Avoiding specifics

[dolorosa_12]

Today's book meme prompt asks a question that I feel a bit strange answering:

26. A book you recommend but cannot love


I'm in fandom, and fannish spaces — and, specifically, on Dreamwidth — because I want to talk about things I love, and, if possible, share the enthusiasm with others. Of course, every so often I read a book or watch a show that underwhelms me, and I'll say so. But I'm not here to wallow in negativity, or hate-read things, or spend all my time criticising works of fiction. Apart from anything else, the things I criticise might be deeply loved by others in these spaces, and I don't want to shove negativity about their favourite shows or stories in their faces.

For this reason, I don't want to talk specifics in this post. There are various things — whether stylistic choices, genres, tropes, or particular themes or character types — that I'm never going to enjoy (or only enjoy in rare exceptions). But I would recommend books that contained these elements wholeheartedly if someone asked for recommendations of such things: I can recognise the technical proficiency, even if I don't love the book in question.

As I say, I could be more specific and name individual books here, but it feels needlessly negative.



27. A book you love but cannot recommend

28. A book you adore that people are surprised by

29. A book that led you home

30. A book you detest that people are surprised by

Comments

[lirazel]

This is a very kind post. I wouldn't interpret you saying, "I recommend this but don't love it" as negative, but I love your commitment to being positive!!!

[dolorosa_12]

Well, your comment is a kind one itself!

It's just that I know a lot of things that really don't work for me (books written in present tense, pretty much all tropey m/m romance, the entire oeuvre of specific authors, YA novels where the main character ends up with their childhood best friend) are things enjoyed by a lot of people here, and it just feels needlessly confrontational to list them in a post like this one. But if someone asked for recommendations for such things, I could certainly recommend examples that I found technically proficient but left me cold.

[merit]

A book can always find someone to love it! Though tbh I may rather like a book, but love to reserved for a select few.

[dolorosa_12]

I think I'm a bit too free when it comes to loving works of fiction — I scatter my love like confetti, liberally and excessively. And once I decide I love something, that feeling remains forever (with few exceptions), even if the love is based solely on said work of fiction having been important to me at an earlier stage of my life.

[dhampyresa]

I want to talk about things I love, and, if possible, share the enthusiasm with others.
Ooh same!

[dolorosa_12]

I remain baffled (although I probably shouldn't) by how many people seem to be in fandom solely to hateread/hatewatch, or complain about the popularity of things they don't like (especially if it's supposedly at the expense of things they do like ... surely making fanworks and hyping up the stuff you like will do more to create a fandom for that thing than whining about its supposedly inferior rival?). It's as if instead of their fandom being a show, or a book series, or a video game or whatever, complaining or criticising other fans' tastes is those people's fandom!

Like, I write short recaps/reviews of almost every book I read, and I'm going to say if I didn't like the book or if certain elements didn't work for me ... but I'm going to expend the bulk of my fannish energy talking about all the many other books that I do love.

[dhampyresa]

I won't say I'm above complaining sometimes, but I do try my best to signpost it in such as way as to not rain on anyone's parade. And I do try to spend most of my energy on positive stuff.

surely making fanworks and hyping up the stuff you like will do more to create a fandom for that thing than whining about its supposedly inferior rival?
Exactly! Someone shitting on Thing A to praise Thing B has never endeared Thing B to me, no matter my feelings on Thing A.

[dolorosa_12]

Someone shitting on Thing A to praise Thing B has never endeared Thing B to me, no matter my feelings on Thing A.

Same here.