Some people say that best sellers are crap, because they appeal to the masses. Books like the Da Vinci Code, Carrie, etc.
Do you think so?
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Best Sellers.
I don't judge whether a book is crap or not because it sells well, or doesn't sell well. I decide after having read it, or tried to read it and not being able to finish. Actually, if I cannot get into a book and read it through, like The DaVinci Code, I can't say that it's crap anyway. I can only say it didn't hold my attention and interest and I didn't like what I read of it.
I never read best sellers, and rarely watch the movie. I dont know why...perhaps it's the stupid prejudiced in me, Lol.
In fact, I am currently reading a book about the best selling process, the whole misconceptions, the elitism, popular culture, etc. Let's see if it can change my thoughts about it.
In fact, I am currently reading a book about the best selling process, the whole misconceptions, the elitism, popular culture, etc. Let's see if it can change my thoughts about it.
Active Ink Slinger
Dan Brown's books are perfect backpacking literature. Bought and read 4 of his books back in 2005 while traveling in Australia and New-Zealand.
I guess it's like with movies and music. If you know what to expect and are fine with some popcorn entertainment then you'll enjoy them just fine. If you're expecting some deep intellectual life-changing reading/watching/listening experience then it's best to look elsewhere.
I guess it's like with movies and music. If you know what to expect and are fine with some popcorn entertainment then you'll enjoy them just fine. If you're expecting some deep intellectual life-changing reading/watching/listening experience then it's best to look elsewhere.
Insert typical super smart ass comment courtesy of thepainter here.
from 2007 http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/21-best-selling-books-of-all-time.htm
Title/Author Copies Sold (millions)
1. The Bible 5,000 - 6,000
2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong by Mao Zedong 900
3. The Qur'an 800
4. Xinhua Zidian 400
5. The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith, Jr. 120
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling 107
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 100
8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 100
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 65
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 65
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling 60
12. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger 60
13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling 55
14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 55
15. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling 55
16. Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace 50
17. Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning by Johanna Spyri 50
18. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 50
19. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock 50
20. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 50
21. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley 50
looks like to me there are some fabulous all time best sellers on the list!
Van
Title/Author Copies Sold (millions)
1. The Bible 5,000 - 6,000
2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong by Mao Zedong 900
3. The Qur'an 800
4. Xinhua Zidian 400
5. The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith, Jr. 120
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling 107
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 100
8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 100
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 65
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 65
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling 60
12. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger 60
13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling 55
14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 55
15. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling 55
16. Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace 50
17. Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning by Johanna Spyri 50
18. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 50
19. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock 50
20. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 50
21. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley 50
looks like to me there are some fabulous all time best sellers on the list!
Van
Quote by VanGogh
from 2007 http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/21-best-selling-books-of-all-time.htm
Title/Author Copies Sold (millions)
1. The Bible 5,000 - 6,000
2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong by Mao Zedong 900
3. The Qur'an 800
4. Xinhua Zidian 400
5. The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith, Jr. 120
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling 107
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 100
8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 100
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 65
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 65
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling 60
12. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger 60
13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling 55
14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 55
15. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling 55
16. Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace 50
17. Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning by Johanna Spyri 50
18. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 50
19. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock 50
20. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 50
21. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley 50
looks like to me there are some fabulous all time best sellers on the list!
Van
Yes, and some surprises, too. Good list, Van. (And that's just in the English language!)
Being a best seller isn't an automatic indicator that it's crap. At the same time it sure doesn't mean the work is necessarily great either. Few bestsellers hold appeal to me, as I have plenty of other rare gems to read that I personally find much more satisying. I would say the same holds for movies. Most blockbusters leave me feeling hungry. It's often the smaller films that leave me truly satisfied. There are so many variables that no one can really control that often make or break a book's sales. I know lots of very talented writers, who deserve more sales, but it's a very tricky thing to have a true bestseller. Timing and chance play a bigger role than sheer talent quite often. At the end of the day, I'm just happy if people are reading! I'm always happy to see one of my authors break through to the top, as it means they will be able to have more financial security to spend their time writing more books for me to enjoy.
Wild at Heart
I liked the daVinci code and angels and demons. They weren't great but I enjoyed them. The last one was horrible though.
I don't have much time to research great modern fiction so much of the reading I do are best sellers. Like right now I am going to read the Girl with the dragon tattoo. I heard good things and it has a cool cover and interesting description. So I just shrug my shoulders, buy it and hope it's good.
I don't have much time to research great modern fiction so much of the reading I do are best sellers. Like right now I am going to read the Girl with the dragon tattoo. I heard good things and it has a cool cover and interesting description. So I just shrug my shoulders, buy it and hope it's good.
Here are some of Oprah's Book Choices ... a few classics (which are wonderful to revisit) and new authors' works.
Enjoy ....
Van
2009
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
2008
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
2007
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier
2006
Night by Elie Wiesel
2005
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Light in August by William Faulkner
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
2004
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
2003
Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Enjoy ....
Van
2009
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
2008
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
2007
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier
2006
Night by Elie Wiesel
2005
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Light in August by William Faulkner
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
2004
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
2003
Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
VanGogh made her point there
Your statement Javier did confused me a bit:"... that best sellers are crap, because they appeal to the masses."
Meaning that only few of us can understand the mening of a book and a writer himself? That only special few can discover beauty of new, that only few are special and the others are just masses who cannot understand Tolstoy, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Márquez, Steinbeck, Tolkien...is this what are you saying?
I think I am wrong with this and that you are just pissed with major advertizing publishers.
Your statement Javier did confused me a bit:"... that best sellers are crap, because they appeal to the masses."
Meaning that only few of us can understand the mening of a book and a writer himself? That only special few can discover beauty of new, that only few are special and the others are just masses who cannot understand Tolstoy, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Márquez, Steinbeck, Tolkien...is this what are you saying?
I think I am wrong with this and that you are just pissed with major advertizing publishers.