What are the elements of a bestselling novel? Professor and mystery writer James W. Hall shows how books excite an audience and become best sellers. Hall developed a Popular Literature course where he and his class explored a dozen best sellers to discover the key factors that resulted in the books selling millions of copies. If you’re interested in books and authors who climb to the top of the best sellers’ lists, Hit Lit has plenty of analysis and interesting facts to illustrate how the process works. Fascinating! For a more detailed review, click here. GRADE: A
What–no mention of James Patterson, Nicholas Sparks, or John Grisham? And no love for TWILGHT, THE HUNGER GAMES, or (gasp!) 50 SHADES OF GREY?
Sorry–did not remember the “20th Century” part of the title until I posted.
/Caffeine. I need caffeine. (Although I suspect the way best-sellers are developed now is going to be very different from the way they were developed in the 20th century.)
I’m waiting on my Braun coffee maker, too, Deb. Yes, much of HIT LIT deals with 20th Century best sellers. But James W. Hall, author of 17 novels, does make comments on current best selling books and writers.
I wonder if the elements that constitute a best seller change over time? They must. Looks good but I am not sure it would be applicable to today’s market. See if my library has this.
I found HIT LIT a quick read, Patti. And Hall has plenty of things to say about the “formula” for a best seller.
I guess I’ve never believed that there was a formula for a best seller. It’s always seemed to me that it takes one – or more – of 3 things: a known best selling author’s newest book, a publisher who pushes the book hard, especially to influential reviewers, a “spark” of some kind that just seems to ignite interest in a book for no apparent reason, similar to how some people seem to achieve usually short-lived stardom. For non-fiction, and I’m not sure this book addresses that, it’s mostly the timeliness of the topic, I think.
Rick, the first factor you mention is certainly true. I am frequently appalled but not surprised when people I consider mediocre (or worse) writers make the bestseller lists again and again. It’s hard not to be a snob but Sturgeon’s Law definitely holds here.
Jackie tried to read a Danielle Steel book a couple of years ago and was just shocked at how terrible it was. I found DaVinci Code unreadable. And don’t even get me started on Robin Cook.
Bill Crider said TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyers was the worst book he had ever read, Jeff. I agree with you on Dan Brown’s novels.
Patterson, King, Collins, the list goes on and on… It’s a shame, especially when there are people for whom the best seller list is their reading list!
You’re right, Rick. Too many people only read a couple books a year. Their critical faculties are nil.
I was just thinking how nice it is to have this 3-way conversation without waiting two months between comment and answer…
I didn’t mind Da Vinci Code, but then I listened to it as an audio book while out for walks so that’s quite different then trying to read the thing.
THE DA VINCI CODE wasn’t the worst book in the world, but it needed an editor Big Time, Rick. You’re right about audio books really exposing the gaffs in novels.
I’ll be ordering this book.
Fifty Shades of Grey is selling like hotcakes at our bookstore. One of my friends read it and thought it was mediocre at best, claiming there were better sex scenes in Judith Krantz novels. My theory is that this is popular for the generations that missed out on the steamy novels in their youth. Harold Robbins, Terry Southern, Erica Jong, Henry Miller, Anais Nin, etc. never got rich from us because a whole class passed around the same book. Today nobody knows who they are and Fifty Shades of Grey keeps on selling.
50 SHADES OF GREY is a huge seller at the independent bookstore I frequent, Beth. I have no interest in “Mommy porn” as the media have labeled E. L. James’ work. You’ll love HIT LIT!
When I heard that 50 SHADES started out as Twilight fan fiction it was all I needed to know. And no, despite their claims that men read them too (which men are those, exactly?) I don’t think this household will be among the readers.
I have no interest in “Mommy porn,” Jeff. I guess there’s a market for boring S&M, but I’m not in that demographic.
I reserved HIT LIT at the library and it is already on the way!
You’ll find HIT LIT intriguing, Jeff.
My library doesn’t have it. Make a copy, Jeff. (Only kidding).
Ask your library to buy HIT LIT, Patti. My library buys everything I suggest.