Novels are Dead

[david13]

Because truth is stranger than fiction.
I ordered (e trade) Barack's book, the one about his father ($10.50, well, ok, used.)
I want to read this story. A man comes here from Kenya, and his son becomes president of the United States. How could fiction compete with that.
Also, I would like to know about his relationship with his father.
And how it compares or contrasts with my relationship with my father, age 91 (voted for Obama.)
Anyway, why would I spend my time reading fiction when I can read true stories like this.
(I read a book or two a week.)
dc

[babylonsister]

1. You read a book or two a week and haven't read Obama's? What

do you read? It's a great book.

I bought that book new for I think $13.95, but new or used, it will illuminate your opinion of our new president. And it sounds like you have a much better relationship with your father than President Obama did. :)

And PS, your subject line sucks. I love novels.

[Marrah_G]

5. I read about a book a week

and I haven't read Obamas book either. Just not the sort of book I enjoy. I am a big fan of Sci-fi and historical novels.

[FrenchieCat]

22. Obama's first book reads like a novel, IMO.....

and it is so well written, you are there with him in Indonesia and Hawaii and New York and Chicago!

[david13]

9. Novels

suck to me. You can have each and every one, more for you, I won't take any from you.
I have no idea if my relationship is now/was earlier better or worse than Obama. I know Obama had problems but so did I.
He sees maybe to have 'turned out' better than me.
But, I'm not dead. So.
To me, novels are dead. Anybody else can have any novel they want. Go for it.
dc

[MADem]

18. Pardon me--I put this in the wrong place. NT

[uppityperson]

23. I haven't read it yet either, am on the list at the library to eventually get it.

I would like to find out more about the President, but must wait in line.

[Marrah_G]

2. The reason for reading novels is very different from why one would read a biography

Novels are far from dead.

[JI7]

6. yes, i rarely read autobiographies, including of people i like

i haven't read the clintons, Obama or most other recent figures.

i think i also prefer it when someone else writes the book and it's more of a research for them. and this is usually of people who are no longer around.

[Missy Vixen]

3. That's your opinion, David

Those of us who write novels are happy to say that there's lots of the buying public that don't agree with you.

Julie

[david13]

8. Conflict of

interest. Conflict of interest.
dc

[david13]

11. Absolutely

I don't say nobody else should have novels. Or write them. More power to you, may all your books sell more than you can imagine. And bring you more joy (and money) than you hoped for.
What I am saying is they are not for me.
Like Harley Davidson. It is just not the motorcycle for me.
dc

[Garbo 2004]

Ergo, novels aren't dead as you asserted. They're just not for you. Which was not your OP. nt

[Fireweed247]

26. What kind of novels do you write?

We buy hundreds of books every year, mostly book lots from ebay. I can't keep the kids in enough books...

[Missy Vixen]

28. Romance novels

How old are the kids? The young adult market's booming right now. I'm only sorry I didn't write "Twilight", that's for sure!

Thanks for buying books for your kids! :hug:
Julie

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. HEY!!!

I write fiction, so don't say things like that. I'm delicate. I might faint.

Remember the old saying, "Life imitates art"? Joseph Wambaugh said it far better when he said, "Life imitates melodrama."

There are some things that are so improbable, if I tried to put them into a work of fiction, my agent and editor would be all in my face with their "It's just not believable" protestations. But, I've also written stuff that they've come back to me and said that they never in their lives thought anything like that could happen.

One incident involved a hearse blowing up during a funeral procession. And then the substitute hearse blew up. And then that really happened during a funeral attended by one of the junior editors at my publisher's.

Vindication is sweet.

But, I am thrilled to find someone who reads like you do, regardless of what you read. Kudos, pal.

:toast:

[DeepBlueC]

7. Correction: novels are dead to you

Around here they are hale and vigorous and very good company. :D

[seabeyond]

10. i read a book every day or two. all fiction. and fun.... love them so. glad you

enjoy reading too.

[seabeyond]

12. gotta say david, i am seeing a pattern. you make choices in life and decide

they are best for all of us cause it is what you chose.

not the way it works

[david13]

14. You are reading into it

something I did not say. I didn't say they are dead for you. I didn't say you couldn't read or write whatever you want.
Just like if I say I don't like Harley Davidson, that doesn't mean you can't buy one and ride it, now does it?
It only means I am not going to buy one and ride it.
The pattern may be that you don't think I can have or state my opinion. Of course it only applies to me, that goes without saying, or to say it, I didn't say it is best for you, did I?
dc

[Garbo 2004]

16. "Novels are dead" is your thread title. Not "I don't like novels." nt

[Oregone]

13. Ah, so great literature is only about the story?

Not how it is told, and what techniques are employed while doing so? Thats a short sighted evaluation of the value of "books".

[david13]

15. That is not what I said.

Not even close.
dc

[DeltaLitProf]

17. You'll find that Obama's book . . .

. . . is very novelistic, and much better for it. The guy can flat out write from his heart.

I was skeptical before reading it, because I've found that the autobiographies of politicians are usually about manufacturing an image. But Obama was not a politician yet before he wrote Dreams From My Father. There are many passages in it that today's Obama would not dare to release to the public. It is honest, but an empathetic sensibility emerges. Throughout the book he's struggling and sometimes failing to empathize with people whose concerns arent like his. It's quite an achievement, and will be read in history, literature, political science and sociology classrooms.

[MADem]

19. They're dead to YOU, maybe. Not to people who enjoy a good yarn. NT

[BlooInBloo]

20. (facepalm) Teh stupid is now burning like white phosphorus.

EDIT: The one thing that Americans will fight for harder than anything else: their right to be stupid.

[Missy Vixen]

29. BlooInBloo, absolutely

It's good to hear from you!

Julie

[johnaries]

21. Fantasy is alive and well. Heard a Republican talk lately? nt

[uppityperson]

24. One of the reasons to read fiction is to learn without doing, to avoid the mistakes others make.

Another reason is for fun, but it is annoying when reality imitates what I have read since that seems one of the reasons for reading, to avoid those mistakes.

And no, the novel isn't dead.

[RandomKoolzip]

25. No, the novel isn't dead. I assume you haven't read Nicola Barker's "Darkmans?"

[pnwmom]

27. Novels are to memoirs as paintings are to photographs.

Are paintings dead because we have cameras?

For you perhaps. But not for me.

[EFerrari]

30. Do you know that one of the few things that distinguishes us from apes

is our ability to make up stories? :)