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How Not To Write a Best Seller

Submitted by Tony Esposito, May 18, 2007 10:59

It is a peculiar article to ask the question why a particular book, in this case, "Then We Came to the End," by Joshua Ferris, did not become a best seller. David Blum, who wrote the article, might have liked the book, he might have liked it a lot, in which case, he could have written a favorable review. But to wonder in print why it didn't go to the NY Times best sellers list seems a bit fey. "Then We Came to the End" is technically well-written, but, of course, you expect it to be. Beyond that, it falls flat in a few ways. First of all, it reads like a textbook, a manual, a handout at a management training seminar. The prose is dull and monotone. This is especially damaging to the enjoyment of the book because there is so much derision and cynicism cast at the characters. Secondly, the humor is inert. There is no excitement in the telling of the fun or the strange or the satire. Third, the story has the grip and poignancy of rumour - unless it affects you personally, it has the shelf life of one of the labeled yogurt cups in Mr. Ferris's company refrigerator. Lastly, a novel about the office has to unfairly compete with the movies and TV. It's a great genre and if it can't keep up with the likes of TV's "The Office" it will die by word of mouth. There's just no compelling reason to go out and read a dry, potentially pithy account of someone else's work life. So, there you have it. I think that is why "Then We Came to the End," did not go as far as Mr. Blum expected. As for his theory about it being dragged down by the vague title, there are too many examples of great novels with wishy-washy titles. In any case, Mr. Ferris explains in a booknote how significant the title is to him. No reason for him to have changed it.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
the article is good ,as long as am an upcoming novelist as i was searching for some of the info... [MORE]	lazaro mawe	Nov 21, 2007 09:35
The question isn't why doesn't a wonderful novel like Ferris's THEN WE CAME TO THE END make it to the... [MORE]	E.C.	Aug 1, 2007 01:08
David Blum is asking the wrong questions and coming to bizarre conclusions in this piece. I do think the sales... [MORE]	Matt Briggs	Jul 11, 2007 16:33
As I wait - nervously - for a first review of my first book: Voice of the Tiger, think of... [MORE]	Markham Turner	Jun 2, 2007 01:10
in our local store and library there is a section promoting 'what our staff recommend'. it is next to the... [MORE]	Elaine	Jun 1, 2007 16:48
While the life and times of someone working in an ad agency in a large city might be appealing to... [MORE]	Cliff Burns	May 22, 2007 21:42
Many independent booksellers do have sections devoted to that week's best-reviewed books. Many independent bookstores do post copies of book... [MORE]	Cal Godot	May 18, 2007 17:35
Short, catchy titles are don't guarantee good sales anymore than long titles will doom it. Take, for instance, The Curious... [MORE]	Nanette Heiser	May 18, 2007 16:14
It is a peculiar article to ask the question why a particular book, in this case, "Then We Came to...	Tony Esposito	May 18, 2007 10:59
Here in the Uk one chain of bookshops (Waterstone's) does indeed have a section of recently reviewed books and captions... [MORE]	PD Smith	May 18, 2007 08:40
Very much enjoyed the article 'How to write a bestseller'. I am the author of a Young Adult novel called... [MORE]	Edward Trayer	May 18, 2007 08:20
During my (brief) time working the register at the local B&N, in Park Slope- is there a less literary neighborhood?-... [MORE]	Mmirer	May 17, 2007 13:24
I am the author of "Camille Claudel, a Novel," which received over 40 rave reviews, in addition to several awards.... [MORE]	Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.	May 16, 2007 23:17
Its ironic that a novel about a female artist who is unjustly unknown is also unjustly unknown. But women buy... [MORE]	Catherine Caldwell-Harris	Jul 31, 2007 10:45
I think the mistake is thinking in today's world that reviews really, really matter when it comes to how well... [MORE]	Elaine Bloom	May 16, 2007 10:21
Along with your list of "...part of the problem may be..." you should ponder why you didn't go to a... [MORE]	Tim Huggins	May 16, 2007 07:45
Yes, the title isn't interesting, but even glancing at the cover turns me off. Just from this I wouldn't buy... [MORE]	Billy Sauce	May 15, 2007 17:17
This is why editors and j-school "professors" should do some actual research on the business side before expressing their opinions.... [MORE]	Chris	May 15, 2007 12:37
Most people assume that my career as a writer ended when it came out that I had not disclosed who... [MORE]	Tim Barrus	May 15, 2007 11:06
Book reviews are handy for those who buy newspapers, especially the NYTimes and the larger ones. But most people buy... [MORE]	Lyn LeJeune	May 15, 2007 09:58

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