Thursday, March 26, 2009

Booking Through Thursday

btt button

Suggested by Janet:

The opposite of last week’s question: “What’s the best ‘worst’ book you’ve ever read — the one you like despite some negative reviews or features?”

I don't know if I can think of any one book, but I can think of one author. I remember being a teenager and Danielle Steel was all the rage (this was the late 80s/early90s) and I started reading her. I stopped reading for a little while (college got in the way) and then came back and started reading her and many many others. Eventually looking around the internet I found that most people (at least the people that talked about it) did not like Danielle Steel. At first I was horrified - there must be something wrong with me and then I remembered we are all different. What I like someone else may not and I may not like what they like. So I continue to read Danielle Steel. No I don't think some of the newer stuff is the caliber of her older stuff, but it continues to entertain me. And that is often all I ask from a book - just let me live someone else's life for a little while whether that life is good or bad. I know some find her formulaic but I often wonder how the heck authors can come up with new ideas, but they keep doing it and if her novels do follow a pretty standard formula that is okay with me. Again I just want to relax and read.

I also have to say that I read Lightning about 3 months before my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and reading that gave me some idea of what my mom was going to go through and then what she actually went through so there was definitely benefit in that book. Did it mirror my mom's experience - no way, but it did give a very scared 22 year old daughter something to hold on to. (and my mom is now a 13-year cancer survivor)

So join in on Booking Through Thursday today - I'm interested in reading everyone's best "worst" book - I'm always open for a new book to read :) And if anyone feels like admitting at least a little like for Danielle Steel I would like to hear it too (or you can even tell me you think I'm the most insane person you have ever met) :)

5 comments:

claire said...

I don't think you're insaneat all, because reading is personal, and it's very subjective. My aunts and a sister and a cousin used to read Danielle Steel, so I was able to sample her stuff, although they really weren't for me, even then. But we all have our guilty pleasures. :D

Dot said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! I have a Danielle Steel book on my shelf which I keep meaning to read, I may go and dust it off!

Blodeuedd said...

Even though I already picked my book, now I got another one. My guilty pleasure, Barbara Cartland :D

Jess said...

I have actually never read a Danielle Steel -- not really sure why.

http://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/booking-through-thursday_26.html

Meg @ write meg! said...

Oh goodness, I've read many Danielle Steel books! :) My mom has a gigantic collection and, when I was "old enough" (read: when I snuck in and grabbed some off her shelves) I started devouring them one by one.

Like lots of readers, Steel's books definitely taught me a lot about -- um -- life :) haha. Romance, sex, death -- her books have it all.

I haven't read any of her newer books, but I know she cranks them out like crazy. I agree with you -- sometimes we just want to be entertained and walk in someone else's shoes for a little while. Not every book is going to completely change the way we view the world -- and that's fine. There are books for every mood and every person in the world!

This is all just my very long-winded way of saying you're definitely not alone! :)

Happy Thursday!

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