Thread: What ticks you off when reading a book/story?

Originally Posted by Fixed

what ticks me off when I read a book is when the book is too predictable or the character's are invincible and inhuman and can scrape through everything even in impossible situations.

Hahaha. "With one bound, Jack was free."

You've been reading Clive Cussler haven't you?

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Au contraire, my friend. I agree entirely that the wording as quoted by you is corny and cliche, however the concept, if expressed more better, is a way to keep the reader interested.

More better? LOL.

I put down books that are guilty of most of the above things, so the only thing I can say ticks me off in the books I read, are when they kill off a character I have grown attached to.

I literally threw my HB copy of A Clash of Kings across the room when I got to the Red Wedding. Broke the spine, all the pages fell out- and despite my fury, I went to the store to get a new copy the same day. Hehe.
GRRM and I have a love hate relationship...

And, I have to say that I really enjoy Clive Cussler for light reading... His novels aren't classics by any stretch, but they ARE entertaining.

See I love GRRM just for that reason. All throughout the series I've wanted to throw the books, but haven't because that would just be wrong. LOL. The Red Wedding has got to be one of the most spectacular, surprising scenes in a novel in a very long time. It took me utterly by surprise. Just awesome.

You mean evil, heartwrenching, and torturous. Hehe. But ya, I guess we wouldn't love him if he didn't pull shit like that on us from time to time.

Exactly. The "Red Wedding" was the perfect punch to throw. I am so eager to see where he decides to take this, having all but destroyed the north in "killing" most of the Starks, and allowing the Greyjoys to invade from the Iron Islands.

I just hope that A Dance With Dragons comes out before I die (Lol, melodramatic, I know), and that it isn't quite as boring as A Feast for Crows was.

I kind of hope that he throws us into the head of Margery.

I'm reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and I hate how repetitive Rowling is about information that we received in the first HP. It's awkward and it distracts from one of her attributes: lean, concise, fluid prose. It's almost as though her editor had a problem with some things that happened in the first book not being recapped in the second book, and Rowlings threw in a few pages just to humor her. It just doesn't work though--too much unnecessary telling.

Originally Posted by Mr Sci Fi

I get ticked off when I realize that I can write twice as well as the author, and he's published.

I would have to second that, but which one is better, being shitty and published or being decent and having a bit of pride and not being known.

I don't mind chapter length as long as it can keep me mesmerized. But when they are longer because they are repeating things they've already said - like maybe I forgot- I get bored real quick and find another book.

Reading something that is written in first person when its not noir.

For me, Noir is the only acceptable way to write a narrative in first person.

Major plot holes, poor grammar, unrealisticly high levels of foul language and/or predictable plots.

One sided-bias.

Originally Posted by iceguy303

I would have to second that, but which one is better, being shitty and published or being decent and having a bit of pride and not being known.

Hah! You guys SO make me laugh. Keep kidding yourselves.

I'd say the worst thing in a book is when you are reading, blah blah blah words words words and then there is no punctuation on a sentense.

It's like...ok asshole, you are one of the lucky ones who got a published....YOU WROTE A FRIGGEN BOOK! There is no excuse whatsoever why someone who is making a living as a writer cannot take the time to make sure that this once sentence has a period at the end.
or at least hire a good editor.
That ruins the book for me.
Maybe Im too anal about that. If you are a struggling writer posting your stuff on the internet, I can understand some spelling mistakes or incorrect puncuation here and there.
But not in a book, not in something printed and sold on shelves. No excuse

Originally Posted by JessicaVendetta

I'd say the worst thing in a book is when you are reading, blah blah blah words words words and then there is no punctuation on a sentense.

It's like...ok asshole, you are one of the lucky ones who got a published....YOU WROTE A FRIGGEN BOOK! There is no excuse whatsoever why someone who is making a living as a writer cannot take the time to make sure that this once sentence has a period at the end.
or at least hire a good editor.
That ruins the book for me.
Maybe Im too anal about that. If you are a struggling writer posting your stuff on the internet, I can understand some spelling mistakes or incorrect puncuation here and there.
But not in a book, not in something printed and sold on shelves. No excuse

Books are written by humans. Books are edited by humans. Humans make mistakes. Therefore, writers and editors make mistakes. An unavoidable fact in every aspect of life.