Popularity is a measure of likability. The prose is obviously much more likable. Most people in my town cannot get to the middle of the fellowship.

You have to admit Bilbo's Birthday or whatever drags on a lot. Popularity isn't the only thing, read that first chapter and you can clearly see why so many people do not continue. There is no conflict at all, the story is boring.

This topic is about authors we hate, I'm slating Tolkien and discussing other people hating JKR so what debate didn't you want to get into? I'm perfectly on topic.

I didn't want to compare JkR and Tolkien, I just wanted a debate about Tolkien. But you seemed to think that meant you had to refer to Harry Potter

Here's a few quotes about popularity:

Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world.
- Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881)

Popularity is the one insult I have never suffered.
- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

Anyway, you don't like Tolkien, and I do. I'll leave it there. I just felt the need to defend Tolkien (because he's one of my favourite authors).

Moving on.

I used to read a lot of Jacqueline Wilson books but they got a little repetitive after a while and now I really hate them. One book of hers that I still like is Glubbslyme.

Elizabeth wrote:JK, her morals are shot and she's too rich. if Voldemort dies then she does too. for she IS voldemort. I am not a general fan of the HP series either... Peopel drive me nuts with it.

one book I totally disliked was.... Well it was by my favorite author but I think that these ones totally stank, they were the Dawn Rochelle Series (by Lurlene McDaniel) .. I don't know... something about making a series about a girl who is dying and then *something something* wasn't really that interesting... I can't remember it, I didn't read the last few.

I think they are written incredibly well!
I couldn't wait for the next one to come out!
I think the action scences are the best and how Harry seems to grow up a lot through out the books with the readers is amazing too!
A book for kids and adults... awww and us adolescences!!!!!
I am not a fan or Dickens though either..........
Or michael Morpurgo.......

I love books by Micheal Morpurgo!

Myth, we have contrasting views on books. I like Morpurgo, I though Kensuki's kingdom was beautiful, however I hate Jacky Wilson, her books are mainly for girls, that could be why.

I loved The Butterfly Lion and Toro! Toro!

J.Wilson wrote one book by a male character called Cliffhanger or something, I didn't read that it though.

Harry Potter.
It is extremely boring.
Ender's Game was mediocre, but the other books in the series were better. I loved the precocious children .

I reeeeeeaaaally hated "The Great Gatsby." It just seemed so pointless and, well, bad, I don't care who you are. And while I didn't really like Eragon, I think Paolini's pretty hot...but that's getting off topic. I'll shut up now.

I love Eragon!! But I really don't like Shakespeare

*blinks*

That was a joke, right?

Anyway, we had to read A Separate Peace. and...um, someone...said that Paolini was a disgrace to mankind. *shudder* Besides the fact that it is a blight on the galaxy and its publication was a dark time in our history, I don't know why it would possibly qualify as required reading. All I got from that book was a stomachache and a list of what not to dos.

Personally, I love Harry Potter. I think it does have great depth to the characters, and I defy anyone to say that JKR's world had not been well thought out, and that there is no history behind it. Anyone who makes such a statement has clearly not read the books properly. As for people who say she has no morals, she was incredibly poor when she wrote Philosopher's Stone, and she was relatively unkown up until the third book was published. Now, yes, she is famous and successful, and she is finishing the series. It seems that because she is finishing the series, people are accusing her of having no morals and "being in it for the money." What exactly did they expect? That she was going to finish the books on publication of the fourth, and leave her readers hanging, just because she had become a millionnaire already? That would suggest she has no morals.

Anyway, just sticking up for one of my most loved authors. Rant over. To the topic.

Personally, I feel that Tolkein, though his plot is brilliant and original (at least it was when it was written) his books do not convey the plot well. I have read all of them fully, but I feel they focus a little too much on his world's history. His characters lack depth, and he does over-describe - a lot. However, I don't hate him, I just feel that his books are more historical accounts than novels.

Christopher Paolini, however, is another story. He is a perfect example of how good marketing can sell an otherwise unremarkable, and, frankly, re-worded copy of other, better books. He is a disgrace to writing.

-Kaz

I reeeeeeaaaally hated "The Great Gatsby." It just seemed so pointless and, well, bad, I don't care who you are.

Ah, these things are all in opinion, aren't they? The Great Gatsby was good, once you got past the beginning and people started dying. It was lovely, perfectly written and I loved the period it was set in. I couldn't tell you much about it now though I only read it about a year ago, but I know it wasn't pointless or bad... Although, it's all opinion

I'm not sure I've ever heard of Paolini, is he contemporary? I should probably look it up first before asking, to avoid making a fool of myself.

Oh, you lucky, lucky person. You've managed to somehow avoid the unwonted hype that is: Christopher Paolini, the 15 year old (well, he's 21 now) author. Do you recognise Eragon, the book that laid waste to parts of rainforests, only to be read and used as hamster bedding, or put under wobbly table legs? 'Tis an insult to writing, a blatant copy of both Star Wars and LOTR, with a little Harry Potter thrown in. Read it, if you must, but to your peril. You may throw the book down in disgust, horrified by the fact that you may just have lost all faith in humanity....

Well, that was a bit poetic. But I'm serious. This book is only worthy of the bin.

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe made my eyes bleed.