DH and I went to Common Good Books (owned by Garrison Keillor) last week to listen to Alan Furst read from and discuss his most recent book, Mission to Paris. To a full audience in a good-sized room, he read the entire first chapter (boring!), took exactly 4 questions from the attentive audience and then left to autograph books that a long line of eager readers and devoted fans had purchased. A full 35 minutes in front of us. I wanted to YAMMER and YELL at him to get back to the podium and spend a decent amount of time with his fans. What a disappointment!
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It was for free. Quit moaning...
ReplyDeleteSeriously. Just how stupid are these people? Talk about brand damage...
So, did you buy the book? Or did his rudeness chase you off? You wonder if he realized how rude he was.
ReplyDeleteSuzie, No, I did not buy the book nor do I intend to...Haven't read him before, read good reviews but I have so many others to read so I think I'll pass on Mr. Furst!
ReplyDeleteFour questions? Hmmm....maybe he was hungry.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Kate, I can think of only one thing to do? We need to get Garrison's old private eye, 'Guy Noir' to find out the whole story!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I would rather hear someone talk by adding perspective about matters that I cannot read myself.
ReplyDeleteOoooh that is frustrating! When it's all business it just leaves a sour taste...
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
sorry you had a YUCKY experience
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
I'm with you. I don't see the point in being read too. Far more interesting to have the author talk and answer questions. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
ReplyDeleteI hate these kinds of readings. We've seen a few of these here. Kate if you have a second go visit Portland Daily Photo. Lynette met this young man that is working on a great looking project. I sent him an invite to come to Santa Fe. Thought you might be interested.
ReplyDeleteI once read. A good writer does not always make a good speaker...
ReplyDeleteSounds like he is too full of himself and interested in the financial end of things.
ReplyDeleteIf his reading his own material is boring I don't think I would want to buy the book.
Yelling and Yammering probably wouldn't do a whole lot of good anyway.
SOME in this world just don't get it!
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't you yell? Do you think the entire book was boring or just the way he read the 1st chapter. I'd be tempted to check it out but now I'm not so sure. :-)
ReplyDeleteNow you know how NOT to do a book signing♫♪
ReplyDeletei guess you first wanted to say F Eff U to Mr. Furst instead of Eff Eye!!
ReplyDeleteyoga teacher limerick
Hmmm. I go to a few author readings a year and have never had that happen. For sure I would have felt just as frustrated as you did!
ReplyDeleteKate, I like your candid comments about this guy's (non)performance. It brought the word "umbrage" to mind, but I can't exactly define the word and now have second thoughts about whether that is the word I want to use for your reaction. Off to a dictionary . . .
ReplyDeleteWell, I wont be checking out his book for sure. Arrogance really turns me off!
ReplyDeleteAnn
I mean really, why read the whole chapter when that's what you buy the book for, a little insight into motivation for writing it in the first place would have been so much more interesting i'm sure..I think I would have had a similar reaction to your Kate!!
ReplyDeleteOuch! He should have talk about something rather than reading a chapter, I would have fall asleep hehehe.
ReplyDeleteY is for...
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
I hope you didn't buY his book! How rude and obviouslY he was there just to make moneY.
ReplyDeleteLeslie
abcw team
Two thoughts: I think some (perhaps many?) writers are not people people, and I suppose we are all trying to make a bit of money. Some just do it with more subtlety than others :) I guess you take your chances when you attend something like that. A couple of the author talks at Vancouver Public Library have been quite revealing, although, at the end of it, I was always aware something was being sold.
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