Sometimes when I read I wish I could turn my inner critic off. Lately, when I read the book of someone else I find myself judging it like I do for a contest or for a critique or something instead of just reading for enjoyment.
Right now I am reading a book from someone that I would be willing to bet $10 this is one of their first efforts. In fact, Ive read several books from this particular publisher that strikes me that way so I do have to wonder if they are some sort of publishing mill, just churning out stories from anyone that submits. Probably unfair of me, but honestly the majority of this publisher's books are problematic.
This book shift points of view constantly (each paragraph), has a TSTL burglar on the first pages, an almost TSTL hero (at least I'm seriously questioning him), and blatant incorrect facts about the city it is set in. Now, I think this author probably has a lot of potential and could eventually be quite good. I would have liked to have seen more effort for this particular offering, though.
But this is what I mean. I can't just read a book for entertainment purposes. Even when I read excellent books I am left going, "Man, I wish I could write even half as good."
Sometimes, when I read in another genre, I can put aside the writer in me. Like when I read The Mist last year by Stephen King, I just let myself read it and be scared. True, I made the mistake of watching the movie after the book and going, UGH, you RUINED it. Do NOT see the movie. But then I think Stephen King is pretty much a genius and writers who say otherwise are just envious.
I just read The Elegant Corpse by A.M. Riley and I loved it. Truly one of my favorite books I've read in a long time, but even then I did have a small issue with a bit of a wanky POV near the end. For 90% of the book we are in one character's head, but then once in a while Ms. Riley gives us the other character's point of view, but not ever very deep, sort of almost like a narrator observing this character more than the other, if that makes sense. But it was very minor and I LOVED the book. I also just finished reading Fatal Shadows by Josh Lanyon. Really good book. I don't like first person in general but one thing is true, you can't slip into someone else's point of view by accident.
I guess because I did just read such excellent books perhaps I am just a tad too critical to be reading the book I am right now. I don't know. I just know it has potential and to me, so far, fails.
Sam Kane's ordinary life changes when he rescues aspiring actress, Krystal Blake, after she is dumped by her boyfriend in the middle of Hollywood without a place to live. He allows her to stay with him and their mutual attraction is hot and instantaneous. They have nothing in common as far as bleached-blond computer geek Sam can tell and he can't imagine what she would see in someone like him. Krystal has never known anyone quite like Sam and though she knows she may be moving too fast for the insecure Sam, Krystal can't stop herself from wanting Sam.
