The Worst Writer Ever?

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Originally Posted by Neely

Dan Brown has to be an obvious contender.

Made a huge amount of money from awful, awful writing. His novels also bring out really annoying people who champion them as fantastic reads.

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I'm beginning to resent people who judge anyone who liked Dan Brown. Personally, I've only read "Da Vinci Code", and for what it is (just a contemporary fiction novel) I enjoyed it. And let me add that I DESPISE "NY Times best sellers" list and the "Oprah book club"...despise them! I would never in a million years read, "Twilight", Or "Lord of the Rings". I came across Dan Brown when it first came out, and I wanted to see..I tried it, had a good time reading it, but wasn't rushing to read any other of his novels.
..However, just because I enjoyed it, doesn't mean I have less literary worth.
Dan Brown's Critics are the culprits of his ill-deserved notoriety. It's like making a big deal about how Danielle Steel is NOT a good writer. :argue:
Why do people go out of their way to point out that Dan brown is especially not a good writer?

It seems to me..(jmo) that people who do this are trying to prove how intellectually above his work they are. Who said he was such an amazing writer to begin with? It was just a great suspenseful novel. You read it, you like it...or you don't, and you put it away.
More annoying are the people who must point out, every chance they get, how Dan Brown is NOT a good writer. ugh. I can't think of anything more annoying in literary topics and conversations.

What does it say about you when you have to compare your literary status and worth to the talent (whatever that may be) of Dan brown?

I continue to be confused by this.

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Originally Posted by Pollopicu

And let me add that I DESPISE "NY Times best sellers" list and the "Oprah book club"...despise them! I would never in a million years read, "Twilight", Or "Lord of the Rings".

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First of all, LotR is not in Oprah's book club and I seriously doubt it's in the NY times best sellers list (it was written in the forties after all). Also, you list it alongside Twillight as if it is the worst trash imaginable...which I don't agree with at all.
Secondly: this comes off as very hypocritical. You say that people shouldn't judge Dan Brown and although he is new he shouldn't be treated more harshly than other modern authors (which I agree with but will get too in a second). But the part where you say "Despise them! I would never in a million years read Twilight" sounds like some serious pre-judging. Your upset that people heartlessly bash Dan Brown, yet you do the same to other books?

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Originally Posted by Pollopicu

I'm beginning to resent people who judge anyone who liked Dan Brown.

Dan Brown's Critics are the culprits of his ill-deserved notoriety. It's like making a big deal about how Danielle Steel is NOT a good writer. :argue:
Why do people go out of their way to point out that Dan brown is especially not a good writer?

More annoying are the people who must point out, every chance they get, how Dan Brown is NOT a good writer. ugh. I can't think of anything more annoying in literary topics and conversations.

What does it say about you when you have to compare your literary status and worth to the talent (whatever that may be) of Dan brown?

I continue to be confused by this.

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I agree. It seems like the majority of people on this site hate Dan Brown. Even if they disagree on every other else, they somehow agree on this.

He is hated far beyond what he should be.
He's not a bad writer. Of course he isn't a great writer either, but he makes his words flow into understandable paragraphs with fewer grammar/spelling mistakes than some other writers, his scenes are imaginable, his characters somewhat real, and he does entertain the reader. He is, in short, a much better writer than I and millions of others are (including Audrey Niffenegger and this other published author I was reading, whose name I can't remember, and whose book almost made me want to puke).
If Dickens and Dostoevsky are Grand-Masters of Literature, I would call Dan Brown a journeyman.

As for why he is picked on the most, my guess is as good as yours. Maybe it's how much his books have made. I think he has 70-90 million dollars making very skillful writers who are virtually unknown very jealous. Or it is the fact that he lied by saying the book is based on facts and millions believed him. Or it's the fact that Christians are upset about exactly what he lied about and hold a grudge against him, although I don't think it's that one because I'm pretty sure not many Christians are on this forum.

Actually, I also really want to know exactly why Dan Brown is so hated?

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Originally Posted by Pollopicu

I'm beginning to resent people who judge anyone who liked Dan Brown. Personally, I've only read "Da Vinci Code", and for what it is (just a contemporary fiction novel) I enjoyed it. And let me add that I DESPISE "NY Times best sellers" list and the "Oprah book club"...despise them! I would never in a million years read, "Twilight", Or "Lord of the Rings". I came across Dan Brown when it first came out, and I wanted to see..I tried it, had a good time reading it, but wasn't rushing to read any other of his novels.
..However, just because I enjoyed it, doesn't mean I have less literary worth.
Dan Brown's Critics are the culprits of his ill-deserved notoriety. It's like making a big deal about how Danielle Steel is NOT a good writer. :argue:
Why do people go out of their way to point out that Dan brown is especially not a good writer?

It seems to me..(jmo) that people who do this are trying to prove how intellectually above his work they are. Who said he was such an amazing writer to begin with? It was just a great suspenseful novel. You read it, you like it...or you don't, and you put it away.
More annoying are the people who must point out, every chance they get, how Dan Brown is NOT a good writer. ugh. I can't think of anything more annoying in literary topics and conversations.

What does it say about you when you have to compare your literary status and worth to the talent (whatever that may be) of Dan brown?

I continue to be confused by this.

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I would agree with you that the Dan Brown topic is becoming tiresome, because I have made my feelings clear regarding him, as well as quoting from his Da Vinci Code some truly awful writing to back up my points, several times. This is one of the reasons why I have not, and will not, comment on the new Dan Brown thread, I've really said all I want to say on the matter.

Unfortunately in this world people do make snap judgements, most people get their job within 3 seconds at an interview based on looks, as opposed to a CV, that is just the way it works, the same as you probably made a judgment of me. However, there are only few statements in terms of literature that I would make such judgements, as all considered literature is such a diverse and engaging, and complex dialogue, there are few closed opinions in literature, and I do hate any closing of dialogue (and therefore the art) but with statements of praise for Brown or "Shakespeare sucks" comments, I have to make an exception to the rule. In short I distrust those who find merit in Brown, and those who find no merit in Shakespeare.

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First of all, LotR is not in Oprah's book club and I seriously doubt it's in the NY times best sellers list (it was written in the forties after all). Also, you list it alongside Twillight as if it is the worst trash imaginable...which I don't agree with at all.

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I didn't think they were part of the popular reading clubs. I was making a point that I don't read books which happen to be popular contemporary. I can see how that came off, and I certainly don't want to be one of those kind of people.

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Secondly: this comes off as very hypocritical. You say that people shouldn't judge Dan Brown and although he is new he shouldn't be treated more harshly than other modern authors (which I agree with but will get too in a second). But the part where you say "Despise them! I would never in a million years read Twilight" sounds like some serious pre-judging. Your upset that people heartlessly bash Dan Brown, yet you do the same to other books?

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Books? yes, not people. There are many books I'll pre-judge. However i don't judge the people who read the books as do the critics of Dan Brown books. I feel like i constantly have to defend myself when I tell people i read and enjoyed DV.

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Unfortunately in this world people do make snap judgements, most people get their job within 3 seconds at an interview based on looks, as opposed to a CV, that is just the way it works, the same as you probably made a judgment of me. However, there are only few statements in terms of literature that I would make such judgements, as all considered literature is such a diverse and engaging, and complex dialogue, there are few closed opinions in literature, and I do hate any closing of dialogue (and therefore the art) but with statements of praise for Brown or "Shakespeare sucks" comments, I have to make an exception to the rule. In short I distrust those who find merit in Brown, and those who find no merit in Shakespeare.

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The thing about Dan brown is that if you read his work, and you didn't like it, I whole-heartedly respect that. You're certainly allowed not to like it. My problem only lies in the trashing of people who did enjoy his book/s. It seems unfair to be judged by one author, especially when you've read so many wonderfully acclaimed books everyone else (for the most part) agrees on. It's really a shame.
I wouldn't read Dan brown again (unless I was in prison and had a poor selection of books)
I get bored with the redundancy of the style of one author, and when I finished his book, I knew his M.O.

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Originally Posted by Pollopicu

I didn't think they were part of the popular reading clubs. I was making a point that I don't read books which happen to be popular contemporary. I can see how that came off, and I certainly don't want to be one of those kind of people.

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I know, all those horrible books Oprah keeps championing like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude and Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Anna Kerenina by Tolstoy and The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner and East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

What was she thinking forcing that crud down reader's throats? Doesn't she know those books are complete garbage! Oprah is clearly dumbing down America!

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Originally Posted by Drkshadow03

I know, all those horrible books Oprah keeps championing like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude and Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Anna Kerenina by Tolstoy and The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner and East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

What was she thinking forcing that crud down reader's throats? Doesn't she know those books are complete garbage! Oprah is clearly dumbing down America!

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I didn't say all the books she chooses are ****. I'm just saying that I wouldn't read what she thinks I should run out and read. I like to get to my own books. I like to make my own choices.

I think that I understand Pollopicu's point...There are many people out there that would go out and buy whatever Oprah may endorse no matter what it is. Some people even say that Obama won because of Oprah's endorsement. So, it's kind of like Oprah's book club represents a puppet-master situation(if you really over-exaggerate it).

It also represents the status quo, and what's cool and popular.

I don't think you should sever a relationship on the basis of a person reading and enjoying 'The Da Vinci Code'. It's ok to read crap and it also ok to enjoy it to some extent IMO.

That said, i think that there is a danger in adopting a 'Well 6 million (or however many people cant be wrong' or 'I like it so don't judge it' approach. I think Brown's success is part of a wider slide toward mediocrity and superficiality (see popular music here also) and that its important people point out his relative lack of talent. Now i know the halcyon days of Borges and Nabokov being at the top of the best-sellers lists are fantasy. But i fear that, with the way publishing is going, these mega-selling types will eventually sweep aside everything that can't compete in sales and the output of ambitious and compelling literature will dry up to nearly nothing. Alarmist maybe but why take the chance.

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Originally Posted by Desolation

I think that I understand Pollopicu's point...There are many people out there that would go out and buy whatever Oprah may endorse no matter what it is. Some people even say that Obama won because of Oprah's endorsement. So, it's kind of like Oprah's book club represents a puppet-master situation(if you really over-exaggerate it).

It also represents the status quo, and what's cool and popular.

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Wait, you don't obey everything Oprah tells you to do?! She'll soon know of this, my friend . . .

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Originally Posted by Drkshadow03

Wait, you don't obey everything Oprah tells you to do?! She'll soon know of this, my friend . . .

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I expect that the officers will come to take me to the camp by tomorrow morning.

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Originally Posted by Desolation

I expect that the officers will come to take me to the camp by tomorrow morning.

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Yes, but look at it this way, you'll get a free helicopter and ferrari under the chair of your brainwashing machine. So it's not all bad.

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Originally Posted by sixsmith

I don't think you should sever a relationship on the basis of a person reading and enjoying 'The Da Vinci Code'. It's ok to read crap and it also ok to enjoy it to some extent IMO.

That said, i think that there is a danger in adopting a 'Well 6 million (or however many people cant be wrong' or 'I like it so don't judge it' approach. I think Brown's success is part of a wider slide toward mediocrity and superficiality (see popular music here also) and that its important people point out his relative lack of talent. Now i know the halcyon days of Borges and Nabokov being at the top of the best-sellers lists are fantasy. But i fear that, with the way publishing is going, these mega-selling types will eventually sweep aside everything that can't compete in sales and the output of ambitious and compelling literature will dry up to nearly nothing. Alarmist maybe but why take the chance.

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I'm not severing a relationship because someone reads Brown, just that I wouldn't trust their critical opinion if they thought it is good. I don't really get the enjoy reading/eating/drinking crap business though, I just can't really understand it.

I don't think that the state of literature is that bad either, quality literature is not going anywhere, it is still marketable on the basis of students alone and will be into the distant future.

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Originally Posted by Desolation

I think that I understand Pollopicu's point...There are many people out there that would go out and buy whatever Oprah may endorse no matter what it is. Some people even say that Obama won because of Oprah's endorsement. So, it's kind of like Oprah's book club represents a puppet-master situation(if you really over-exaggerate it).

It also represents the status quo, and what's cool and popular.

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In Britain, we have the Richard and Judy book club, which is filled with the latest popular trash that you'd pick up cheap to read on a plane. They never recommend classics.

Umm...book clubs aside, I think Neil Gaimen is the worst writer ever, even though there seem to a lot of people who love him.:( Stardust was a huge let down, and I didn't feel the least incentive to finish American Gods. My Muse just doesn't like him.

Oh come now! Stardust wasn't his best,( and don't even get me started on how the film is a completly different story) but American Gods was good, as was Neverwhere ( although on concideration I preffer the tv series or rather watching the tv series helps makes sense of thinsg tahat didnt makes sense in the book, but that was probably becasue the tv series came first) and Anasi Boys, loved that.. Actually American Gods was really good. And Graveyard tale was great fun too.