If you always read with your critical lenses on, for instance (say, as a beta reader looking for errors, or a cynic trying not to be moved), then it's not really fair to the writer.
Definitely. I think that approach kind of spoils me for a lot of writers because my personality is so nitpicky and thus my standards go through the roof. But then again, there are some times when I just want to fume about the level of writing that is being published. I have come across fantastic writers in the fandoms I follow that could write circles around a lot of these lauded, published writers.
I can't trust her, because I feel like she's tried to manipulate me too many times before.
I definitely have questioned her writing at different times. For me it was a lot to do with all the predictions that were surfacing for the end of her series. So many people were predicting certain deaths or pairings, plot twists, and I didn't feel I could make good guesses or good arguments about any of it because I wasn't sure what level of writer Rowling was. We have nothing previous to compare her writing to, and on a technical level, I was worried some of those predictions would come true simply because she would choose a deus ex machina ending or do a complete POV shift in narrator, or try to tie up all her loose ends at once, all of which would disappoint me greatly. I have not finished DH and thus have yet to draw any conclusions about the entire shindig. But it's definitely something I worry about, seeing as how she has tweaked and turned her plots in the past.
I smelled the H/G coming from the very start... And I dreaded its coming, waited for the build-up, and then there wasn't much build-up. They didn't have a single, actual conversation before they were suddenly together, and I found it upsetting (and nauseating) not just because I don't like the pairing (much less the character of Ginny in general!), but because it felt weak and unsupported.
I saw it in the first book, but then dismissed it almost completely in books 2-5 simply because NOTHING HAPPENED TO FURTHER IT. Nothing at all. Unlike Hermione and Ron, which I also guessed from the beginning, but which had a MUCH more satisfying development. And you are spot on: no build-up to G/H, no conversations, no chemistry and nothing of substance between them. It ticked me off to no end because at first I thought there was some sort of conspiracy afoot that might be building for book 7, but if not, then the only option left was that JK expected me to buy into this perfect relationship without being convinced at all. And I REALLY was not convinced. I'm still not convinced. It reads very drily to me because there is no chemistry between the two characters. They don't talk at all. All they do is kiss. They don't even angst well. But then again, I was never sure about where everything stood because I didn't know if that was intended or if JKR just doesn't write romance well.
no subject
Definitely. I think that approach kind of spoils me for a lot of writers because my personality is so nitpicky and thus my standards go through the roof. But then again, there are some times when I just want to fume about the level of writing that is being published. I have come across fantastic writers in the fandoms I follow that could write circles around a lot of these lauded, published writers.
I can't trust her, because I feel like she's tried to manipulate me too many times before.
I definitely have questioned her writing at different times. For me it was a lot to do with all the predictions that were surfacing for the end of her series. So many people were predicting certain deaths or pairings, plot twists, and I didn't feel I could make good guesses or good arguments about any of it because I wasn't sure what level of writer Rowling was. We have nothing previous to compare her writing to, and on a technical level, I was worried some of those predictions would come true simply because she would choose a deus ex machina ending or do a complete POV shift in narrator, or try to tie up all her loose ends at once, all of which would disappoint me greatly. I have not finished DH and thus have yet to draw any conclusions about the entire shindig. But it's definitely something I worry about, seeing as how she has tweaked and turned her plots in the past.
I smelled the H/G coming from the very start... And I dreaded its coming, waited for the build-up, and then there wasn't much build-up. They didn't have a single, actual conversation before they were suddenly together, and I found it upsetting (and nauseating) not just because I don't like the pairing (much less the character of Ginny in general!), but because it felt weak and unsupported.
I saw it in the first book, but then dismissed it almost completely in books 2-5 simply because NOTHING HAPPENED TO FURTHER IT. Nothing at all. Unlike Hermione and Ron, which I also guessed from the beginning, but which had a MUCH more satisfying development. And you are spot on: no build-up to G/H, no conversations, no chemistry and nothing of substance between them. It ticked me off to no end because at first I thought there was some sort of conspiracy afoot that might be building for book 7, but if not, then the only option left was that JK expected me to buy into this perfect relationship without being convinced at all. And I REALLY was not convinced. I'm still not convinced. It reads very drily to me because there is no chemistry between the two characters. They don't talk at all. All they do is kiss. They don't even angst well. But then again, I was never sure about where everything stood because I didn't know if that was intended or if JKR just doesn't write romance well.
Wow, that was long! *laughs*