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Thursday, August 13, 2015

Utah Author Highlight


This week for Utah Book Month the theme is Utah Author's as I mentioned here, there are a lot of them. I thought about all of them and was trying to decide which one to highlight. I know there're some people out there who's jaw is going to hit the floor but here goes.

Brandon "McSmug" Sanderson



The reason my highlight choice is so shocking is because I really, REALLY do not like this man. Still, he has quite the nerdy following and is probably one of the biggest known Utah authors. So in traditional Jenny style I thought I'd list all the reasons I really just can't stand the guy. Ready?

1 I don't speak THAT dialect of nerd.
Look at them! Every book signing or author event that this guy is at is just filled with these nerdy nerds. Now, I consider myself a huge nerd. I like X-men and can probably tell you more about each of the X-Men's backgrounds than you'd ever want to know. I religiously watched Batman and Spiderman cartoons when I was a teenager. I've seen all the DC and Marvel movies and, yes, I can tell you which heroes are from which universe. I know what Stan Lee looks like etc etc. Seriously, guys, I'm a nerd. Just not THAT kind of nerd.

2 I don't like his books

Pretty good reason, right? Well, not really but let me explain. Sanderson seems like a nice guy but he has this self satisfied, arrogant, pat himself on the back personality and it's so out of control it shows up in his writing. Like this: "Look at me! Look at my books! Look at this world I built! Oh wait, I'm supposed to have likable characters? I could cut my books in half by leaving out all the flashy, attention seeking details? But...my world building is so awesome! Not to mention my magical system! LOOK AT IT!!!"

3 He actually knows enough about these books to have been chosen to finish the series
Need I say more? Sheesh! He's probably got them memorized. *cough cough* geek *cough"

I'll stop now before a nerdy lynch mob with greasy hair shows up in their flooder pants, waving their pointy elbows around like a chicken and threatening to use D&D like powers on me. ;) I've seen Sanderson's house, people. It's huge. Obviously the man is talented and earns lots of money. Making anything I have to say about him moot.

So there you have it, folks, my weird highlight on that "smug" SOB Sanderson. :)


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12 comments:

  1. H.R. BennettAugust 13, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    I'll be candid in saying that I've never actually heard of him being big into D&D. Maybe I just never paid attention to the name. Nonetheless, it's not a horrible thing to not approve of another author's style. Just don't let it color your judgements too harshly. ;)

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    1. JennyAugust 13, 2015 at 10:56 AM

      This whole post was totally meant to be taken lightly. I kid, I kid.

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  2. Jenni ElyseAugust 13, 2015 at 10:45 AM

    Oh my gosh. You're so funny! My jaw did drop when I saw who it was.

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  3. Liz. RAugust 13, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    Lol I love how you've highlighted an author you don't like! I've not read anything by Sanderson but if I ever do, I'm going to be thinking of this post...:P

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    1. JennyAugust 13, 2015 at 7:18 PM

      Oh everyone loves him. I'm just being conflicting on purpose

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  4. SueyAugust 13, 2015 at 6:15 PM

    I've seen it and I've been planning my come back all day!
    1. What's THAT kind of nerd? Whatever it is, I guess I'm it!! :) I embrace all my nerd forms. DFTBA!!! Nerdfighters for the win!!!! Live long and prosper! May the force be with you!!!
    2. It's so weird how I feel so opposite about his books! The world building is amazing and when reading the books I feel immersed and not explained to. Some authors feel a need to explain all, like I can't figure it out by just reading... he does NOT explain and just puts you in the world and you figure it out. THAT's how I see it anyway! And his worlds really are amazing so if he tends to feel proud about it... I say go for it dude!
    3. I have no idea what to say for this point... LOL! These books are not for everyone that's for sure. But to have done what he's done is amazing, whether you like the books or not. To have landed that gig, seriously. Amazing. And from what I hear, everyone who has read his concluding books love them way better than the originals. So that's also pretty amazing.

    And there you have my come back. Not as snarky as I would have liked, but I tried. I'm too tired to be snarky today! But I stand by him. He does have a swagger, he knows he is loved by legions of adoring nerds, but I do think he's earned it and worked hard for it. You have to give it to him that he set out this goal back in the day and to have reached it with such success. It's cool. It really is.

    Should I shut up now??? LOL! :)

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    1. JennyAugust 13, 2015 at 7:20 PM

      You know I totally just wrote this post to get a rise out of you. ;) Plus I feel like I've lost my edge and if there's one thing I can be negative about it's him... and Twilight. I should post your comment in my post and make it a full on argument post. Maybe we can make it thing.

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    2. Jenni ElyseAugust 13, 2015 at 7:24 PM

      Hey, now. No dissing Twilight.

      Delete
    3. SueyAugust 14, 2015 at 4:33 PM

      Seriously. Let's make it a thing! :)

      Delete
  5. Bookmark DragonAugust 15, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    Hahaha! This post cracked me up. I love your angle. I've only read two of his books, so I'm no aficionado, but I'm also not a hater. My personal opinion is that he's an innovative thinker and imaginative writer, but his books could (and probably should) be about two hundred pages shorter than they are. I kind of love authors who get a rise out of people, though, even if it's for the wrong reasons. :)

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    1. JennyAugust 15, 2015 at 12:12 PM

      It is fun when authors get a rise out of people. And like they say, bad publicity is good publicity.. or something like that. ;)

      Delete