Has amazon devalued the written word?

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I prefer Bistromathics myself. More food involved.

[Jim]

No, just painted it pink then no one noticed :-)

[Will]

Pink is the new black. I'm told.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Pink does not exist. I have cut it out of the spectrum.

[Jim]

Millions of small girls have suddenly become invisible

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Oops, sorry!

*re-adjusting so it only affects me*

[Patti (baconater)]

I had something meaningful to say then you lot got all silly and distracted me.

Dammit.

[Tim]

Gingerlily - Expendable Redshirt wrote: "Is there actually a shop where you can buy squid porn??"

WH Smith.

Oh wait... they banned it.

[Darren]

There is no 'good' and there is no 'bad' (which is just as well in my case). There is only what works for you and what doesn't. In the case of Da Vinci or 50 Shades, you also have to take into account the effect of tapping into the moment. They both touched the public consciousness and I am sure that a lot of people read them because they didn't want to be left out of the conversation. I certainly know a few ladies who read 50 shades for that very reason.

The same can be said of films and music. If something becomes so popular that everyone is talking about it then you have to find out what it's all about.

In terms of devaluing the written word, Amazon may have reduced the cost of the ticket to the festival, but has vastly increased the number of voices you can hear there.

*sorry for the clumsy rock festival metaphor*

[R.M.F.]

Marc wrote: "R.M.F wrote: "Marc wrote: "Rubbish by whose judgement? So many sales are not to be sniffed at. Are people really dismissing the critical faculties of so many readers who bought that book? Same thin..."

Yes! :)

Each to their own, but look at it from my point of view. I spend hours labouring over my masterpiece - the story of a mutated loch ness monster attacking Aberdeen, only to see it sink without trace on kindle, then this woman comes along and sells millions! No wonder I'm bitter! :)

[B J]

"In terms of devaluing the written word, Amazon may have reduced the cost of the ticket to the festival, but has vastly increased the number of voices you can hear there."
That's true. The danger is that the decent bands will decide it's no longer worth turning up when the festival gets a reputation for being rubbish.

[David]

Here's what Hugh Howey Wool Omnibus thinks:

http://www.hughhowey.com/facebook-chat/


Luck & patience.

[Jim]

To true BJ, look how telly has improved beyond expectations now there is an infinite choice of channels to watch it on :-(

[David]

Jim wrote: "To true BJ, look how telly has improved beyond expectations now there is an infinite choice of channels to watch it on :-("

Sturgeon's law applies here, as it applies to almost everything in this world.

[Jim]

David wrote: "Jim wrote: "To true BJ, look how telly has improved beyond expectations now there is an infinite choice of channels to watch it on :-("

Sturgeon's law applies here, as it applies to almost everyth..."

Given that Amazon emptied the slush piles into kindle, they've probably pushed the 90% pretty hard :-(

[Will]

Jim wrote: "To true BJ, look how telly has improved beyond expectations now there is an infinite choice of channels to watch it on :-("

57 Channels, and nothing on. -Bruce Springsteen.

[Victoria_Grossack]

Dan Brown's breakaway book Da Vinci Code was done by a traditional publisher. 50 Shades was only picked up by one after it was selling like mad.

I bought the former, and was so unhappy with it that I have pledged never to purchase another of his books. Note that I may borrow one of his books, but as I feel that I and the rest of the market was manipulated into buying the Da Vinci code, he will never get another royalty from me. I did not buy 50 Shades, but a neighbor loaned it to me. I respect the author because I feel that the book gained an audience based on its merits rather than manipulation (what that says about the audience is rather pitiful). But it's simply not my type of book.

[Andy]

I read Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code courtesy of a book swap whilst on holiday years ago and found them both to be rather entertaining by-the-pool page turning fluff. Horribly written without a doubt, but rather fun nevertheless. Can't say I've been compelled to invest in any other of his works though.