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Being compared to a big name
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For me, personally, it would depend on who I'm hearing it from. Honestly, if I were reading that in a book description or some other kind of promotion, it would probably be a turn-off, and make me more critical if I did decide to read it.If a friend of mine, or some other source whose opinion I respected, told me that, (and it was a big name author that I LIKE, lol), it would probably make me curious, though possibly still more critical if I was comparing the two authors mentally as I read.
If I read a comparison like that as an actual blurb or quote on the book cover or the official website I would immediately be put off. I don't like it when publishers or authors compare their own work to another author.HOWEVER, if I read a comparison like that in a review on say GR or Amazon or a blog (one not affiliated with either the author or publishing house) then it would pique my interest. Unless I hate the author it's being compared too lol
Interesting. I agree with you both about the ego issue of the author comparing themselves.To me, it's also a turn-off when an author states that their writing is "Evanovich meets Christie" or "King meets Grisham" or something similar. I'd rather that author just be themselves. Catch me with your writing, you know?
So totally agree. I want an author to be an original. I want a story to be original. When the Percy Jackson series came out and the big pitch was "the next Harry Potter" I refused to read it. It wasn't until my mom got it and said "No, seriously, this is really good. You are really going to like this." that I even gave it a chance. Now I love it (and in my opinion NOTHING like Harry Potter, and that is a GOOD thing!)
While it might be flattering on one hand to be compared to a big-name, famous author, personally, as an author myself, I think I would rather be known for my own voice. These are my stories I'm telling, hopefully not just clones of someone else's.
I am a song writer. I would not want to be compaired to anyone except by style. As in he is a folk blues stylist. In literature I would want to be styled like he is a horror writer, or paranormal romance writter. That's it no names. Being compared to Stephen King or Stephanie Meyer would turn me off right away as I do not like either one of them. Plus when a comparission like that is made. People who like Stephen King are going to expect you to be like him. If your not even if your good. They are going to be disapointed. So yeah you don't want to directly be compaired to anyone.
if it was compared to something I like, I guess I would feel slightly flattered, but still down to earth since I know im not some kind of god lol :D
I also see it as a double-edged sword. If an author is compared to an already famous author, they make think that the comparison will help them find a fan-base faster. Maybe. If they aren't compared to another author, because they are different, they may believe that it will be impossible to build a fan-base.Yet, as a reader, I don't want one author to be like another.
comparisons are more of helpful in the way that you can imagine better what direction the book might be in... like if you never heard of something and you need something you know to understand... it is good for you to get at least a dim idea :)
I'd rather hear a comment from an author I respect about a book rather than hear a comparison between authors. But to be honest sometimes it's helpful when I haven't heard of an author at all. I agree that the 2fer "Jim Butcher meets Kim Harrison" comparisons are obnoxious unless they're from an impartial source like a goodreads review. :)
Depends what they mean by "like". If they mean the same sort of subject matter or plot, that's good for recommendations. If they mean writing style, not so much. I don't want to read a copycat author, one who writes like a ghostwriter. I want an author to have something special in the way they write, something unique.
I think, outside reviews it's not always helpful although it depends how it's done. I think as a genuine stylistic pointer it helps but if the author gets the tone wrong sometimes it sounds as if they're saying they write as well - or better - than their famous counterparts. That's definitely a bad move.As an author, I don't do it often myself or at least only if I think it will help people. In other people's reviews, my stuff has been compared to just about anyone, who's anyone in my field! Phnark. I'm hoping that's a good thing.
Cheers
MTM
It makes my hackles rise if I see a blurb saying 'Comparable to Tolkien at his best' or some such nonsense. When I was a kid, and had finished reading LOTR, and wanted more, and was unable to get more due to Tolkien being, frankly, dead, I used to buy all manner of garbage described by publishers' blurbs as 'IF YOU LIKED LORD OF THE RINGS, YOU'LL LOVE THIS'. I didn't like it. Not once. Not ever.
I always understand about why a publisher would say "so and so is like so and so" to get readers interested. I don't like it because it is not always true. I love hearing suggestions from friends but is not because the author is "like" another author. But personally it is the story that interest me not just who the author is. I want to give a book a chance before I say oh yeah I will like it just because this person has a writing style like someone else that I read books by.
Sometimes I think it is helpful when an author is compared to another. If someone is compared to Lisa Gardner, whose writing and books I greatly admire, then I would probably check out this author. On the other hand, if the author were compared to an author whose style and books I don't like, I wouldn't. Yes, I'm interested in the story/plot, but the writing counts a lot and so do the characters. Some female authors create female protagonists that annoy me, wimpy, gotta get someone else to save them. Others write assertive female protagonists (like Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritson). Similarly, I rarely read books written in first POV because most authors cannot sustain an interesting and likeable character for the length of a book. Nelson DeMille is, of course, an exception.
Whenever I see authors compare themselves to big name authors or being compared to big name authors, I cringe. I really don't think it's helpful in any measurable way since, at best, people will just ignore it. At worst, it comes across as name-dropping. I usually encourage authors who ask me for advice on things like author bios to stray away from pinning themselves to a big name author because each author needs to be able to stand out on their own merits. If you say "John Smith writes like Stephen King", then readers will think either "He's copying off of Stephen King" or "If he writes like Stephen King, then I'll just read Stephen King." I haven't seen too many people say "Oh wow, he writes just like an author I've heard of, that makes me want to read anything by him!" and mean that in a non-sarcastic way.
Honestly, if I see a comment like that on a book jacket of a novel, my first reaction would be to snort and laugh indignantly. The second would be to put the book right back where I found it, then walk away.I know that it's of the best intentions, but they're really not doing the authors any favour. They've basically condemned the book before it's pages has actually been opened.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...This book was compared to Tolstoy, something about the Australian novel he never wrote. I read it, but apart from having lots of characters and being tragic I couldn't see any real comparison. But I did enjoy it.
Another review said it was in the style of John Irving, but I couldn't see that at all. The style is very different.
If I had to make a comparison I'd say it's an Australian Forsyte Saga, but more modern.
I can see why publishers make comparisons. If a writer's books are popular and have a huge following, then I suppose it makes sense to try and attract readers to that writer.Yes, I would try that book out, but will read the sample before buying it.
Some themes are very similar. For instance a brilliant novel by Barbara Wood was written years before the DAVinci Code and is a lot better. The theme is very similar, but Barbara Wood handles it with more subtly and character development than Dan Brown.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/04...
My copy of American Gods still has a sticker on the cover reading: "As good as Stephen King or your money back."As I bought it over a decade ago now, I'm almost tempted to try and trade it in, but I've never actually read much Stephen King - I much prefer Neil Gaiman.
Generally this sort of comparison makes me cringe. All those dreadful Tolkien rip-off fantasy novels which have the nerve to market themselves as "in the Tolkien mould" or whatever.
"Pratchettesque" is another faux-adjective that gets my back up. Every geeky teenager and their pet dog was churning out faintly sarcastic prose in the mid-90s and fondly imagining they were successfully replicating the style of Terry Pratchett. The actual results were a bit embarrassing.
Many writers have clear influences on their work, and there's nothing wrong with that. I've mentioned that I'm inspired by The League of Gentlemen, Paul Magrs, Doctor Who, Terry Pratchett (hey, even Tolkien) on various forums, but I'd never claim those influences are literally visible in my book, you know? I'd kind of hope they're not, to be honest.
It depends on who says it to me and whether or not I like the big name author. If one of my friends who knows my reading taste tells me that a book is just as good as a book by one of my favorite, big name authors, then I'm more inclined to take a look at it.If it's in a description, or a promotion, then I probably won't care much about it.
Note, I'm not specifically saying being compared to those two big names. I'm saying in general. Could be Koontz, Coontz, Johansen, Grisham, Robb, Evanovich, etc.