Novel Embarressment

[thiosk]

Over the past year, I've read a lot of Warhammer 40k books. Lots. Most of the books authored by Dan Abnett and Sandy Mitchell, anyway.

Generally, I don't read for pleasure much. Not much time, and as I'm finishing my phD in chemistry, I'm spending a lot of time reading and writing technical material. This leads me back to the 40k books; they are fun, but certainly aren't very "thinky." Thank god. As if I want to think when I go home at night.

Perfect.

What I can't shake is this feeling of embarrassment. I'm reading a novelization. Not a novel, a novelization. Taking something that already exists, and fluffing it like a big pillow, and tossing it in a bookstore. I really like these books (so much so that I've considered penning one), but I have seen my share of people who really like their hugglebunny werewolves and vampires too, and no one respects them either.

Sure, read what you want, and damn everyone elses opinions! Fine! I won't stop reading everything abnett and mitchell write. But what I want to know is, where do you draw the line between literature and pulp, and which would you rather read. And, do you ever feel the embarrassment for really liking something that feels kind of lame at an intellectual level?

 

[Roganwilson]

Any time I go and pick up a Star Wars book, a wave of guilt rolls over me. But they are mindless fun for the most part, so I disregard that feeling.

 

[Thaluikhain]

And, do you ever feel the embarrassment for really liking something that feels kind of lame at an intellectual level?

As long as everyone is aware it's not anything else, no. When the fans, or worse, the authors start thinking it's a brilliant masterpiece, well-researched and perfectly executed...then you get problems.

 

[Bloodastral]

I tried reading a Warhammer 40K novel once because I like the setting. Worst book ever, a three year old could have written it in crayon. I wouldn't mind reading a comic or novelization as long as it's well written. As for your penning a 40K book, go ahead, you couldn't do worse.

 

[Seraniel]

i read a lot of warhammer 40K books (i have the complete Horus heresy series Thus far) i have to say i never had a shame/embarrisment like that im proud of my hobbys xD.

 

[WolfThomas]

Most of the books authored by Dan Abnett

I've never read his 40k stuff (not really my bag), but his comics are phenomenal. His work with Andy Lanning on Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy and all the Annihilation crossovers have completely re-invented Marvel's space setting.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Other than the mild embarrasment of being seen reading a Warhammer or 40K novel in public a my age I don't really care about the "intellectual level" of what I'm reading, can't say there's much else I'd bother reading a novel about.

I tried reading a Warhammer 40K novel once because I like the setting. Worst book ever, a three year old could have written it in crayon. I wouldn't mind reading a comic or novelization as long as it's well written. As for your penning a 40K book, go ahead, you couldn't do worse.

I have to ask...was it by C.S.Goto by any chance?

 

[Bloodastral]

To be honest I can't remember. It was quite a thick book and started with some marines in a dropship landing on a planet and fighting chaos. I only read a small amount and then binned it, don't think I recycled the book as it might have polluted the planet.

 

[iLikeHippos]

To be honest I can't remember. It was quite a thick book and started with some marines in a dropship landing on a planet and fighting chaos. I only read a small amount and then binned it, don't think I recycled the book as it might have polluted the planet.

Gee, that's really HAMMERing it.

... That was awful.

OT: I tend to turn away so people passing by can't see what I am reading. Hide it like porno! Love it like porno!...
Albeit disgusting, but you must catch the metaphor surely.

 

[michiehoward]

A good mix is what is needed.

While I was pregnant (both times) my mind was for lack of a better term, scattered, I could not concentrate on "serious" prose, but I love reading it relaxes me, so I had to find something, my second trimester comes along I take a trip to the book store, and the only thing that grabed my attention or interest was romance novels. I was completely embarrassed bringing the 10 or so "bodice busters" to the checkout. But it was what I could enjoy so I got over it.

Also thanks to my youngest sibling, I started reading Harry Potter about the time OoTP came out and became addicted, I was very embrassed reading those in public as I was 22 at the time I picked them up.

Now I couldn't care less, and neither should you.

 

[Aurgelmir]

And, do you ever feel the embarrassment for really liking something that feels kind of lame at an intellectual level?

As long as everyone is aware it's not anything else, no. When the fans, or worse, the authors start thinking it's a brilliant masterpiece, well-researched and perfectly executed...then you get problems.

*Cought*Twillight*cough*

 

[Bloodastral]

Is the metaphor that these books would be better off with a lot of glossy pictures

 

[Littaly]

To be honest, I'm more embarrassed for not reading at all.

I'm an escapist by nature, I love stories, fiction, fantasies, anything that is a break from reality. But I can't stand books. I know that literature is the core of all storytelling, but no matter how good, I still won't read. I can think of a number of reasons for why I don't like them, but it's not important, I can't stand reading and I can't stand myself for it.

Ignoring books for mediums with a faster, higher paced narrative feels so "Twitter Generation" to me. Like I've had my attention span shortened and can't appreciate something unless something is constantly happening. I'm not making sense am I?

 

[MassiveGeek]

The only time I've ever felt embarassed about reading anything ever was when I had to read Twilight for a Swedish class.

I also made faces as I was reading, and I couldn't help it, the book made me want to kill someone.

 

[Thaluikhain]

To be honest I can't remember. It was quite a thick book and started with some marines in a dropship landing on a planet and fighting chaos. I only read a small amount and then binned it, don't think I recycled the book as it might have polluted the planet.

"Grey Knights"?

I quite liked that book, though to be fair the beginning was very unimpressive. "We could have simply bombed the site into teh bedrock but we didn't cause shut up."

Though, any number of 40k books start that way, if you've got a logo like 40k to stick on your book, you're not obliged to put any effort in, which puts those authors who do at a massive disadvantage.

...

Has anyone read any of the Twilight books in public? You tend to yank it out of the bag and open it up on your lap before anyone can see the cover...

 

[Gigano]

I never really feel embarrassed by what I choose to read (or I wouldn't be reading it), I'll consume traditional fantasy novels like "Dragonlance: Legends" or dystopian literary classics on the direction of society like "Brave New World", whichever one might please me.

Literature intend to (also) teach, pulp fiction merely to entertain. Why anyone would be embarrassed by also taking their entertainment in the forms of the written word though I'll never know, it's hardly different from spending an enjoyable couple of evenings with Uncharted 2.