Books you just couldn't get through

[Scott]

Michael wrote: "Scott, I respect your opinion as you make several important points. I would like to add, that head-hopping, wooden dialogue, unrealistic characters and an info-dump backstory, certainly, can't be d..."

Try Rebellion by Ken Shufeldt. Rebellion. All those were present by page 12.

[Michael]

I just looked at the reviews on Amazon. You must be Shoestring Books. I do see that several other reviews mentioning the same points you raise. I also see many other reviews that loved the book - 5 stars. I guess it comes down to personal choice. One may see the book as a great read, others may not. It all depends what you are looking for in a book.

[Scott]

Michael wrote: "I just looked at the reviews on Amazon. You must be Shoestring Books. I do see that several other reviews mentioning the same points you raise. I also see many other reviews that loved the book - 5..."

I agree. My point being, it didn't take me long to spot the things that turned me off.

I know people will read Mr. Shufeldt's book and be completely enraptured, and I know I can't get over certain bad writing habits that others couldn't care less about. (I care about the craft of constructing good prose, if I can say that without sounding like a pompous twit. Others don't even notice. Fair enough.)

To reinforce my original point, I can usually spot a poor craftsman within a few pages and nothing from that point forward will redeem the story. For me.

[Pete]

Scott wrote: "If I start on page one and I find excessive head-hopping, wooden dialogue, unrealistic characters, and an info-dump backstory, I have every reason to suspect that trend of poor writing will continue throughout. I simply won't waste my time on poor writing habits. "

This. Yes, it is possible for a STORY to improve (I’m not a zealot about an explosive beginning), but if the prose is deficient, it’s unlikely to improve, and it demonstrates a lack of care that deserves to be called out.

My own barometer would not usually lead to 1-2 star reviews for bad stories that are well-written, although I recall specifically one that was so dull and NOT funny (it was a “funny” book) that I felt ripped off. (That author, incidentally, is very prolific and sells a TON. I don’t know how or why, but she does.)

Bad prose is bad prose. You know it when you see it, and when I see it on novels with scads of squeeing 5 star reviews, it irks me.

Tidal waves of dreck on KDP turn a LOT of readers away from even considering indie novels - as do the sometimes dramatic responses said authors have to criticism.