Iris Johansen

[susanspain]

How does someone write over 25 books, have 25million of same printed - and they are totally unreadable?
I just bought 'Fatal Tide' - more for research than literary merit- I knew it was a 'mass market' type read when I got it - but the characters names, the complication of even simple language baffles me!
Am I alone?!
ps - Have not got past page 10 - and will be 'donating' to a charity shop near me v.soon! (Poor individual who picks it up next!).

[LeMarchand]

It's all a matter of personal taste. I can't understand why millions follow Big Brother, The Apprentice, Britain's Got Talent etc etc or, on a more "literary" level why people wallow in "misery memoirs" like "A Child Called It" and its ilk.

My current literary bugbear is why JK Rowling (I enjoyed the HP books, but consider her to be merely a competent writer in dire need of an editor will to trim the fat) is a household name whereas Philip Reeve (who, IMHO, is a genius) is merely "moderately successful".

[susanspain]

You are totally right ...
I guess my father will be 'thrilled' by this pulp fiction work.
Maybe I should just stick to my current pile -
Sarah Maitland - Silence
Alain de Botton - The Pleasures & Sorrows of Work
Adam Nicholson - Sea Room

Re 'Misery Memoirs' - I only just heard this phrase recently (whilst browsing in my beloved local 2nd hand book store) - It made me laugh! But then I was blown over by the creaking shelves with all that come under this new heading!
Lordy, lordy!
Happy reading all...