While I wait for my copy of Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince to be delivered I have had plenty of opportunity to witness the reactions of a variety of people to the phenomenon that is Harry - from the new pope’s condemnation, (if he can’t tell that this book teaches between right and wrong it certainly explains a lot of the Catholic Church’s moral stands) to treatises on declining sales of books written for adults. (No this is not a week late in being posted: I’m a weird bibliophile and have ordered my copy from Bloomsbury in England. I prefer their publications; the binding is better and the paper is higher quality.)
It’s funny how the publication of a new Harry Potter always brings about soul-searching on the part of so-called serious writers. They ponder and pontificate about the state of the novel, and how sales are down with a few obvious exceptions. Like Hollywood moguls discussing diminishing box office returns, they comment on the new competition for the entertainment dollar and other societal factors. But they all seem to be ignoring a key factor in their considerations. People don’t buy what they don’t like.
After reading one heart-rending article by a writer wondering what would happen to his books about urban life, they sounded sort of like field guides to thirty-somethings of the eastern sea board, I began to wonder if the problem wasn’t with the public but with the people producing the product.
A new hardcover book in Canada will set you back $40.00 with 7% tax. Even a mass-market paperback can be as high as $9.99 plus tax. That’s quite an investment to ask anybody to make. To ask them to make it on the speculation that they might like what’s being sold is quite the risk.
The number of times that I’ve dished out thirty to forty dollars and been disappointed is probably equal to the times I’ve been satisfied. I hate to say it but invariably the books that seem to fall well below my expectations are those most heavily touted by critics, or the ones on everyone’s bestseller lists. Very rarely now will I go out and buy a book on the recommendation of something I’ve read about in anybody’s book section.
Article comments
1 - Bonnie
$9.99 for a mass market paperback here in Canada, these days, would be a steal!
Your commentary on the HP phenomenon is interesting, but I wonder if there isn't another piece to it: modern literature is focussed on ambiguity. So often in a popular novel, the characters are dislikable, or exist purely in a selfish place, or are perpetually immature. It is, perhaps, a reflection of the world as it is, but certainly not as we tend to believe it should be.
Harry Potter offers characters that are learning from their mistakes. It offers a scheme of good and evil that is, for the most part, identifiable. The characters are flawed, but they are still noble and sacrificing and heroic.
In other words, Harry Potter lets us believe in a better version of ourselves than most of its contemporary, adult shelf-mates. When literature has so much to say about despair, Harry Potter is fantastically hopeful. That morality play of it is totally part of the tradition of fireside story telling, and I agree that this may be something that we readers are missing.
2 - Karen Syed
I found this spot very timely and very true in many ways. As a new publisher, I am always looking for the stories that will move readers. I want to see our readers laugh and cry and often even get angry.
I will admit to not having ready any of the Potter books, that is my choice. Nevertheless, Rowling has tapped into a portion of the market that was previously out of touch with us...the writers and publishers. She has opened up doors for new readers of all ages and for that every writer in the universe should be thankful. Am I? Sure.
At my company, Echelon Press, we offer unique stories. As an author I found myself unable to write what Harlequin or the other major houses wanted me to. I had stories in my head that were/are fresh and original, not like everyone else is writing.
My authors are much the same. When I publish a story at Echelon it is because I absolutely love it and am willing to make the investment of time and money. It has reached deep inside me and grabbed me. I love that feeling.
One thing we strive for is to make the reader see it! To play through the scenes in their minds like a video.
For writers, the best thing they can do is to consider the reader and how they live their lives. This blogger has hit it right on the head. Life is full of stress and crap and even if an author chooses an issue that is "ripped from the headlines" it needs to have some remarkable characteristic that makes it unique. So often the books put out are lacking those qualities and as a publisher I know that is really makes the readers angry and reluctant to dive in.
So as I ramble on, I thank this blog critic for speaking up for readers and for giving the best selling writers of the future something to think about.
3 - MULLVANEY
What a timely comment! Who decided that we all wanted to read about the wretched lives of angst-ridden single people? Who wants to read about despair, debasement, impotence, betrayal, and what women put into their mouths? Jane Eyre was na ordinary woman who had adventures, why can't Bridget Jones? Is it any wonder adults are so fascinated with children's literature?
4 - alyson michalka
Hey its me from phil of the future I play keely so I'm Alyson Michalka and I think what you wrote was amazing but why not writing a story you want and anything could happen and it could beabout any body you want.
5 - alex
i love you alyson michalka!