January 24, 2010

Name this phenomenon

For a period of about 25 years I couldn't wait for a new Dick Francis novel; I often got them in hardback for my birthday (it coincided with his publication dates). These days I don't find them compelling enough to do that; I'll wait for the paperback.

Sure, economics has something to do with it too, but it's more that I don't expect the stories and characters to grab me the way they once did, so I don't need the book as quickly.

Who's run into this situation, and which authors have reached that lower level of interest for you?

Posted by Linkmeister at January 24, 2010 09:56 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Francis has been very open about the fact that his first wife and co-author was key to his success. I think I remember him saying that the reason his was the only name on the cover was because he was already known as a jockey, rather than because he did most of the work. He also made some noises about not writing any more after she died, but I think he realized that he has reached the point where the books sell automatically, and decided to go with it. (I don't begrudge him this, mind. They are decent enough books and no one is forced to buy them.)

I hesitate to speak heresy, but Pratchett. The last couple of books have not been very interesting to me. (I know, I know, I am totally impressed that he's still writing with Alzheimers.)

Lindsay Davis - I still follow the adventures of Marcus Didius Falco, but they are less fun, somehow, now that he's a respectable pater familias.

Janet Evanovich - Actually, these have reached the point where I've just given up completely.

Posted by: Juli Thompson at January 24, 2010 02:18 PM

I gave up on Evanovich after Plum #12. I still have a fair number of Pratchetts to read, so I'm not burnt out on him yet. I don't know Davis.

Posted by: Linkmeister at January 24, 2010 03:06 PM

It comes and goes. I LOVED Amanda Cross, and then I got so it was too much trouble to finish the books; and then recently I began reading them again and they were good again. The first 3-4 she wrote are still the best by far. Authors change, they run out of ideas; and readers change and go on to other things. The one long series that I NEVER gave up on was Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels; holy cats, could that woman write!

Posted by: hedera at January 24, 2010 06:23 PM

Try Lindsay Davis. The first one is "Shadows in Bronze." It was recommended to me personally by Ellis Peters! (She was on her only American book tour, and was recommending it to everyone.) Really, it's a fun series.

I agree about Brother Cadfael. Peters also wrote some fun modern mysteries, and a couple of other books with a medieval setting.

If you want to keep your thoughts about Evanovich relatively happy, do not, for any reason whatever, pick up the "Between the Numbers" books. They involve a leprochaun. Just stay away.

Amanda Cross - hmm, it's been awhile, maybe I'll try those again.

Posted by: Juli Thompson at January 25, 2010 03:35 AM

I kind of hate to say this, as the man just passed away, but I gave up on Robert Parker's Spenser novels years ago. There was too much sameness to them after a while.

Posted by: SeattleDan at January 25, 2010 09:35 AM

Sorry to say, I gave up on Tony Hillerman - his novels really lost something in the 90s. Of course, he battled cancer in there somewhere. I went to a reading of his in SF in the late 80s, and he was brilliant. Witty as hell.

Rex Stout is the only mystery writer I can read over and over, such is the quality of his writing. PG Wodehouse has a quote somewhere to the effect that, "you read a Nero Wolfe mystery for the fourth time, and you know everything that's going to happen; and yet you can't put it down - that's writing." Couldn't agree more.

Posted by: Matt Timberlake at January 25, 2010 11:44 AM

Well, Matt, Wodehouse himself is eminently re-readable, as you know. Did I ever tell you it was your father who introduced me to Jeeves?

Posted by: Linkmeister at January 25, 2010 11:51 AM

I used to buy Irving Wallace books as soon as they hit the stands. When he died, I really missed him.

Posted by: cassie-b at January 26, 2010 04:45 AM