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Musings on Doorstops

Submitted by sunniefromoz on Fri, 11/07/2008 - 12:51pm.
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What is is with authors these days that they seem to feel the need to write mighty tomes that you need a system of pulleys to read in bed without causing yourself injury?

Remember when a book that was more than 350 pages was considered thick? When the average was around 250 pages?

I've just finished reading a doorstop. It's was over 500 pages long. It could have been less than 400 pages and not really suffered. Sometimes it feels as if the author has thrown a bit of everything (including the kitchen sink) in an effort to be worthy of the price the reader has to pay for the book. Sometimes more isn't more.

Even established writers who have developed a loyal following seem to be producing thicker and thicker books these days. Admittedly sometimes I don't mind: Reginald Hill recently wrote a 500 page plus book and I devoured every word, but he's rather exceptional.

Fortunately for me my next choice is just over 200 pages. Peter Corris' OPEN FILE. Not a spare word in sight. Every one of them used to tell the story and advance the plot.
What bliss.

So why  are authors writing longer books these days? Any and all theories welcome.

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Rank the Ned Kelly longlist - Best True Crime

Submitted by Karen on Sat, 05/07/2008 - 4:35pm.
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Time to have a go at ranking the Ned Kelly longlist into the order that you preferred the books - nothing terribly startling about how this will work and we'll run another poll later on, once CWA announce the short list to see how close we can get to the final result.

This selection is the long list for Best True Crime Book

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Rank the Ned Kelly longlist - Best Fiction

Submitted by Karen on Sat, 05/07/2008 - 4:33pm.
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Time to have a go at ranking the Ned Kelly longlist into the order that you preferred the books - nothing terribly startling about how this will work and we'll run another poll later on, once CWA announce the short list to see how close we can get to the final result.

This selection is the long list for Best Fiction Book

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Rank the Ned Kelly longlist - Best First Fiction

Submitted by Karen on Sat, 05/07/2008 - 4:28pm.
in

Time to have a go at ranking the Ned Kelly longlist into the order that you preferred the books - nothing terribly startling about how this will work and we'll run another poll later on, once CWA announce the short list to see how close we can get to the final result.

This selection is the long list for Best First Fiction Book

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Video Trailers For New Forthcoming Novels - Whaddya Think??

Submitted by voyagersaus on Wed, 02/04/2008 - 1:03pm.
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The e-mail newsletter of author Harlan Coben this week included a link to his website to view a trailer for his latest release, the thriller HOLD TIGHT.

www.harlancoben.com

This was the work of his publishers. 

What do you think of this?  Fantastic publicity or inappropriate for the medium?

As one who spends a ridiculous amount of time downloading movie trailers for films that I will never get the time to see (though I loooonnng to) I think this is a great way to go for users of the internet.  We're all visual and time-starved people; watching a trailer may be quite a clever way to promote.

A.T.

 

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