You think it’s easy choosing the worst writing in books published in the U.S. in 2008? Consider the following lines by Delete Key Awards finalists Jodi Picoult and Stephenie Meyer, both from the Department of Bad Dialogue.
From Stephenie Meyer’s novel The Host:
“ ‘Well, for Pete’s sake!’ Jeb exclaimed. ‘Can’t nobody keep a secret around this place for more’n 24 hours? Gol’ durn, this burns me up!’”
From Jodi Picoult’s novel Change of Heart:
“Not that Jesus wasn’t a really cool guy – great teacher, excellent speaker, yadda yadda yadda. But … Son of God? Where’s the proof?”
and
“You don’t think it’s possible that Mr. Smythe was … well … resurrected?”
Should Meyer or Picout win a Delete Key Award for the year’s worst writing on books on Monday? Or should one of the other finalists get an award? (You can read all the shortlisted passages in 10 posts, one for each finalist, that appeared on One-Minute Book Reviews on Feb. 26 and that explain why the lines were selected.) If you would like to try to tamper with the jury for the Delete Key Awards, you have until Saturday to weigh in for Meyer or Picoult. The winners will be named starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday.
(c) 2009 Janice Harayda. All rights reserved.
One-Minute Book Reviews 
Meyer should win, because her bad writing is badly influencing a bunch of teens, pre-teens, and young adults who are reading this book (and the subsequent books in the series).
Comment by speedytexaslibrarian — March 10, 2009 @ 6:07 pm |
It’s so disheartening to think that she’s influencing that group, but from everything I’ve read, you’re right. And that means that a new generation is growing up thinking that it makes sense to say, “It’s a voluntary choice.”
Makes you wonder if a generation from now the pro-choice and pro-life groups will be called “Pro Voluntary Choice” and “Pro Alive Life.” On the evidence of her books, that’s where we’re headed.
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — March 10, 2009 @ 6:40 pm |
[…] even in the midst of a massacre. Her dialogue is laugh out loud funny and possibly a dig at Stephenie Meyer/Anne Rice’s […]
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