Does a great book stop you reading more by the author?

[chesilbeach]

Here's the problem I have. In the last few years, I've read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and absolutely loved them both. But now I find I can't face reading either author's next book because I'm worried I'll feel disappointed. I feel as though if I read them and don't like the next book as much, it will somehow spoil my memory and past enjoyment of their previous books.

 

What I don't understand is why? I read my first Jasper Fforde around the same time and totally adored it, yet my first reaction was to go out and buy the rest and devour them in as short a space and time as possible. The same with Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, and I loved some of her other books even more, and some I have been disappointed by, but I still hold the first I read with the same affection, so why am I worried so much about Niffenegger and Zafon?

 

So I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same? Is there anyone you're reluctant to read any more of because you held the first book of theirs in such high esteem that you don't want to spoil it?

[Echo]

I sometimes have this problem. When I first read A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami, not only was I unable to review it for my blog, I was terrified to read another Murakami book. But I'm glad I did, I've read 3 more since then and I have another waiting for me on my bookshelf.

[Ruth]

It's more likely to make me buy everything they've ever written:)

[Ms Squiggles]

I agree with Ruth; reading one great book by an author just makes me want to go out, track down the rest of their back catalogue and get stuck in.

[chesilbeach]

Don't get me wrong, I too have done that with some books. As I said in my original post, I read The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde and was completely bowled over by it and went and bought all the others with eager excitement and read them all in quick succession. It's just that there are some books, like The Time Traveler's Wife and The Shadow of the Wind which have had exactly the same impact on me as The Eyre Affair but I just can't bear the thought that the author's other work might not live up to the first book of theirs I read.

[Kylie]

I don't think that has ever happened to me Chesil. If I read a book that I love I tend to go and buy everything by that author. And I guess I continue to do so, even if some of their works don't live up to my high expectations.

 

I can understand why you'd be reluctant to read Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry if you've been reading all the mediocre reviews that I've been reading (I mean that the reviews say that the book is mediocre, not that the reviews themselves are mediocre!)

[AbielleRose]

Same here, if a book is really able to capture me than I become a fan of the author, and regardless of how many works they've written- I'll go buy/read them all. That being said, you can't expect every single book written by someone is going to appeal to you. I'd read everything J.K. Rowling puts out, regardless of style or genre, and even if one was terrible (can't imagine it would be) it wouldn't take away from Harry Potter.

 

I can't imagine that reading one book that you didn't particularly like could turn you off an author unless it was the very first book of theirs that you try reading.

Edited August 21, 2010 by CaliLily

[Kell]

I've been putting off Her Fearful Symmetry, despite getting it for Xmas last year, even though I adored TTTW. I think bad reviews have helped put me off, but I know I'll get round to it eventually...

[smilerbabeuk]

I have had that happen to me. mostly I would search out more by the same author, but I have a couple that I almost too dear to risk others! I think its because I have been disappointed by second books I have read before, and if a book is really special I couldn't bear to spoil it.

[TashaG]

I was in a similar position with the Stephanie Meyer books! I loved the Twilight series but was really uncertain about reading The Host despite having had it bought for me. I had fallen in love with the concept behind the Twilight series and as a result hadn't really paid much attention to whether I thought the book was well written. So, when it came to reading The Host, I was apprehensive, the theme was totally different and I wasn't sure it would work. Like you Chesil I was worried it would affect my feelings towards the Twilight series. I did eventually read the book and absolutely loved it to bits, possibly even more than Twilight et al! TTTW was a unique idea so I can understand your feelings but it's kind of lke actors, you like some of what they do but some stuff just doesn't work!

[Nollaig]

After reading and loving The End Of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas, I was very reluctant to read Popco, but that was mainly I think because I wasn't as gone on the back cover blurb. As it is, I did buy it and read it, and I didn't enjoy it half as much as the former, but I love the former just as much all the same.

 

As a general rule with me, loving one book by an author is actually more likely to make me give them additional chances where I'd give an author whose first book I disliked no more chances at all. I will buy and read other books by Thomas because I know she can write something I adore, even if it's a 50/50 division so far. I won't read another Murakami because the one book I read by him was one of the most unenjoyable books I've ever forced my way through. It doesn't make a lot of sense really, because had I read Popco first I probably never would have read another Thomas, so in theory I should read two or three books by everyone whether I like the first one or not, logically.

 

Well, that went off into a tangent about probabilities and illogicality. As Tim Minchin would say, with jazz hands, 'maths!'

[Raven]

If the book was a continuation of a series that already had a natural end, I would probably be wary about reading more (the ole more doesn't necessarily equal better argument), but a completely different book by an author I really liked?

 

No, I'd be picking up that book and reading it the first chance I had.

 

I don't see how one story could spoil my memories of another unconnected story, even if it was written by the same author.

 

In fact, thinking about it, it hasn't. I didn't rate jPod after reading Microserfs, but it's not tinted my memories of the latter, which I will probably read again sometime (and I went on after reading jPod to read The Gum Thief which was excellent again). Similarly, the rather ordinary Juliet, Naked, hasn't coloured my memories of High Fidelity or Fever Pitch.

Edited August 21, 2010 by Raven

[lexiepiper]

Like others if I love a book, I'll hunt more down by the author, but I can definitely understand where you're coming from. The Time Traveler's Wife is my favourite book, so I was expecting great things from Her Fearful Symmetry, and I do wonder if that played a part in how disappointed I was by it. I'd definitely be less excited to read her next book, but I still love TTTW as much as I ever did You also have to take in to consideration, that just because a lot of other people haven't liked it that much, it's not to say you wont love it!

Edited August 21, 2010 by lexiepiper

[lauraloves]

I will end up buying the entire authors back catalogue if I like one of their books, I've just donr this with Penny vincenzi