I used to love her books. They were fun to read, entertaining, with characters that were interesting enough to follow from one book to the next. Books like hers were hard to come by, so it was a treat to discover them.
But good things rarely last, and LKH's books are no exceptions. I think the most frustrating part is her fans have told her again and again and again how discouraged they are with what the stories have become and have been ignored or written off as 'negative'. We aren't negative. We want quality. So when our favorite author starts down the road of all that is sparkly and twisty, we got a bit worried.
Laurell is a wanker--in the wankiest sense. When her fans started expressing their concern, it was our fault for not understanding her. No, we don't understand her. We don't want to. Most of us couldn't care less about Laurell. We care about her stories. Poor Ms. Hamilton doesn't seem to see the difference. It's obvious in her books, which the main characters (both Anita and Merry) have become nothing but sad self inserts. I don't know about other people, but I didn't start the series to read about LKH's fantasy. I read Anita because she was one mean bitch with a pair the size of China. Merry has always just been ok for me, bunch of fluff and schmooze in between Anita books. Never expected much of Merry.
So when thousands of fans start questioning the state of Anita and Merry, what does Laurell do? She writes a blog. Another one. At least she isn't at Amazon.com screaming at her fans like Ann Rice, but what's location anyway?
Here's some choice bits from her latest blog:
There are books with less sex in them, God knows. There are books that don't make you think that hard. Books that don't push you past that comfortable envelope of the mundane. If you want to be comforted, don't read my books. They aren't comfortable books. They are books that push my character and me to the edge and beyond of our comfort zones.
Laurell, honey, your books aren't thought provoking. Even in their better days, they weren't. They're candy, entertaining and fun for the duration of their read. Books that provoke thought are books like, "I, Lucifer", "Poisonwood Bible", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Grimm's Fairytales", "Homer", "White Oleander", etc. "Anita Blake: Vampire Executioner" has a long way to go to spark some deep thought cranking in my brain. I won't even talk about Merry Gentry: Fairy Slut. We just won't go there.
When I decide not to read an author, or series again. I don't go on their message board and keep talking about the books I don't want to read.
Point to Laurell. I'm happy to say I've never posted on her message board and said her stories suck donkyballs. I say it here. And I'm so sad I keep reading them in hopes they'll get better again. I'm such a masochist. After this last book though, I think I'll renew my library card and just borrow the next book instead. Forking out the dough for drivel...well, I'm too poor to keep up that habit. I just discovered the Dresden Files, my money seems to be better spent there.
Let this post also put to rest the idea that I don't know that a small minority, albeit a loud minority, hates my series. I've known that for awhile.
Yes, that small minority is the one who gave your last book a measly 2.5 stars over at Amazon.com.
My characters are real to me in a way that makes me miss them. For God's sake, I'll be in the mall and see something, and go, "Oh, it's the perfect gift for (fill in the blank)." I've been in line with the present in my hand, before I go, "Wait, these are make believe people. I can't buy them a Christmas present."
And this is where it gets really crazy. This is Laurell's downfall. Reality and make-believe have blurred. So much that her main characters are no longer themselves, but a self insert of herself. Readers don't want to read about Laurell's fantasies. They want to read about Anita and Merry. Unless Ms Hamilton seeks help, these series are doomed.
If that level of involvement with imaginary friends seems crazy to you, well, then I can't explain it. You either understand that the biggest disappoint some years is that I can't walk into the other room and hand that imaginary person a present that I know they would love.
My son is 12 and not even he believes in imaginary friends. Sometimes he'll say to me, "I wish so and so was real" but that's where it stops. When that line blurs, something is wrong. Wishing is one thing, but forgetting imaginary people are imaginary...it says to me that there is something lacking in a person's life.
I can understand loving the characters you write. I love the characters in the stories I write. For three years, I've worked on developing them, their world, their personalities. I can understand the attachment Laurell feels for her brethren. But I've never stood in a grocery store with a Twinkie and thought, "Man, _______ gonna love this when I get it home." The closest my character might get to the Twinkie is when I accidentally smear some filling on my notebook.
Or maybe this will not move you, maybe you do not feel for the loneliness of the vampires that have not known love for centuries.
Is this the part where a single silver tear falls down my cheek? (line used about 10 times in every LHK book published)
It must be some failing in the writing, in me, but whatever the cause it does not speak to you. Go, and find someone who does speak to you. Someone who's characters are plot devices, so the books are neat, understandable, clinical, and utterly organized.
As an author, you have failed when thousands of fans run screaming. That should speak to you more so than your characters. Reality check please!
My books are logical, to me, understandable to the vast majority of my readers, but they are not neat, they are not utterly organized or clinical. They are big, messy books, a lot like life.
Is this supposed to be an excuse for the horrible editing? Repeat sentences, bad dialogue, ugly clichés--that's not writing. It's putting words on paper, nothing more. Readers expect more from books. "I, Lucifer" was a messy book, but you know what? It made sense. It was interesting. It provoked thought!!! Stop making excuses, Laurell. I've seen fan fiction written by 16 year old girls better than your books.
That being said, I'm on the look out for more books to replace the Anita series. As I said, I recently discovered Harry Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. A little dry, but I've only read the first book.
Also, for those who haven't picked up the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison--do so! This is my favorite series to date. Funny, great characters, well written, exciting--can't go wrong with a book where a demon who eats chocolate frosting locks his summoners inside a closet while raiding the fridge. If you want to leave demons and vampires behind, I highly recommend Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses series. More akin to high fantasy, but different enough to be unique, I've read the first three books twice. Another series at the top of my list (and in the fantasy genre) is Sarah Monette's series about Felix Harrowgate and brother Mildmay Foxe. I can't express enough how beautifully written this story is. I've read the first two novels four times. There are two more scheduled.
Happy reading!
Posted by Zoso at January 4, 2007 03:19 PM