Now that we’ve done the nicey-nice bookity wrap-up thing, let’s go mean.
A total shocker, I know.
So what did you find yourself hating in 2011? *Besides me, that is.*
Maybe it was a theme or a trope or a particular pairing which was so thrashed to death that you just got bloody sick of reading it over and over and over and over?
Remember 2009 being the Year of the Chick Stalker in m/m?? God, what a nightmare that fucking was. Ka-pooey.
C’mon. Fess up.
I’ll bet you’ll never guess what mine was.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Um, gee, I can't imagine what yours could possibly be… Mine is probably how that turned into a platform for grandstanding by others. 😦
I am trying so hard not to answer this question…. I will now go and find my calm place 🙂
Tish
For the second time, I totally agree with Chris (actually, it's probably the hundredth time I've agreed with Chris over the last few months).
I can think of anything else that's given me cause for annoyance this year. I'm sure there's heaps, though, and I'm just suppressing my rage.
I hate pretzels because I'm so addicted to them that I can't give them up for anything.
As for books, I hate dystopian. Can someone write a happy go lucky end of the world story?
Mine's a perennial annoyance, but that's never stopped me before. Insta-love. Please, please, please. just stop. If the story takes place over 3 days and they never met before day 1, don't go there. It's okay to just say “I like you a lot, I think you're hot, I'm horny, let's try this and see what happens.” I do NOT need an on-page declaration of undying love to know that they will go on to own a house in the burbs with two adopted kids and a dalmatian. I can imagine that in my head, I don't need you to spell it out for me that they are in LOVE. Because I won't believe you. I'll roll my eyes and go “sure they are” and it's far less enjoyable and realistic because now I'm imaging them as drama queens who break up like 15 year old teenagers in 3 weeks.
Whew, thanks for letting me get that out. I know I read a lot of shorts which doesn't allow for a full relationship development, but just let it be, stop trying to make it fit.
/rant
Oh wait, I'm not done.
The annoying female friend whose only goal in life is to get her friend hooked up with a guy, any guy, even if he only broke up a week ago because god knows a guy couldn't be happy alone and you are nothing without a man. Said friend is always hooked up with a guy and I suspect has never gone more than 2.5 days herself without a man to make her feel complete. And she's obnoxious about it too and the gay boy is indulgent and smiles sweetly and pats her on the head rather than telling her to get off his fucking back and mind her own business.
Whew. Thanks for that again.
/rant 2.0
I'm done now. I think. Let me think on it.
Damn, and I was just going to go pop some popcorn and kick back for more! 😉
The night is young Chris. The night is young.
Oh wait, the evil politician father, with the weak mother who spends her days looking wan and simple while wearing Chanel. I'm over that and thankfully it seems most authors are as well. That gets really tired because we all know that the National Enquirer, Perez Hilton and The Daily Show can bring down just about anyone if they put their mind to it.
Chris: Hell yeah.
Tish: I hope you find it. Mine often hides from me.
Nic: “I'm sure there's heaps, though, and I'm just suppressing my rage.”
Go you, and apparently Tam doesn't share your problem. :p
KBC: Really? I'm a fan of dystopian fic. Hang on… Didn't you read and like The Hunger Games??
So are you finished now, Tam??
Yes, I think I'm done. 😀
You sure now?? You don't want to disappoint anyone.
Popcorn is gluten free?
It is! Gluten's found in wheat, rye, barley, oats by contamination with other grains, teff, kamut, spelt… but not corn or rice or quinoa or… I'll stop now. 🙂
Speaking of books, I have firmly decided in 2011 that I hate the “BIG MIS”. I was never a huge fan but I'm so over it now. I just have no patience for it. What's wrong with, you know, TALKING??
So, Tam. Thoughts??
You know I said the other day that I've been reading a lot of master/slave books? Well along with this I've discovered a pet peeve: I hate slave/subby characters who, in the presence of the Master, turn into quasi-children. Now, I don't mind a bit of Daddy/boy kink, but this takes it to an extreme so that the sub doesn't seem to be able to function without the Dom. He cries all the time, is carried about like a baby, is washed in the bath and even has his bottom metaphorically changed in the form of an enema. He has no personality of his own and just accepts that this is how things are now.
I have to admit, this infantalisation of a grown man fairly turns my stomach.
Oh and I agree with the other stuff too.
Good rants, Tam :).
Oh, Tam, you totally unrepressed my rage! Thank you!!
Can I also add that I hate the “I love you, even though you're being a total arsehole and you're an arrogant prig and you're never going to change and you're a total prick to me and I deserve better. Oh, let's have sex because I love you so much. Wow, it's all better now.”
That shit stinks.
Oh, and while we're at it…
Can we please have an end of the horrifically abused MCs who are instantly cured of their trauma when they fall in love? Rape/childhood trauma is not cured by hot sex. FACT!
(thanks again, Tam… I feel so much better now)
I've got heaps more that are coming to mind now, but I think I should just stop before I start typing in capitals….
You go Nic! Yes, the magical healing cock is annoying. That and people who've just had open heart surgery, a concussion, sprained ankle and are hopped up on morphine and are so desperate for sex they have to have it in the intensive care unit. I'm not even interested if I have a hang nail, give me a break. 🙂
Guess I wasn't done Kris. 😀
Amen sista!!!!!!
Nic & Tam: You two finished yet??
Though, I am in total agreement about the magical cock of healing, especially when it comes to mental illness. Shits me no end.
Kaetrin: *clutches pearls as if she's just seen a taxidermied kangaroo scrotum* You expect the MCs to talk?!
Jen: “I have to admit, this infantalisation of a grown man fairly turns my stomach.”
Totally with you on this one, Jen. I've not been able to get through the first couple of chapters of this kind of story. Too icky for me.
“I hate slave/subby characters who, in the presence of the Master, turn into quasi-children.”
Is there diaper-changing involved? I'd definitely draw the line at that.
Word Veri: butlogg (I kid you not!)
“Word Veri: butlogg (I kid you not!)”
Sure you did, KZ. None of us will believe you without a screen shot as proof.
I swear anyone who wants to change a grown persons nappy has never had a baby!
Changing nappies is so far beyond eewww and that's even with your own child, that wanting to do it on a grown up is incomprehensible.
Now I don't want breakfast!
Tish
I found myself hating characters who don't work.
People draw huge amounts of their identities from their work, especially men. And when characters have no work (Deviations series post-retirement, I'm looking at you!), or never go to work (LKH!), but spend all their time abed or angsting about relationships, they are boring.
I liked the scenes of Tobias dealing with animals. It gacve us a feel for how he would deal with subs. I loved it when Anita worked, even when she had to traipse over half of St Louis County looking for payphones, because it made her real.
I like my characters to work, and most of them work hard. (Chris in “Master Bear” being a rare exception) I like to see them do stuff. Even the writer characters need to spend time typing, or be on deadlines or have arguments via email with their editors.
I am over layabouts.
Tish: Word.
Angelia: “People draw huge amounts of their identities from their work, especially men.”
You know, I've never really thought about this before, Angelia, but, yeah, I can totally relate to your response.
I also have the feeling that I will be noticing it more and more. Thank you?? 😉
@Jenre, that is also something I dislike. Its crazy how I know which book you are talking about. I was like seriously *is he really gonna cry again*
I hate when sex is used to solve all manner of problems in a book. It works sometimes but if you really need to have a conversation. Freaking have one already!
DarienMoya: “I hate when sex is used to solve all manner of problems in a book.”
Kassa had a great term for the magical healing cock… which I tried to find with no luck *bugger it*…
I think, though, it was something vaguely similar to 'Power Penis'.
Which sounds like an energy drink. ;P
I still hate short stories and novella's that try to be novels.
I want more novels! not less!
It's interesting you say that, Ingrid, because Sean and I regularly discuss this topic. One of the things people criticise TaD for is it's length, but it wouldn't have had the same impact had it been a novella.
people criticise TaD for it's length? *frowns fiercely* those people are WRONG. that is all.
TaD a novella??? No way! You are right it would not be the same at all. Only the idea *shudders*
You know how many Amber allure books I bought this year?? I think two and certainly not more then five. So I don't know what is happening there but I don;t like that either
Kaetrin: True that.
Ingrid: “TaD a novella??? No way! You are right it would not be the same at all. Only the idea *shudders*”
The whole point was exploring the relationship in a very real way. It just wouldn't have worked as a novella. Blech.
I'm not sure how many AAs I've bought this year either. Not that many, I don't think.