Is Brandon Sanderson "lame"

[Dario_M]

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Sanderson is surely the only writer in history to write a poor novel and then abandon it.

I don't understand why. He must have been a bit fickle in his life. 

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

But, of course, much to his credit he did move on, as you advised him.

 

I always move on after i have published a book. And never look (read) back. Brandon should have done the same in my opinion. 

[Dario_M]

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Not.

But i find that that whas the case by that Rithmatist book. The only book i saw from me. Do you mind

Edited March 27, 2023 by Dario_M

[Dario_M]

-Edit. Mistake, i'm just waking up-

Edited March 27, 2023 by Dario_M

[Bernard Gui]

7 hours ago, Dario_M said:

But i find that that whas the case by that Rithmatist book. The only book i saw from me. Do you mind

Would it be fair to judge Beethoven’s work after listening only to Wellington’s Victory (a piece he later regretted) without hearing his sonatas, concertos, overtures, symphonies, etc.? Or Mozart with Ein Musikalischer Spass?  Or van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters?

[Bernard Gui]

9 hours ago, Meadowchik said:

Some of the most beautiful and enjoyable prose I've ever read was in a book I found in a giveaway pile of English books in a non-English speaking European village. Those piles can have such a mix! But I loved it at the time and never noted the author, aagh!

But speaking of poorly written prose, Dan Brown is imo another example of an author who despite that, still creates an entertaining plot.

Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park and has more refined, smart writing with alot of scientific detail in his science fiction.

John Grisham's lawyer books are fast reads, exciting but also very sympathetic and satisfying in that way.

When I was a girl, the first chapter books I read were from a highly formulaic series called Sweet Valley High. In retrospect I wish I would have been introduced to more dimensional writing then. There is really, really good books written for children and youth. But I'm glad that at least I was reading.

My autistic son was slow to learning to read but the first chapter books he enjoyed we read together: Danny Dragon breath. Not long after we started the Percy Jackson series together but he kept going and finished the series on his own and as a young adult still devours books. They've certainly added tremendous happiness to his life. 

Capturing imagination through writing really is a special skill and so valuable. There is a particular joy in finding the writer who hits that spot. The more, the better!

Ever try Patrick O’Brian?

[Meadowchik]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

Ever try Patrick O’Brian?

I don't think so. Do you like his work?

[blackstrap]

I'm so unsophisticated that my last fiction books were the Tarzan series by ERB.🙃

[Dario_M]

2 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Would it be fair to judge Beethoven’s work after listening only to Wellington’s Victory (a piece he later regretted) without hearing his sonatas, concertos, overtures, symphonies, etc.? Or Mozart with Ein Musikalischer Spass?  Or van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters?

 

 

 

What is your point actually? I just don't like it. It's my opinion. And or that is fair??? I don't give a fuss or that is fair or not. I still don't like the book and that's all that matters, nothing more. Beethoven, Mozart, and van Gogh have nothing to do with this btw

Do you understand me Bernard Gui?? 

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by Dario_M

[bluebell]

12 hours ago, Meadowchik said:

Some of the most beautiful and enjoyable prose I've ever read was in a book I found in a giveaway pile of English books in a non-English speaking European village. Those piles can have such a mix! But I loved it at the time and never noted the author, aagh!

But speaking of poorly written prose, Dan Brown is imo another example of an author who despite that, still creates an entertaining plot.

Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park and has more refined, smart writing with alot of scientific detail in his science fiction.

John Grisham's lawyer books are fast reads, exciting but also very sympathetic and satisfying in that way.

When I was a girl, the first chapter books I read were from a highly formulaic series called Sweet Valley High. In retrospect I wish I would have been introduced to more dimensional writing then. There is really, really good books written for children and youth. But I'm glad that at least I was reading.

My autistic son was slow to learning to read but the first chapter books he enjoyed we read together: Danny Dragon breath. Not long after we started the Percy Jackson series together but he kept going and finished the series on his own and as a young adult still devours books. They've certainly added tremendous happiness to his life. 

Capturing imagination through writing really is a special skill and so valuable. There is a particular joy in finding the writer who hits that spot. The more, the better!

I was a huge Sweet Valley High fan as a preteen!!  I had so many of their books. Definitely over 30.  Some of them felt so scandalous!

I also love Michael Crichton. Jurassic Park and the sequel, The Lost World, are amazing. I was so sad when he died. The last book that I read of his was called Micro, I think. It was started by him but finished by somebody else. It was entertaining, but just not as good as his books are normally. And so many swear words. I don’t remember his other books having nearly the same amount of F words. That turned me off.

I’ve liked the stuff by Andy Weir so far. He wrote The Martian. His latest book is called The Hail Mary Project, which I loved. I like science fiction, but science-fiction that’s more grounded in plausible science.

I’m also a fan of silly YA novels. They have fun stories and a little romance and don’t take themselves too seriously usually. And I like that they keep stuff PG-13 in general.  I know the rage right now is smut books for grown women, but I just have no interest in reading that stuff.

The mortal instruments series was fun.  And I loved the fablehaven and dragonwatch series by Brandon Mull.

My favorite paragraph ever in literature is the opening paragraph of the Haunting of Hill House. It’s genius.

I hated the book though. 😂 

Edited March 27, 2023 by bluebell

[Rain]

11 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I was a huge Sweet Valley High fan as a preteen!!  I had so many of their books. Definitely over 30.  Some of them felt so scandalous!

I also love Michael Crichton. Jurassic Park and the sequel, The Lost World, are amazing. I was so sad when he died. The last book that I read of his was called Micro, I think. It was started by him but finished by somebody else. It was entertaining, but just not as good as his books are normally. And so many swear words. I don’t remember his other books having nearly the same amount of F words. That turned me off.

I’ve liked the stuff by Andy Weir so far. He wrote The Martian. His latest book is called The Hail Mary Project, which I loved. I like science fiction, but science-fiction that’s more grounded in plausible science.

I’m also a fan of silly YA novels. They have fun stories and a little romance and don’t take themselves too seriously usually. And I like that they keep stuff PG-13 in general.  I know the rage right now is smut books for grown women, but I just have no interest in reading that stuff.

The mortal instruments series was fun.  And I loved the fablehaven and dragonwatch series by Brandon Mull.

My favorite paragraph ever in literature is the opening paragraph of the Haunting of Hill House. It’s genius.

I hated the book though. 😂 

I had to look it up:

Quote

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.”

Interesting.

[Calm]

3 hours ago, blackstrap said:

I'm so unsophisticated that my last fiction books were the Tarzan series by ERB.🙃

I love those.  I was really into them as a kid.  My brother had the first two and I got the rest from the library.  Collected them from used bookstores for awhile.

But boy do they make me wince these days with the bigotry and sexism.  They are so painful.

Edited March 27, 2023 by Calm

[Analytics]

I’ve read 3 Sanderson novels so far. A few thoughts:

1- He writes day after day, year after year at the same clip that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. Sanderson’s worlds are creative and detailed, and he could complete Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon challenge, easily.

2- I thought the plot arc of Way of Kings (the first Stormlight Archives book) was really well done. It was surprising, moving, and held together really well. I liked the second book, Words of Radiance, even more. In the third book I started to feel burnt out over the whole thing, though.

3- Sanderson’s writing style is more like David Eddings’ than Frank Herbert’s. Even though the worlds he creates are incredibly creative and detailed, the prose itself doesn’t blow me away.

4- Sometimes anti-Mormons assert that Mormonism doesn’t inspire great works of art. Sanderson is the best counter example to that I can think of.

Edited March 28, 2023 by Analytics

[Stargazer]

On 3/26/2023 at 6:36 PM, Bernard Gui said:

Talentissimo Gui

????

[Stargazer]

On 3/27/2023 at 1:36 AM, bluebell said:

I tried reading one of his books and discovered that I don't like the Fantasy genre much at all.  Which I wasn't really prepared for because I love LOTRs, The Neverending Story, and stuff like that.  

But I know that he is well loved and his books (especially the Mistborn series I think) are really popular.  I haven't read the article from Mr. snootypants but who cares if someone is the best writer.  As long as people love reading their books then that's really all that matters.  Stephenie Meyers is not a good writer at all (some of her stuff is super cringey), but she's a good storyteller and that can make all the difference.  I've read some awesome writers whose books were not at all fun to read.

Article guy sounds like one of those people who can't handle it when someone likes something they don't like.

I'm on the same page as you with the fantasy genre. LOTR, Neverending Story, yes, yes. But for the rest? Meh.

I had never heard of Brandon Sanderson until it was announced that he was going to finish up the Robert Jordan series The Wheel of Time, after Jordan died. I had tried to start reading Robert Jordan, but found I didn't care for the story or the setting, despite wanting to. I've tried reading Sanderson, too, but just couldn't keep interested. Not saying he can't write well -- I just couldn't stay with it. 

Another fantasy writer I had read was Stephen R. Donaldson. He wrote a long series called "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant", and I started with the first book, intending to read the entire series. Instead I got so angry with the story that I tore the book in half and threw it into the trash can. A few days later I fished it back out the can, and finished the book, and then the next installment. I got partway through the 3rd volume, but got disgusted with it and tossed them all into the recycle. Never been back. 

[Stargazer]

10 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Would it be fair to judge Beethoven’s work after listening only to Wellington’s Victory (a piece he later regretted) without hearing his sonatas, concertos, overtures, symphonies, etc.? Or Mozart with Ein Musikalischer Spass?  Or van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters?

Mmmm. Potatoes!

[Bernard Gui]

18 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

I'm on the same page as you with the fantasy genre. LOTR, Neverending Story, yes, yes. But for the rest? Meh.

I had never heard of Brandon Sanderson until it was announced that he was going to finish up the Robert Jordan series The Wheel of Time, after Jordan died. I had tried to start reading Robert Jordan, but found I didn't care for the story or the setting, despite wanting to. I've tried reading Sanderson, too, but just couldn't keep interested. Not saying he can't write well -- I just couldn't stay with it. 

Another fantasy writer I had read was Stephen R. Donaldson. He wrote a long series called "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant", and I started with the first book, intending to read the entire series. Instead I got so angry with the story that I tore the book in half and threw it into the trash can. A few days later I fished it back out the can, and finished the book, and then the next installment. I got partway through the 3rd volume, but got disgusted with it and tossed them all into the recycle. Never been back. 

Must have had your taste buds shot off in the war? 😉

[Rain]

43 minutes ago, Analytics said:

I’ve read 3 Sanderson novels so far. A few thoughts:

1- He writes day after day, year after year at the same clip that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. Sanderson’s worlds are creative and detailed, and he could complete Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon challenge, easily.

2- I thought the plot arc of Way of Kings (the first Stormlight Archives book) was really well done. It was surprising, moving, and held together really well. I liked the second book, Words of Radiance, even more. In the third book I started to feel burnt out over the whole thing, though.

3- Sanderson’s writing style is more like David Eddings’ than Frank Herbert’s. Even though the worlds he creates are incredibly creative and detailed, the prose itself doesn’t blow me away.

4- Sometimes anti-Mormons assert that Mormonism doesn’t inspire great works of art. Sanderson is the best counter example to that I can think of.

My husband really likes David Eddings. You say their writing styles are similar.  Do you think Sanderson is a good choice to look at since he likes Eddings?

[Bernard Gui]

1 hour ago, Stargazer said:

????

My youngest son.  He’s an excellent writer, bassist and guitarist, composer, and artist. He has a humongous fantasy story that he has been working on since he was a kid. He has created a world inhabited by animal clans, complete with languages, maps, religions, philosophy, histories, music, mythology, wars, etc. He  illustrates it himself. Who knows if it will ever be finished?

He writes, performs solo and in two bands, records, and publishes his own music on Bandcamp, and works on his story during the winter. Hence, Talentissimo. 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2023 by Bernard Gui

[Calm]

38 minutes ago, Rain said:

My husband really likes David Eddings. You say their writing styles are similar.  Do you think Sanderson is a good choice to look at since he likes Eddings?

If he likes Eddings, I suggest Stephen Brust. He writes in the Count of Monte Cristo style for the books for books from the older era of his hero of his other series from that world, an assassin, Vlad Taltos…the Taltos books are written first person, iirc, more modern, lot more sarcastic.  Been a few years since I last picked them up. I am probably a couple of books short of the full series.  He might even have completed it…I think he was going for 17.  Think I may go check.  

[Bernard Gui]

9 hours ago, Dario_M said:

 

What is your point actually? I just don't like it. It's my opinion. And or that is fair??? I don't give a fuss or that is fair or not. I still don't like the book and that's all that matters, nothing more. Beethoven, Mozart, and van Gogh have nothing to do with this btw

Do you understand me Bernard Gui?? 

 

No. Perhaps it’s cultural differences. Maybe you don’t like analogies?

[bsjkki]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

My husband really likes David Eddings. You say their writing styles are similar.  Do you think Sanderson is a good choice to look at since he likes Eddings?

Definitely. I love Eddings. I read them as a teen. I have all his books. Lloyd Alexander, Dune, and most of Wheel of Time but did not enjoy his multiple relationships and gave it up. Started well and fizzled for me plus a long wait between books. Not continuing Sanderson’s Way of Kings until it is done. 
 

I think I have tried Vlad Taltos. Will give it another go. I do like first person stories. 
 

I read the first stories of Stephen R. Donaldson. Well written but the themes were bad. I was a teen and the first time things went a bit over my head. It was better that way. I also read Crichton  and  Andy Weir. Very fun books. I read many different genres. Just no ‘romance.’ Gave those up in my 20’s. 
 

I’ve read the Orphan X series. I like suspense and spy thrillers too. I used to read more YA but have not found many lately. I like the The Thief series. Interesting story telling. I also have read the Jack Reacher books. Some are definitely better than others.

Edited March 28, 2023 by bsjkki

[Calm]

1 hour ago, bsjkki said:

Definitely. I love Eddings. I read them as a teen. I have all his books. Lloyd Alexander, Dune, and most of Wheel of Time but did not enjoy his multiple relationships and gave it up. Started well and fizzled for me plus a long wait between books. Not continuing Sanderson’s Way of Kings until it is done. 
 

I think I have tried Vlad Taltos. Will give it another go. I do like first person stories. 
 

I read the first stories of Stephen R. Donaldson. Well written but the themes were bad. I was a teen and the first time things went a bit over my head. It was better that way. I also read Crichton  and  Andy Weir. Very fun books. I read many different genres. Just no ‘romance.’ Gave those up in my 20’s. 
 

I’ve read the Orphan X series. I like suspense and spy thrillers too. I used to read more YA but have not found many lately. I like the The Thief series. Interesting story telling. I also have read the Jack Reacher books. Some are definitely better than others.

The Thief is an excellent series.  I am even trying it audiobook, which I never do, not even Tolkien.  Must be I like the voice well enough as well as the story.

[Analytics]

3 hours ago, Rain said:

My husband really likes David Eddings. You say their writing styles are similar.  Do you think Sanderson is a good choice to look at since he likes Eddings?

On a sentence-by-sentence level they are similar—easy reading, easy things to visualize, fun, cute dynamics of characters. Sanderson’s universe is bigger, more original, and more complex. I bet your husband would like it. 

[Dario_M]

3 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

No. Perhaps it’s cultural differences. Maybe you don’t like analogies?

Perhaps i just don't like the book. 

[Rain]

3 hours ago, Analytics said:

On a sentence-by-sentence level they are similar—easy reading, easy things to visualize, fun, cute dynamics of characters. Sanderson’s universe is bigger, more original, and more complex. I bet your husband would like it. 

Thanks!