tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post560773855057071413..comments2024-03-28T09:00:59.909+11:00Comments on The Vince Review: Do Books Go Off?Paula Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-42732693603995511232016-09-27T11:31:10.283+10:002016-09-27T11:31:10.283+10:00Hi Meredith,
I loved 'A Wretch Like Me'. I...Hi Meredith,<br />I loved 'A Wretch Like Me'. I remember burning the midnight oil the night I read it (in 1999, wasn't it?) knowing I should get a bit of sleep while my baby girl was out to it, and she's now almost 18.<br />Those 'to do' lists you mention never get any smaller, do they? We just strike off one job to add another.<br />Yes, it can be quite discouraging if we dwell on the changing face of the physical book markets, especially since the change seems to have happened fairly recently.<br />And pre-1970 books and their lack of PC - wow, I've laughed out loud at some of the outrageous content from modern standards.<br />Finally, yes, we keep plugging on. Thanks for the encouragement.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-51932640105116360552016-09-27T11:11:35.001+10:002016-09-27T11:11:35.001+10:00It's an interesting problem - and well written...It's an interesting problem - and well written by the way. I remember your Picking up the Pieces. I similarly went to publish 'A Wretch Like Me' as an e-book. Technologically, it was way out of date, and even the title probably wouldn't work in today's climate. It needed so much re-writing, it has gone back onto my list of things to do - one day. But the turn around in book shops is astounding. I put out 'Echoes in the Valley' last November. The large Christian Book chain in Australia, who has always supported me long and strong for over 17 years, only ordered about 1/3 of what they usually took, and within four months had them out at reduced to clear prices. They cleared the lot within about 7 months, and then said they wouldn't be taking anymore. Despite the fact that I got overwhelming positive feedback from the story. It's shelf-space, influx of titles and turn around. The only ones they keep in stock are the all time best sellers - Francine Rivers and company. It is a bit discouraging, as you say, it takes us at least a year, perhaps longer, to get a book written and produced, and to have it go 'off' after four months is discouraging. It makes you wonder if it is worth the effort in the first place. But of course we keep writing, because we cannot do otherwise, than to write. PS I love books that have been written in periods pre-1970. The language, ideas, and the total lack of PC is amusing.Meredith Rescehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119649437940781847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-16186813872458924252016-09-27T10:31:31.887+10:002016-09-27T10:31:31.887+10:00Hi Tabitha,
Yes, I agree. You make me think of whe...Hi Tabitha,<br />Yes, I agree. You make me think of when we looked into Charlotte Mason's writing during our earlier homeschooling years. I think what she called 'living books' are similar to the ones you mention here. They are timeless in their beauty and story telling.<br />Yes, we've read 'The Wishing Chair' too. I still have old copies from my own childhood. And Mollie and Peter's names are still up-to-date enough to miss the changes of the poor Faraway Tree kids :) <br />I love the ones which stay fresh through generations, because they link us with us predecessors, showing that basically, humanity never changes. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-3865762814458301532016-09-27T10:26:09.956+10:002016-09-27T10:26:09.956+10:00Hi Jenny,
Yes, fresh of the press books can contai...Hi Jenny,<br />Yes, fresh of the press books can contain dodgy values too. Those are the ones that get lots of people talking :) <br />I doubt I'd ever really update Picking up the Pieces again. At the time, the need was there because we wanted to release it as contemporary fiction again. But at some stage, you have to stop. It'll have to stand as an offering from the early 21st century now.<br />I like getting into older books and classics for the same reason you've mentioned. Sometimes, you can almost feel your fast-paced, 21st century brain slow down enough to take in the more leisurely prose.<br />As for e-books, the pros and cons are definitely both there, but I agree the blessing aspects carry them over. They are portable and their virtual shelf life will never stop. Who would have imagined such a thing even as recently as Picking up the Pieces' first appearance in 2000?Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-30981989795581759092016-09-27T09:37:12.330+10:002016-09-27T09:37:12.330+10:00Hmmm... good food for thought. I still believe tha...Hmmm... good food for thought. I still believe that a good story will stand the test of time. I personally love to look back at works from 20-30 years ago and see characters listening to cassette tapes and running about looking for phone booths. It's not the technology that ever puts me off books, just as it is not the technology that ever draws me to books. It's the story telling. And essentially, if the story is truly beautiful it will stand for generations. Take THE WISHING CHAIR for example. All of my children have read that, stuffy cover and all. I know the rereleased those books with new covers, but the story was essentially still the magic it has always been. There will be those books that go off, but that's because they were never timeless to begin with. There will be those authors who wrote popular opinion pieces or books with themes that were only ever going to be relevant to the time in which they were written, but there will be those books that are universally and timelessly true. There appeal as stories will reach long literary arms right through all the generations. And I suspect that, just like everything else in this industry is subjective, what one person thinks of as timeless another will think of as sour and off. <br />Blessings. Keeping writing xTabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-12923049374448014372016-09-27T09:02:21.290+10:002016-09-27T09:02:21.290+10:00Enjoyed your post, Paula. So many interesting poin...Enjoyed your post, Paula. So many interesting points. I do agree that the shelf life in bookstores have more to do with rotating new books than the books themselves. And true, values change - though even fresh off the press book can contain dodgy values. Interesting point about updating the technology in Picking Up the Pieces - I can see the need for a re-release - though each books is a reflection of the era it was written in & I rather like that. Also true that some older books are harder to read for the modern time-strapped and inpatient reader - though it is interesting how some classics still shine. I was recently surprised at how 'modern' I Can Jump Puddles (first published 1955) felt in style (though it does reflect the values of early 20th century in many ways). But over all, with the advent of online bookstores, good books can remain on the virtual 'shelf' for ever and, with e-books, never really go 'out of print' - that can be both a blessing (gives time to build up readership) and a curse (the number of books available just keeps multiplying exponentially). I think I'll accept it as a blessing :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.com