Random Quote of the Day

[alanajoli]

"I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries."

-Stephen King

Comments

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

That explains a lot. I don't like McDonald's and I don't like Stephen King. This adds an appropriate metaphor as to why. It blows my mind that he's as popular as he is.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Does it also blow your mind that McDonald's is as popular as it is? I may have mentioned this already, but we saw one in Istanbul down the street from a Starbucks...

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

No, that doesn't surprise me at all. They market themselves to children and lace all their food with sugar (and it is possible to develop a sugar addiction, although that isn't so commonly known). They're Big Tobacco of the fast food world.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Then maybe King, like James Patterson, is really just a master of marketing, lacing his writing with addictive emotional highs/lows?

I don't like to be scared, so I've avoided most of King's writing, but I have to admit that the one novel of his I've read, The Eye of the Dragon, surprised me--because I liked it quite a bit.

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

I can't even remember the book I tried to read any more. I got to the point where all my friends were King fans. My closest friends had been so since high school and I was looking for something to read other than Fantasy, so I thought, why not try him?

I was shocked by the quality. I was floored by the quality. I had such difficulty reading the first page, I set the book down and have never tried to read one of his books again. How could someone with such an inability to craft a coherent sentence be a best seller?

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Wow, I wonder what you read! As I said, I've only read one of his novels, but I was surprised in just the opposite way. Not recommend you give him another chance, of course--just surprised that we had such opposite reactions.

While Dan Brown can write coherent sentences, they're fairly mundane and not particularly good--and he's one of the greatest bestsellers the publishing industry has seen in years (outside of JKR). I don't think quality has really ever driven the publishing industry--which is why the quickie celebrity books get published and make tons of money. In theory, as long as publishers do that kind of book, they can afford to take chances on new voices that may be very high quality but are unlikely to make much money. (Or such was what I learned when I was actually studying the publishing industry in formal classes.)

[plura.livejournal.com]

i applaud both his perspective and insight.

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

Well, I saw this a couple ways. I like King's short stories, but not his novels that much. Which kind of makes sense. For a snack or a quick meal, McDonalds is actually pretty good (for me). But, a steady diet of it (i.e. long novel) basically leaves a nasty taste in your mouth and an empty feeling in your heart, as if there was something there but you can't find your way out of the playroom.

So, I think he is that way.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Wow, you guys thought a lot more about this than I did. ;)

I think King just means he has mass appeal--which he's talked about before in other interviews (it's sort of his mantra to defend the novels enjoyed by the masses as worthwhile). But I could be reading it that way because I've heard him say it in a little bit plainer speech.

Also, I bet he said this before Supersized came out.

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure that is what he meant. Of course, you could read it as being "accessible to everyone" or a correlation of fast food verses fancy French resturant type of literary. But, then again, that is what quotes are for. :)

Oh, do you want those paid days?

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

I think you had someone who definitely wanted them--so go ahead with that. The likelihood of my wanting to change to a paid account permanently any time soon is pretty slim, so I don't want to convince myself that I do want one and then not want to pay for it. ;)

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

I already gave them a year's worth of days (319 days). I still have another year left (~300 days), which is why I asked you. No one else asked. I honestly don't mind and no one else spoke up. If you say no, then I'll just give a random friend on my list the days.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Wow, a full 300 odd? In that case, yes, I'd love to have them--thank you! I just didn't want to have it for a month, get hooked, and then have to commit. ;) Having it for a year, I'll probably have the same problem, but I anticipate good things for next year, and I'm guessing by the time the question rolls around, it'll be a small thing.

Thanks!

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

Hrm, apparently it was only 260.02 days but I hope you enjoy them. Also remember, a full year is only like $12. For me, that is 1/4 one of my sushi bills. Which is also why I don't mind giving them away.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

And in case I didn't say it before--thanks so much for offering!