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Original poster

So many books where the whole plot is utterly predictable

13 replies

Nerf · 07/02/2015 22:39

The State Were In by Adele parks for example. So bloody obvious who shed end up with, every single 'twist' was predictable, the dialogue was ridiculous and the
characters did stuff people don't do.how does this stuff get published?

OP posts:
antimatter · 07/02/2015 22:53

I think publishers count on people going for recommendations on amazon pages alongside lines: If you like book A then you are going to like book B, where book A and book B share 80% of "tricks of the trade" authors learned during Creative writing course.

Original poster
Nerf · 07/02/2015 23:07

True probably, but the whole 'meets stranger and hates them/ knows they can't be together' thing is veeeerrrryy boring now.

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imaginative · 08/02/2015 11:08

Two books where the twist certainly isn't predictable are 'I Let you Go' and 'What Laura Saw'. But yes, in general, plot twists are predictable.

Original poster
Nerf · 08/02/2015 12:28

Oh I will try those. Thank you. To make it worse the stupid publishers have added 'shhhhhh! We live this book and the twist so much, don't tell anyone the ending bla bla' to a page at the back and it makes me want to amazon review it and reveal the crap twist.

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mistymeanour · 08/02/2015 12:29

I agree. Got the Adele Parks book free - cliched and ridiculous. Beautiful rich people, totally riduclous coincidences. Her mother being "too old to start again" at 56!! FFS. Still - I read it - so who is the fool?

imaginative · 08/02/2015 13:02

I started reading the state we're in but quickly got bored. Luckily it was free. I did guess one of the two main twists in 'What Laura saw' but I rather think the author wanted the reader to piece together the clues. The other twist though, knocked me sideways and sent shivers down me! I was really determined to guess the twist in 'I Let You Go' and I am pretty good at sussing them out, but I didn't get it! I think 'I Let You Go' is as near perfect a book as I have ever read.

Original poster
Nerf · 08/02/2015 13:36

My favourite twist is in 'every Last one' I'm going to get the other two you've recommended though.

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imaginative · 08/02/2015 14:05

I'm going to get 'Every Last one'. Love a good twist.

Original poster
Nerf · 08/02/2015 14:06

Oh good. Then you have to come back and talk to me about it!

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imaginative · 08/02/2015 14:25

Just started to read 'Wrecked' but have downloaded the free sample of 'Every Last One' and will probably read it next if I like the sample. :)

Original poster
Nerf · 08/02/2015 15:41

Just been to waterstones and the two books aren't there. Are they self published? I've read so much dross that way in slightly put off Grin

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imaginative · 08/02/2015 15:59

I don't know. They are both very well edited - no grammar or spelling mistakes that you can often find in self published work. I avoid the dross by downloading the free sample on my kindle. If you don't have a kindle you can read the first 10% on Amazon 'Look inside'. I never buy a book now unless I like the free sample. I've bought far too much disappointing rubbish in the past. But I can vouch for both books being very good. More story telling page turners than literary fiction though. You can order the paperbacks from Amazon.

Original poster
Nerf · 08/02/2015 18:09

Okay thank you, will do. I have a whole collection called 'started but we're dreadful' on my kindle !

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