tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post113192036280785290..comments2024-03-14T00:16:32.077-07:00Comments on 50 Books: BOOKS: So Long, Fiction. We Hardly Knew Ye.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16613804843380827691noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136138335019013742006-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:002006-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:00You are right on about the shelf-life of much curr...You are right on about the shelf-life of much current bestseller non-fiction. The problem with fiction seems to be the lack of good product. So much modern fiction is hollow, that readers craving more depth are forced either into the library where they can find a happily well-read copy of Les Miserables, or into creative non-fiction.Quillhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07601080339912553168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136137681666749312006-01-01T09:48:00.000-08:002006-01-01T09:48:00.000-08:00Personally, I read a ton of fiction, buy I don't b...Personally, I <I>read</I> a ton of fiction, buy I don't <I>buy</I> a ton of fiction. I save my purchases for non-fiction stuff that I find I'll reference again and again. I get my fiction from the library and if I feel I'll read it again, maybe I'll buy it. But that may just be me...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136088953313575942005-12-31T20:15:00.000-08:002005-12-31T20:15:00.000-08:00Blink was fabulous, so I recommend you read it, as...Blink was fabulous, so I recommend you read it, as with the Lovely Bones. Fantastic stuff. But, only my opinion.arihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18186582867025551433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136070079358505102005-12-31T15:01:00.000-08:002005-12-31T15:01:00.000-08:00I work in a small independent book store. We carr...I work in a small independent book store. We carry new books - bestsellers, plus lots of random/beautiful art and architecture books - as well as lots and lots of used fiction. New non-fiction is by far the biggest seller we have. Definitely our bread and butter, no matter how much we push the eclectic used philosophy books, Graham Greene, Haruki Murakami, poets, playwrights, etc (we're snobbish). Can't keep <I>The World is Flat</I> or <I>Freakonomics</I> in stock. I don't know if that means fiction is dead, but it's not what people are buying (which is just what your Amazon survey told you, as well). Someone just yesterday asked me "What's your biggest fiction seller lately? What's really flying off the shelves?" and I had to stop and think hard. I couldn't come up with any new, hot fiction titles for almost a minute. Then all I could pull out of my hat was the new James Patterson or P.D. James. <BR/><BR/>Hmm. I just got sad.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11512439174547799182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136038865845993482005-12-31T06:21:00.000-08:002005-12-31T06:21:00.000-08:00I think non-fiction has become more entertaining,...I think non-fiction has become more entertaining, like fiction. The more like fiction it is, the more successful non-fiction is, in my oh-so-scientific opinion. And as a curious Catholic, how do other people accumulate?Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00585179358306590340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1136000185213775742005-12-30T19:36:00.000-08:002005-12-30T19:36:00.000-08:00Yeah, I think the gist of your argument is very ri...Yeah, I think the gist of your argument is very right on. Case in point from my own life is the enormous number of (mostly useless) parenting books that I own. Sometimes, books can't fix the thing that needs fixing;).landismomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328094347362872558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135997968980581102005-12-30T18:59:00.000-08:002005-12-30T18:59:00.000-08:00Here is a fact that I can't back up, but am sure I...Here is a fact that I can't back up, but am sure I read somewhere, older people tend to read more non-fiction than fiction. Considering our aging population, is the surge in non-fiction so unexpected?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135985210864371702005-12-30T15:26:00.000-08:002005-12-30T15:26:00.000-08:00Long-time lurker coming out of the woodwork:Not su...Long-time lurker coming out of the woodwork:<BR/><BR/>Not surprised by these sales. How many people throw away money every other week on the latest diet fad book? This is representative of our quick-fix culture.<BR/><BR/>It's ironic you bring this up now. I was just discussing fiction versus non-fiction with my mother, who feels reading fiction is "A waste of time." I don't know how people can feel that way...i've been more moved by many of the fiction novels i've read than through any other type of media. It's true, however, that I'll remember the great fiction i've read much longer than any of the non-fiction I've read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135983457492297882005-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:002005-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00i love non-fiction, but you're right, i finish mor...i love non-fiction, but you're right, i finish more fiction than non-fiction. and you're kidding, Valley of the Dolls is #2? no way! i figured it would be The Godfather, what with the Catholics and all. hee.<BR/>-jpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135975836131614342005-12-30T12:50:00.000-08:002005-12-30T12:50:00.000-08:00I'm a non-fiction person also. Until now, I thoug...I'm a non-fiction person also. Until now, I thought that made me a weirdo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com