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Rank: Advanced Wordsmith
Joined: 4/8/2011
Posts: 204
Location: Here nor There, United States
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Sorry chimps! I gave her too much credit.  I think she was in the right place at the right time. Good for her. I hope kids don't follow her example.
Tracy AmesErotic Word Slinger & Smarty Pants InterracialErotica.net ~ My Website Rants & Rambles ~ My Youtube Channel “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” E. L. Doctorow
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Rank: Moderator at large
Joined: 1/1/2010
Posts: 3,043
Location: Dublin, Ire., Ireland
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James Joyce  (I almost got thrown out of college, (back in the 1870s...) when I confessed in a Tutorial that I found Joyce's writing dull and impenetrable....) xx SF (Grisham's 'A Painted House' is rather good, though....) Tried to read Stephanie Meyer once BUT after about 150 pages NOTHING HAD HAPPENED so I gave up.... Stephen King went off the boil a bit sometime during the '90s.... (Although 'The Stand' remains a classic...) (On a related topic, William Boyd, a writer I admire, wrote in a recent book 'Ordinary Thunderstorms' that a homeless man, living on the streets in London in recent times, was so hungry that he caught, killed and cooked a seagull..... WHAT????? I've BEEN homeless and lived on the streets..... (See 'Stephanie Stone, My Drugs Hell' (Yet to be published....) You'd NEVER have to kill a fucking seagull to survive!!!! It's an excellent novel, but I really found myself laughing aloud at the inanity of that incident.... (In 'Any Human Heart' by Boyd a previously successful author is reduced to eating canned dogfood as his finances dwindle.... THAT'S believeable....) xx SF
"The problem is that I've never embraced my eccentricity in the way that it has embraced me..." "That sounds terribly self-important." "My point exactly..."xx SF
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Rank: Lurker
Joined: 11/30/2006
Posts: 332,008
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flytoomuch wrote:Well many of the authors being mentioned are simply "popular" in the sense that they sold a lot of books. I don't think many serious critics have ever suggested that Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer are being "rated" as quality authors? In that sense they have never been "overrated" they are simply popular in the way a McDonald's hamburger is popular. Easy to consume, not challenging to the mind, a mass market product. Dan Brown is crap I do agree and one must wonder how he sells so many books?
I absolutely cannot agree with putting Hemingway in this category!! Sorry! This is a man who is largely responsible for the term "the lost generation" and went on drinking binges with James Joyce? Really? My god he hung out with Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, etc. etc. While not everyone may appreciate his sparse style, when you have read his works in full you realize the significance of coming to grips personally, as an individual, with the two greatest wars in man kinds history and the struggle to create internal order out of external chaos. As a short story writer Hemingway crafted some of the finest ever written in that era and influenced writers like J.D. Salinger who went on to create his own highly crafted short stories in a similar style. I wanted to quote the person who said JK Rowling... so I could say as a Harry Potter fan... I agree. I got into it because at the time I was addicted to Disney's style romance, and I saw Ron and Hermione being so cute in the movies. There was a box set of the first four out and I thought, 'They had to kiss by time they were fourteen right? Or at least go on a date or something.' Anyway, even though I am still a huge fan, I've spend more time shaking my head and disagreeing with everything she did in the books. What I really love is the fanfiction. I am amazed at some of these authors that never intend to take their work one step farther and get an original published. They take her flat characters and give them amazing lives and stories (and erotic at that.) Anyway, The reason I choose to quote flytoomuch is because in their first paragraph they explained why I would say JK Rowling, and I wouldn't say Stephenie Meyer on one of these lists. For someone to be overrated they have to be 'rated' highly first. I've heard JK Rowling hailed a 'genius' even though she can't do simple math. (Or, at least, didn't bother to for her series.) Many of her fans think she can do no wrong and even people that aren't her fans rate her highly. The only people that come close to calling her anything, expect the best author in the last decade, are those who put her on one of these list. You might hear fans sequel about how much they love Edward or Jacob, but I don't think I ever heard anyone outside of a fanbrat praise Stephenie as a genius. Even her fans don't call her that. Whenever anyone brings up 'bad writing' her name is always said. Most people I know that do read her books are ashamed to admit it. So I wouldn't call her 'highly rated'.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 7/19/2011
Posts: 1,007
Location: I'm the girl that your father hoped he could date.
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I love to read... and can usually find something good about a book... BUT I think the most overrated author is JD Salinger - "Catcher in the Rye" I'm not a huge fan of Stephen King either
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Rank: Author
Joined: 10/22/2011
Posts: 2,005
Location: Expat in, Russia
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I wondered about this, consulted a list of the top 100 authors> http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/topand found none that I thought were poor writers, some were overrated but they were still great writers. Having prefaced that, I know I will catch some slack but I would have to say the most overrated is> Anne Frank - over 30 million copies, perhaps if I could read the original Dutch version I would change my opinion.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 4/25/2011
Posts: 1,134
Location: São Paulo , Brazil
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I think this is rather dificult to say. Although many here have said Meyers, Brown and Rowling - they sold millions of copies of their works. Looking at it from a purely professional standpoint (not artistic) they are very succesful and that has its valor. If we are comparing them in an artistic perspective then its super subjective. I don´t know if anyone can be considered overrated. In my opinion, calling an author overrated is the same as critiscing a piece of modern art or artist by saying -- "I don´t get it" or "I could of done that". I´ve only posted two small poems on lush and I´ve realized that it takes way more then just technique and imagination to be (or try to be) an author. It takes a lot of confidence to open yourself up to critics. We can criticise an claim that anyone is overrated, but the bottom line is that they had the balls to put something out there to be criticised. They had the drive to go after their dream - what ever it is, and that is priceless.
Overwhelming RealityFrom Across the Room
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 4/8/2011
Posts: 19,367
Location: if I knew where I was then I would not be here...
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I kind of agree with the comment about James Patterson. I do enjoy his books, but if you will note, the majority are written with a co-author. Meaning, he probably does an outline and some one else writes the actual story. In that sense, I feel this makes him over rated.
There is no mark of self,
And no mark of others,
No mark of living beings,
And no mark of a life.
-- The Diamond Sutra
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Rank: Story Verifier
Joined: 10/6/2010
Posts: 2,640
Location: My imagination
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To each his own I guess, I like a lot of the authors that have been listed. I was a Rowling fan up until she killed Dobby
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Rank: Lurker
Joined: 11/30/2006
Posts: 332,008
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Neil Gaiman for fantasy. Tom Clancy for fiction. Probably most well known and best selling authors on a popular level whose popularity is based on declining literacy levels.
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Rank: Senior Story Moderator
Joined: 8/23/2011
Posts: 2,179
Location: Canada
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John Grisham
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Rank: Story Verifier
Joined: 8/11/2011
Posts: 500
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom
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Rank: Lurker
Joined: 11/30/2006
Posts: 332,008
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Alex35
That guy is totally over rated!
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Rank: The Right Rev of Lush
Joined: 7/3/2009
Posts: 2,568
Location: Lost in the ozone somewhere east of Luckenbach Tx,
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Herman Melville: He's the darling of the English Lit types, but few read him voluntarily. His "Moby Dick" was a bust when first published and hasn't improved since. Proust: Another high-lit deity. His tedius "Rememberance of Things Past"is the perfect read for a post-lobotomy patients in solitary confinement. 
Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwords. - ROBERT HEINLEIN FROM: Becky -- FOR: Matt -- With Love a Festive contest winner - honest (audio version - very sexy) HOW HUMANS DO IT: a fish-eye view of sex an Editor's Pick - no kidding
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Rank: Penguin Wrangler
Joined: 12/25/2010
Posts: 1,708
Location: Under Your Bed, United States
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Dr. Seuss 1 fish, 2 fish, red fish, blue fish. Who the fuck does he think he is?
Life's a beach and then you dive.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 1/7/2012
Posts: 821
Location: United Kingdom
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E.L James has to be the top one for me, I gave up after the first few pages (and I read all the twilight books with not much problem).
Teased and Tormented -My very first story and competition entry is now up!
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Rank: Constant Gardener
Joined: 9/30/2009
Posts: 9,560
Location: Cakeland, United States
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TheDevilsWeakness wrote:
I'm not a huge fan of Stephen King either
Obviously...Immature tastebuds.  He's an acquired taste, much like... oysters. Nasty, earthy in salty oceanic way, down n dirty and just plain in your face.
 The best thing you can do for your fellow,
next to rousing his conscience, is - not to give him things
to think about, but to wake things up that are in him...
to make him think things for himself - George MacDonald
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 6/9/2012
Posts: 987
Location: A glen full of nymphs, United States
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Henry James.
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Rank: Her Royal Spriteness
Joined: 6/18/2010
Posts: 9,082
Location: My Tower, United States
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slipperywhenwet2012 wrote:Dr. Seuss
1 fish, 2 fish, red fish, blue fish.
Who the fuck does he think he is? those are feuding words! i learned everything i know from Dr Suess! *growls*
 Blondie's been itching to share another adventure sometime soon...
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 6/9/2012
Posts: 987
Location: A glen full of nymphs, United States
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Norman Mailer
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 3/5/2012
Posts: 292
Location: In my fantastic mind, Australia
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E.L James.
Honestly I'm happy that the Erotic genre is now mainstream and no one has to be embarrassed to be reading any type of erotica.
Just that her being a fantastic author made me laugh. If honestly if it was written by a teenage virgin then perhaps I would accept her work. However since it's written by a middle aged married woman .... uh yeah.
"Sexual pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken."
Simone de Beauvoir
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Rank: The Right Rev of Lush
Joined: 7/3/2009
Posts: 2,568
Location: Lost in the ozone somewhere east of Luckenbach Tx,
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Gotta agree with Her Spriteness when it comes to the good Dr. S. "Green Eggs And Ham" is, without doubt, THE great American novel. ;)
Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwords. - ROBERT HEINLEIN FROM: Becky -- FOR: Matt -- With Love a Festive contest winner - honest (audio version - very sexy) HOW HUMANS DO IT: a fish-eye view of sex an Editor's Pick - no kidding
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 10/17/2012
Posts: 639
Location: London, Canada
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A lot of the popular "mainstream" fantasy writers like David Eddings, Robert Jordan, etc. Just because you CAN stretch a story out into 10+ books of cliches and pedestrian writing doesn't mean you SHOULD. I'm giving George R. R. Martin a pass on this, though, since, IMHO, A Song of Ice and Fire/A Game of Thrones actually went in some new directions and is well written compared to the others.
Bill and his daughter-in-law Becky relieve each other's sexual frustrations with a steamy summer affair Frustration and Relief
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 8/21/2009
Posts: 731
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
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Guest wrote:
I second that emotion.
I feel that to make such statements about a literary giant as apposed to the Danielle Steels of this world requires some explanation. For example I can't stand J.K. Rowling because she just took the idea of a privileged education added magic to it and then churned out works in a formula as was Ian Fleming's stuff. However Hemingway's unique, terse style manages because of the structure to say so much with so few words and remains because of this always undated.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 8/21/2009
Posts: 731
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
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Guest wrote:Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is the most overrated novel. How this book filled with filler and characters I am never given a reason to give a damn about ever got held in such high regard much less kept in high regard is beyond my ability to comprehend. The Great Gatsby is an indictment against elitism and the power it pursues and consolidates - the opening page tells you that. The symbolism is within the imagery and the dialogue. "He's the man who fixed the World Series." for example. The author was one of America's finest with a deceptively easy reading style.
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Rank: Advanced Wordsmith
Joined: 10/3/2012
Posts: 71
Location: United States
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WellMadeMale wrote:JK Rowling ... gimme a fcking break I can't believe I'm gonna say this but, Rowling is great. Let me explain. I was a hater but I had a college class that covered the book to movie adaptations. She weaved themes of religion and bigotry throughout the stories to the point most readers don't even realize they are there. Also, the first book was aimed at 10-12 year-olds. She progressed the sophistication of her writing style with her audience. Pretty amazing accomplishment. If you want over-rated, check out Lahaye and Jenkins, the guys that wrote the "Left Behind" series.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 6/9/2012
Posts: 987
Location: A glen full of nymphs, United States
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Pearl Buck.
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Rank: Rookie Scribe
Joined: 12/3/2012
Posts: 2
Location: United States
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Dan Brown comes first to my mind also.
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Rank: Penguin Wrangler
Joined: 12/25/2010
Posts: 1,708
Location: Under Your Bed, United States
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sprite wrote:
those are feuding words! i learned everything i know from Dr Suess! *growls*
Easy there, spritey. Just a bit of sarcasm. Dr. Seuss will always be my fave.
Life's a beach and then you dive.
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Rank: Her Royal Spriteness
Joined: 6/18/2010
Posts: 9,082
Location: My Tower, United States
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slipperywhenwet2012 wrote:
Easy there, spritey. Just a bit of sarcasm. Dr. Seuss will always be my fave.
i've killed for less, you know :D
Blondie's been itching to share another adventure sometime soon...
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 4/30/2012
Posts: 329
Location: under bright lights, United States
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Scott Turow, James Patterson.
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