting that JBI got taken to task for having taken the time to offer up a reasoned analysis of why he didn't like the harry Potter novels... but we still get these continual comments dismissing Hawthorne, Hemingway, Joyce, Proust, and the like.

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couldn't have said it better myself! :thumbs_up

Meh, I'll say that outside of perhaps The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne isn't that great. Just try reading The Great Stone Face without being bored to tears by the long predictable drone of the tale.

Still, not the most overrated ever - tastes differ of course.

I would say, perhaps Poe or someone would be more overrated. Hawthorne is only remembered pretty much for a handful of stories and one novel anyway.

Neither did I, but I've checked it once on IMDB.

Do I have to dislike some author's books to say she's overrated? Because I love Harry Potter -books but I do think J.K. Rowling might be a little overrated. I mean obviously she has a great imagination but still I don't really get how it has got so popular.

J D Salinger

Why? His reputation is built on ONE book for heaven's sake. A book I hated with a deep passion. His protagonist has nothing to say to me, there's no common ground between us. He moves through a landscape I don't recognise, meeting people I cannot believe in. Thats the plot, as for his writing, its adequate nothing more. Where's the body of work so that we can judge him and compare him with others? What is there to go on? a few forgettable short stories and a couple of mediocre novellas.
There, rant over.

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Originally Posted by prendrelemick

J D Salinger

Why? His reputation is built on ONE book for heaven's sake. A book I hated with a deep passion. His protagonist has nothing to say to me, there's no common ground between us. He moves through a landscape I don't recognise, meeting people I cannot believe in. Thats the plot, as for his writing, its adequate nothing more. Where's the body of work so that we can judge him and compare him with others? What is there to go on? a few forgettable short stories and a couple of mediocre novellas.
There, rant over.

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I originally had a response drawn out about wanting to punch you in the face, etc., but I thought it would be better to just leave it out. I don't believe a small body of work should be taken into consideration when discussing who's overrated and who isn't.

Would you say the same about Harper Lee, who has even LESS out..? Or John Kennedy Toole who has only written one novel, that just so happened to have won the Pulitzer Prize, that is one of the most original, genius bodies of literature I've ever had the pleasure of reading?

It is one thing to dislike a writing style or the premise of a novel, but to discredit someone's like-ability because of the amount they've written is absolutely absurd.

How do you think I feel? Salinger is my favorite author and he teases us with one novel and a bunch of shorter stuff. All the while, everyone knows he has 50 years of writing locked away in filing cabinets, waiting for him to die before they're published.

But to answer the OP's question, my vote goes to Kerouac... I don't mind stream of conscious writing; in fact, I really enjoy it. My problem is he does a terrible job of it. The story could be extremely interesting, but I get the feeling I'm reading the cliff-notes version of his journey. I had to struggle to keep myself interested.

And I hate to say it, but Nabokov. The opening lines of Lolita are genius... in fact, I'd say one of my all-time favorites. However, the quality of writing falls off a cliff, with some exceptions of brilliance. The ability is there, but it doesn't shine through on every page.

EDIT: Just to clarify re: Toole - He has another novel called The Neon Bible; however, it was written when he was 16 and only published years after his death, due to the immense pressure from other family members who wanted to cash in on their ownership rights.

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Originally Posted by islandclimber

Yeah, I don't really see Proust as being difficult or tedious.. Mind you I have only read in translation but still.. I thought In Search of Lost Time was amazing.. One of my favourite books..
I agree with you though.. If you go by academic circles you really can't say an author is overrated, maybe you just can say you didn't enjoy that work, or understand it.. I know there are famous authors I don't like in the slightest.. but I still don't view them as overrated really, just not my cup of tea... ;)

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This being the first day of a period of time I have set aside for reading In Search of Lost Time, is reassuring. Tho I have read the first two volumes a LONG time ago and am not detered by Prousts style at all since it IS a work of art we are talking about here. That is what distinguishes literature from commercial entertainment. Proust's unprecedented exploration of how we experience the self as it moves through time requires his style. One of the definitions of art is the concept of form and substance as being unified.

I find readership of literature who's expectations are foremost to be entertained, boring and tedious. ( As per the martyred rock god who railed against the overweening need to be entertained...)

In My HO, as I attempt to appreciate a work that is generally accepted as literary art, it is for sure is excusable to be put off by subject content or ideas expressed that does not rest well with my personal mores or taste...but if I do not otherwise "connect" (in Forster's sense of the word), it is a failure on my part, not the authors...

How's that for venting :rage:

If any author has been claimed to be "the best", then maybe in a sense he's overrated.

Writers that I didn't enjoy as much as the hype made me expect to include Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Franz Kafka (although Metamorphosis redeemed him somewhat) John Steinbeck and Vladimir Nabokov.

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Originally Posted by EAP

Dostovesky.

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:bawling:

I guess Twilight is not a classic XD (Thank God!) but so many people are reading these books nowadays.. and I don't like the way it's written... there's nothing special in it :S For me, she writes similar to other american writers, like R.L.Stine...

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I'll second!

I must agree with PabloQ that such one-line comments are completely useless... if not inane. "That Mozart guy was over-rated" "Yeah, and Raphael couldn't hold a candle to Bob Ross".:rolleyes: Personal opinions are fine... but when they seemingly contradict the opinions of generations of literary figures: writers, critics, scholars, literature lovers... then it would seem that one might feel somewhat obliged to offer up something along the line of reasoning behind such blanket statements. You feel Nathaniel Hawthorne is over-rated? Why? What books have you read by him? Who would you compare him with by way of comparison and contrast. I find it interesting that JBI got taken to task for having taken the time to offer up a reasoned analysis of why he didn't like the harry Potter novels... but we still get these continual comments dismissing Hawthorne, Hemingway, Joyce, Proust, and the like.

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Looking back, I'll say this on my choice selection which others have unpleasantly (on my part) acknowledged I have left out. I consider Hawthorne an overrated writer due to the fact that his motifs that have been integrated throughout the work The Scarlet Letter. Children, nature, the struggle between good and evil, and what should be considered social appropriate was better phrased by Shakespeare before Hawthorne and virtually blown out of league with both of your aforementioned authors, Joyce and Proust. Two individuals who I happen to appreciate the depth of their prose. Both are known either way, whether you enjoy their prose or not. Both have attempted a new form to show correlation between reality and thought and even have expressed the motifs Hawthorne had, which I've already expressed, only these other two authors were able to show flexibility. So when comparing Hawthorne to Joyce, what has Hawthorne done? Essentially nothing in my personal opinion and the same can be said or Orwell whose allegorical expression could have been soaked with literary hostilities and have that be the charge of new world orders in discussions. Ah well, it's mere food for thought.

[QUOTE=Mag Master 21;667523]I originally had a response drawn out about wanting to punch you in the face, etc., but I thought it would be better to just leave it out. I don't believe a small body of work should be taken into consideration when discussing who's overrated and who isn't.

Would you say the same about Harper Lee, who has even LESS out..? Or John Kennedy Toole who has only written one novel, that just so happened to have won the Pulitzer Prize, that is one of the most original, genius bodies of literature I've ever had the pleasure of reading?

It is one thing to dislike a writing style or the premise of a novel, but to discredit someone's like-ability because of the amount they've written is absolutely absurd.

How do you think I feel? Salinger is my favorite author and he teases us with one novel and a bunch of shorter stuff. All the while, everyone knows he has 50 years of writing locked away in filing cabinets, waiting for him to die before they're published.

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Its OK Mag Master, my post was entirely a personal rant. Your points are well made and probably pertinent. Well done for defending your favourite author.

I wasn't trying to discredit his like-ability, just his "rating". If his fifty years of unpublished stuff is brilliant, fair enough, he'll confirm the exalted place he holds. If its disappointing then he's overrated, a one hit wonder.

Harper Lee is overrated. Everyone drones on and on about how brilliant Mockingbird is when it is fairly bland and preachy.

I think that Lolita is one of the best examples of writing I have ever read. And he totally thrashes some English authors and it's not his first language!

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

I think that Lolita is one of the best examples of writing I have ever read. And he totally thrashes some English authors and it's not his first language!

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English was Nabokov's first language. He spoke both English and French before he started learning Russian at age eight. Nabokov also trashed many Russian writers.

stephen king

Dante Alighieri

John Updike and Saul Bellows


Tim O'Brien too.

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Originally Posted by jon1jt

Dante Alighieri

John Updike and Saul Bellows


Tim O'Brien too.

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Strange combination there.

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Originally Posted by jon1jt

Dante Alighieri

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Just curious. Why?

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Originally Posted by PeterL

English was Nabokov's first language. He spoke both English and French before he started learning Russian at age eight. Nabokov also trashed many Russian writers.

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That makes him even cooler! :)

Stephanie Meyer; William Golding

Meyer's writing is awful: 'The pizza held no interest for me.'

Who writes things like that?!

Conrad (Nabokov called his style "souvenir shop")
Hemingway
Golding

Stephenie Meyer and JD Salinger. The latter is good but definately overrated.

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

Meyer's writing is awful: 'The pizza held no interest for me.'

Who writes things like that?!

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Yeah, she's trying to be all writing technique-y, but it's just really cliche-y and wasted on that. It just sounds overdramatic, unless if she was saying it in a jokey way. It would be good if it was something other than a pizza!

Personifying the pizza as a work of art - that's priceless. That's just plain old stupid - food "doesn't hold interest." It makes one crave.

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Originally Posted by Allannah

Yeah, she's trying to be all writing technique-y, but it's just really cliche-y and wasted on that. It just sounds overdramatic, unless if she was saying it in a jokey way. It would be good if it was something other than a pizza!

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And this wonderful phrase is used again, maybe even in the same book: The book held no interest for me.

Because that phrase sounds SO fabulous that it clearly MUST be used again.

Gorky Maxim

Paolo Cuelho.

Hemingway... I just find him so dry and vapid. Even his short stories do not intrigue. Hemingway is of no interest to me. haha ;)

oh and I might just agree with Conrad. Though I see the value in his literary endeavors, or why Heart of Darkness was groundbreaking/popular.

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Originally Posted by Brendan Madley

Jane Austen is not overated; she is a brilliant novelist, it's just she wrote in the old ways, meaning that today her merit is not as greatly revered. I would like to contribute Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway.

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Mark Twain? Now that's sacrilege...

Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyer was reall dry, and too consticted; I felt that there was no flow. I like the actual story, but if the prose was a bit more interesting, I would have really liked it.
Oh, yes, Meyer definetly. 'Stifled a gasp' is in a book that is considered literature! Flat characters, and everything, I mean... come on.

I can mention D H Lawrence? In my frank opinion, he was nothing more than a glorified smut peddler, with all the artisitc skill and integrity of road-kill. He is noticed merely because he is shocking, and for no other reason!

Three names keep recurring- Hemingway, Jane Austen and Kerouac.

My vote goes to Hemingway. I don't think he was a bad novelist, just overrated. Kerouac is not really overrated because he's generally considered good pop lit rather than University reading list material.

Twain, Hemingway

And also, with all the King mentions, I think it's only fair to list Lovecraft (who may have already been mentioned---I didn't read all 45 pages....)

Hemingway (for his dry and lackluster prose) and quite possibly Chekhov... I just don't see the appeal in his stories. Not that they are bad or have no merit (in fact I can even sometimes enjoy reading one), but he is always termed as the master of the short story, and I can name a hundred short story writers that are better and have much more substance to their stories. Chekhov's stories do not speak to me, and in fact they rarely say anything... at times they seem so pointless (or so obvious). But maybe I am missing the point?

Sorry, Hemingway, but I can't get into your books :) Whilst I admire that you get to the point, it's kind of hard to read something like that. x

It is amazing how many times Hemingway has been chosen! As far as I know, his reputation among scholars and academics is quite low.

Faulkner!!i just don't get him!i struggle to read his novels just to find myself puzzled at the end,not being quite sure what it was about!

My nomination would be Henry Miller. Seriously. Maybe I'm missing the point of his work, but surely producing a scandal shouldn't be all there is to it...

Hawthorne - at least House of the Seven Gables really vexed me. I think there was something there, but could never quite place it. Maybe I was too young, it was some years ago, but if I try it again and it has a similar effect, I don't know what I may be driven to do...