Based on research conducted in bookstores and the NYT best-seller’s list, Pete Tarslaw devises a set of rules for how to write a best-selling novel. Among them:
- Abandon truth.
- Write a popular book. Do not waste energy making it a good book.
- Must include a murder.
- Must include a club, secrets/mysterious missions.
- Main character is miraculously liberated from a lousy job.
- Novel must have scenes on a highway.
- At dull points include descriptions of delicious meals.
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maybe:
ReplyDelete-A relationship that needs to be repaired.
-Abuse of some type in the person's history.
-A link to a famous person, like Einstein.
NO, we would not have chosen to read "Tornado Ashes." For one thing, it's sentimental and we are not down with sentimental. For another, we have completely avoided any Oprah's-Book-Club-esque novels, which Tornado Ashes clearly is. I think Paul B. and Steve would be able to spot the ridiculousness of it simply from reading the descriptions. Finally, at 322 pages, "Tornado Ashes" is probably a tad too long for our tastes.
ReplyDeleteThe question of whether or not we, as a book club, would read Tornado Ashes Club can be easily answered by participating the following poll: Who among us would choose a Jodi Picoult novel? Furthermore, if a Jodi Picoult novel were chosen, how many of us would actually read it?
ReplyDeleteI would only point out, thanks to Courtney, and I actually just checked this by accident, but HIBAFN is 322 pages. I don't think I knew that Tornado Ashes was 322 but this cannot be a coincidence.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Mrs. White: I'd read some Jodi Picoult, if it was chosen. I wouldn't have suggested it myself, because I am unfamiliar with her work, but in the interest of reading things I normally wouldn't... I'd be game.
ReplyDeleteI did take a class in college called "The Classics and Trash" and it was actually a really interesting subject to explore, which might be why I gravitated towards HIBAFN (without knowing it) because some of the things we consider classics now were, in fact, trash in their day. The line is movable, which makes it difficult but also fun to consider/discuss.