tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post8554532909340559778..comments2012-03-02T11:33:07.067-05:00Comments on Franklin, Ink: Snark, The DUFF and Earning the Right to ComplainTom M Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05168232678401202091noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-72509568670844320732011-03-11T10:24:47.668-05:002011-03-11T10:24:47.668-05:00As I've written several times, I recognize I&#...As I've written several times, I recognize I'm not the target demographic for The DUFF, and that may well color my view of it. My expectations of character and plot may not factor into much of what Keplinger did with her book. <br /><br />I think the important things are that we can discuss the differences rationally and respectfully, and that we're able to give specific reasons for our point of view. It's all part of that "social discourse" thing that a democracy requires to thrive.<br /><br />Oh, and I still agree with most of your posts, too, Kristi. : )<br /><br /><br />-- TomTom M Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168232678401202091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-42489032209926763692011-03-11T10:13:58.942-05:002011-03-11T10:13:58.942-05:00As you know, I disagree w/ this since I recommende...As you know, I disagree w/ this since I recommended this book on our blog today. :) I felt that her snark was her protection against being the "fat" girl, and that there was depth beneath it. I didn't see the sex as gratuitous because she used it as a means to escape, and many teens (and adults) who I've worked with in therapy have done this--so for me, it was very realistic. <br /><br />Overall, I think you demonstrate how subjective the business is and why one agent (or reader) might enjoy one book over another. I still agree with you on most of your posts. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-72440316274411346992010-10-28T20:57:16.692-04:002010-10-28T20:57:16.692-04:00This: "The other part of my problem with Bian...This: "The other part of my problem with Bianca was that she was so frustratingly passive. Events happen to her, bur rarely does she initiate them..." doesn't work for me AT ALL. It is one of my pet peeves in writing. You don't have to give me a happy ending, you don't have to give me characters doing the right thing, but you have to give me characters who are worth knowing something about, that is to say, characters who do SOMEthing. <br /><br />I haven't read The Duff, so I can't agree or disagree with your review of it.Elisabeth Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962421339750272755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-74697199484989070562010-10-19T11:51:02.357-04:002010-10-19T11:51:02.357-04:00Heather: I don't think the author's age sh...Heather: I don't think the author's age should enter into it. Her manuscript was accepted by an agent and that agent sold that manuscript to an editor and a publishing house who agreed to publish it. Each of those people had their own standards that the manuscript had to meet. (Remember, the days of publishing something because it is Great Literature are long gone. Every person along the way had to believe they could make money from the manuscript or it would have died along the way)<br /><br />I wonder if your problems with "the depth of character" are related to my problems with the character being so reactive and not making any of her own (crucial) decisions in the story?<br /><br /><br />-- TomTom M Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168232678401202091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-11669962239232670382010-10-19T11:46:06.092-04:002010-10-19T11:46:06.092-04:00Jessica: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. ...Jessica: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I completely understand the snarky attitude as defensive mechanism. My problem with it is that snark without working towards changing things for the better is just griping and griping is not moving your character forward. I don't think I missed the character under the snark. In fact, I think the character was all snark and no action -- and without action, a fictional character is seriously lacking, imho.<br /><br /><br />-- TomTom M Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168232678401202091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-58071039111832721792010-10-18T19:42:26.309-04:002010-10-18T19:42:26.309-04:00I'm not sure if you're looking at things f...I'm not sure if you're looking at things from the MC's perspective. I haven't read the thing, so I'll come back to you when I have. Being the 'fat friend' has given me plenty of things to complain about--that I can't change. A lot of people develop a snarky attitude in order to cope with the things in their life they don't have control over. Maybe you missed the character under the snark?Jessica Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405267450788581689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-20449599513403420802010-10-18T15:17:27.870-04:002010-10-18T15:17:27.870-04:00I was wishy washy about THE DUFF as well. I liked...I was wishy washy about THE DUFF as well. I liked some parts, but thought it wasn't overly well written. However, I didn't know the author was so young, so if I had known that, I probably would have re-adjusted my standards. Whether I should adjust my standards may be selling those young authors short. But anyway, I didn't have any problem with the sex scenes, but I did have a problem with the depth of character. I probably wouldn't hand this book out to the teens in my life like I do other books.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-59186961408089502922010-10-13T14:51:36.661-04:002010-10-13T14:51:36.661-04:00wise woman, your sister.
-- Tomwise woman, your sister. <br /><br /><br />-- TomTom M Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168232678401202091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617178309409190519.post-10965820845346378452010-10-13T14:46:35.070-04:002010-10-13T14:46:35.070-04:00My sister had a saying, you can only complain abou...My sister had a saying, you can only complain about the things you can't change. Because if you can change them, you'd better, and then there's nothing to complain about.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07038791555261462964noreply@blogger.com