tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post3030424850658603843..comments2024-03-16T22:32:46.026-06:00Comments on It's All About Books: Edgy Books vs. Gentle BooksSueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926501219758538615noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-8799198957772248722011-03-01T14:06:46.260-07:002011-03-01T14:06:46.260-07:00I loved a lot of the books on your list, so I thin...I loved a lot of the books on your list, so I think I'm a fan of gentle books. The key is, if there's not a lot of action, it has to be ebautifully written.Melissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-62699499663467684702011-02-25T19:55:02.768-07:002011-02-25T19:55:02.768-07:00What a great discussion! I have to agree that whic...What a great discussion! I have to agree that which type of book I pick up depends on my mood. I like edgy and gentle both! Of the two, I think it may be a little harder to write the gentle stories, as you can't rely on action to propel the plot. Just my opinion of course, as I haven't written either.<br /><br />I'd add any of Debbie Macomber's books to the gentle list, as they are more character driven and "quiet". I love Debbie's books and they're almost like comfort food. :)<br /><a href="http://alexia561.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Alexia's Books and Such...</a>Alexia561https://www.blogger.com/profile/10797515620050469395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-90065548540955251862011-02-25T19:46:58.864-07:002011-02-25T19:46:58.864-07:00I think there is a time and place for gentle books...I think there is a time and place for gentle books, but I must admit I don't seek them out as much as I seek out edgy books.Jennershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044537551139633301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-34869469785669472432011-02-25T15:59:29.811-07:002011-02-25T15:59:29.811-07:00Laura: I agree, we need to remember that, that the...Laura: I agree, we need to remember that, that there is good.<br /><br />T: I don't like those F bombs either... and I would love edgy even more if that didn't seem to be a part of it.<br /><br />Caroline: I can see what you mean. But I for one, enjoy quiet now and then! But quiet and boring are two different things, right? Yep.<br /><br />TG: And gentle only means boring to SOME people... I'm guessing there's a lot of edgy books that are pretty boring too. But I get what you are saying. And I don't mean gentle to be just necessarily clean books, but less fast paced books and.... sheesh, I still like my quiet word! :)Sueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926501219758538615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-20279908000994979972011-02-25T11:46:29.681-07:002011-02-25T11:46:29.681-07:00If gentle means boring then I'd take edgy any ...If gentle means boring then I'd take edgy any day. But just because it's edgy doesn't mean it's gritty. Know what I mean? A fun fast paced adventure can be as clean as a boring (nothing happens) book. Wow, I feel like I'm not making sense. I just mean, I don't think gentle means boring.Techno Grandmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12426619451883902191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-66584814731787393242011-02-25T10:23:17.649-07:002011-02-25T10:23:17.649-07:00As an author, to have your work described as quiet...As an author, to have your work described as quiet by an editor is a death knell. I have to remember, though, readers don't necessarily read and feel as editors do.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-2048437629783986592011-02-25T10:18:23.991-07:002011-02-25T10:18:23.991-07:00for me it's all about what I need... well, ex...for me it's all about what I need... well, except when it's about what I've committed to review soon and have to finish!!! <br /><br />Sometimes Edgy is what I need... and sometimes Gentle gives me a lot of insight...<br /><br />I like your definition of Edgy a lot more than some people's by the way... because "Edgy" to them seems to mean it's okay to throw 20+ F'bombs into a YA novel... that kind of Edgy I can do without.TisforTonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16666161027683872670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-48014765090876242532011-02-24T22:36:00.863-07:002011-02-24T22:36:00.863-07:00What a great list of books I consider gentle too.
...What a great list of books I consider gentle too.<br /><br />I too, have to switch between the gritty and gentle. When I book (especially Dystopian) is so gritty or depressing . A gentle reminds you that there is some good in the world.Laura Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585254426161993523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-54491899204323379722011-02-24T22:30:39.195-07:002011-02-24T22:30:39.195-07:00It's being fun to hear what everyone thinks! T...It's being fun to hear what everyone thinks! Thanks for the comments!<br /><br />Topher: Yes, definitely about mood for me too.<br /><br />Caroloine: Oh dear! I liked my words for gentle! I think quiet and slow are wonderful sometimes... but like I said... depending on your mood. I totally agree that there is a middle ground between the two, and in fact, probably most books fit into that spot. <br /><br />Donna: I almost put Guernsey on my list, but decided it just had enough "hard" stuff so I left it off.<br /><br />Andi: Exactly.<br /><br />L: LOVED when you said if everything is edgy, than gentle becomes edgy! Perfect! :)<br /><br />Juju: Yes, me too.<br /><br />Chris: Gentle is like a balm after reading too much edgy. I love it.<br /><br />Karen: Good suggestions!<br /><br />Ann: I loved this term too, which is why I just had to ponder it some more.<br /><br />Mandy: Awesome! Thanks. :)Sueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926501219758538615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-24601640571708522202011-02-24T20:32:20.358-07:002011-02-24T20:32:20.358-07:00I love cozy mysteries and also Jan Karon.I have ne...I love cozy mysteries and also Jan Karon.I have never thought of using the word gentle to describe them but it's probably appropriate.<br />AnnAnn Summervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300190648788509096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-21221274646698357962011-02-24T18:56:18.197-07:002011-02-24T18:56:18.197-07:00I like a nice gentle book -- some of the Persephon...I like a nice gentle book -- some of the Persephones like Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day fall into this category. I also read my first Miss Read recently, some people compare those to the Mitford books. It was a literary respite. I loved it.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-51365568410510493462011-02-24T17:19:55.857-07:002011-02-24T17:19:55.857-07:00I have a love for both types. The Blue Castle is a...I have a love for both types. The Blue Castle is a favorite as is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Polar opposites. It really depends on my mood and if I've had enough of one and need the other for a change.Chrisbookaramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972547663609480210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-30223632497121867292011-02-24T13:41:29.004-07:002011-02-24T13:41:29.004-07:00I looove gentle books. I think it takes real talen...I looove gentle books. I think it takes real talent to convey love and romance with out the obvious. Great post.Tales of Whimsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938494589922620170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-9055909989755165012011-02-24T13:33:38.134-07:002011-02-24T13:33:38.134-07:00excellent post Suey, thought-provoking.
i, too, ...excellent post Suey, thought-provoking.<br /><br /><br />i, too, often interchange gritty <br />with edgy, but they are not necessarily the same. a "gentle" novel can have an edge that slices and provokes--and really, that is how i prefer my gentle reads. and i appreciate your list and the difficulty in creating one. i like that you listed quiet as a descriptor.<br /><br />i can see the desire to shock the reader into generating a pulse if the concern is a popular market inundated with relatively little variety. and some of that grit begins to feel recycled. it must be tiring to write to marketable expectation or the present feeding frenzy when high voltage stimulation is what they are seemingly clamoring for... <br /><br />i, like previous commenters, believe in the practice of a more balanced diet.. <br /><br />besides, nothing is edgy if everything is edgy, is it?--except maybe those gentle books?<br /><br />~LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-91819938857974655042011-02-24T12:12:51.179-07:002011-02-24T12:12:51.179-07:00I'm such a moody reader, I take the edgy books...I'm such a moody reader, I take the edgy books and the gentle ones by turns.Andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220718933942181809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-50355358448678236032011-02-24T12:11:23.220-07:002011-02-24T12:11:23.220-07:00I'm with you, Suey. I think there's room f...I'm with you, Suey. I think there's room for both. I was so ANGRY after I finished "Mockingjay" that I had to go and read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" again to feel better. It certainly had an edge, too, dealing with the horrors the people from Guernsey had to live through during the German occupation, but the humor and joy of life that drove it is uplifting. I can only take so much edgy. I wouldn't want a world with only gentle; we all need our thrills. ; )Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-90597470955654537462011-02-24T12:08:56.417-07:002011-02-24T12:08:56.417-07:00It's interesting to see your range of words fo...It's interesting to see your range of words for gentle titles -- heartwarming, quiet, slower. Not deeply flattering for a writer (please don't take offense!).<br /><br />While I don't write edgy, I hope I don't write sweet. Does this make sense? I will never be a flashy, envelope-pushing writer. It's not my style. Still, there must be a place between gentle and edgy where my work would fall.<br /><br />Other authors, what do you think? I'd love to hear more on this! Thanks, Suey, for starting the discussion.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566869117228903343.post-73753660077550019962011-02-24T12:05:13.262-07:002011-02-24T12:05:13.262-07:00I am not sure about a general preference among rea...I am not sure about a general preference among readers, but for me it's about mood. Sometimes I eat up books (love Remains of the Day!), and at other times I just can't get through even the most action-filled or gritty book.<br /><br />I do find that unless I have a lot of time to devote to reading, I'm unable to get into slower-paced books that aren't exactly about what's happening. If I can only grab twenty minutes here or there, I need something that is faster in pace and where I don't need to spend time thinking about things I'm reading.<br /><br />I have not read half of those books! And I can't really think of any I'd add, at the moment.CGLnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08182797883212581609noreply@blogger.com