Into the Fire

Yes. And no. Are you? I can be. Sometimes.

A few years back I stopped reading an author whose novels no longer appealed to me. What happened? It wasn’t the writing per se; it was the “process”. By that I mean this particular author began a new series by making the first book a total set-up for the second one. After reading the second one which should’ve been combined with the first, I said enough. When I feel manipulated as a reader, I’m done.

Also several years ago I picked up a novel to read the back cover copy because the book was large—and you know how I love long contemporary stories. I read the entire back cover copy with this one which I don’t always do and decided to fork out the bucks for the hard cover newer release. Well . . . the story started out interesting, but soon zoomed into pure “speculative”. The writing was decent, but the plot was nothing like I expected. Apparently I had completely misunderstood the copy, and I trudged through this novel also not knowing it was the first in a trilogy. When this novel ended in a cliff-hanger, it totally dropped off that cliff with an unexpected plot additive on the very last page. Knowing I wouldn’t be reading the following books, I was not only disappointed, I was irked. I’d spent my money on a book I wouldn’t have read if I’d known what to expect. Somehow I missed its purpose in the copy. This author finished the trilogy and I believe has one more book either coming soon or just released. Needless to say, I doubt I’ll take a chance on him again in spite of the better than average writing.

I consider the two previous examples to be reasonable explanations for stopping on an author. And I don’t consider them to be examples of a fickle reader.

When we’re attracted to an author or his/her book for whatever reason and we read said book and enjoy it, we do one of two things. We look for others by the same author or we settle for the experience and keep reading any number of books that interest us without specifically seeking out that author. I’ve read and been entertained and/or emotionally invested in novels by authors but when their next book released, I didn’t run to acquire it. Not because I didn’t appreciate and even admire a previous book but because the new one didn’t catch that indefinable “something” that compels me to pay the price for a new book. I think that might qualify as somewhat fickle. The reason being at this point in my reading life there are certain authors who I’m guaranteed to read whether I receive their novels free for review, win them from a contest, or purchase them for myself: I’m committed to those authors.

There are other authors I watch for, but it definitely depends on the book itself whether or not I will buy it. If I’m indifferent and the particular novel is offered for review, if I’m not overbooked, I’ll read it. If I’m up to my burning eyeballs in stories waiting for reviews, I’ll pass.

Many readers set their sights upon favorite authors and never quit on them. Other readers couldn’t tell you the names of the authors of their favorite books. And I’ve said before some readers have no clue how valuable they are in the process of promotion and marketing. They’re an unaware bunch who simply read to enjoy stories and might or might not share the titles or what they think of them with friends and relatives. Literally an untapped resource.

I’ve also been where my friend Dayle is with an author he used to really enjoy, and that’s giving the author one last chance to “redeem” himself. When the new novels stray too far from what we’ve come to expect and appreciate from authors, we bid them farewell after giving them several opportunities to re-prove themselves to us. Other readers don’t offer those chances. One disappointment and they’re gone. “Too many books, too little time.”

So. Are you a “fickle” reader?

Father, let those of us who write be true to you before and above all others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.