Can the Same-Old, Same-Old Be Great?

JaneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 755

Generally speaking, I think any author can find a lot of material to mine in her bag of tricks without becoming boring and having to "stretch" herself. I wouldn't want Loretta Chase to drop her intelligent, self-reliant heroines and start writing clinging vines, for example, and I would never complain that they are repetitious. On the contrary, there have been several times when I stopped reading an author because she did head off in a new direction but it was a direction I didn't much care for.

However, I recently started a new book by an old favorite author, and I kept thinking I had read it before. I checked the copyright date and no, it really was a new book. As I continued, I kept thinking, "Wait a minute, I remember this scene. It was in Book A. And this one is from Book B."

If I had never read this author before, it wouldn't be a problem. But since I had, I decided I could have reached into my bookcase for a reread and saved myself $7.99.

JaneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 755

Generally speaking, I think any author can find a lot of material to mine in her bag of tricks without becoming boring and having to "stretch" herself. I wouldn't want Loretta Chase to drop her intelligent, self-reliant heroines and start writing clinging vines, for example, and I would never complain that they are repetitious. On the contrary, there have been several times when I stopped reading an author because she did head off in a new direction but it was a direction I didn't much care for.

However, I recently started a new book by an old favorite author, and I kept thinking I had read it before. I checked the copyright date and no, it really was a new book. As I continued, I kept thinking, "Wait a minute, I remember this scene. It was in Book A. And this one is from Book B."

If I had never read this author before, it wouldn't be a problem. But since I had, I decided I could have reached into my bookcase for a reread and saved myself $7.99.

JudyZ6666 · Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Connecticut, USA

Natalie · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 1566

It's sort of natural that books by the same authors would have some similarities. In fact, some elements are even expected. For example, I came to expect that Lisa Kleypas always produces fun and sexy books so I was really disappointed in her latest contemps. As long as there's a variety in plots and characters, I'm ok with the similar styles.

What does frustrate me with the romance genre in general (or, at least, historicals) is that even books by different author have sameness to them (especially if they're set in the Regency era). It's as if authors find out about history through other wallpaper romance books (or, at best, Jane Austen).

Sure, I love romance because of the formula, but within it, there should be enough room for a decent author produce something different. There's way too much rehashing. I'm sick and tired of man-whores who can sleep around with everything that moves and yet stay disease free. At least Mr Darcy was a decent chap and rakes didn't seem to be respected in Austen's novels.