I guess this is part rant part discussion. But basically what the title says— why are thrillers judged so harshly here or the book community in general? Reading is a subjective experience, but that aside— every time I read about a thriller book that was decent, it’s being picked apart because it was too predictable or not good enough. It ranges from genuine critique to borderline condescending snobbery.
Thrillers by their nature feel predictable to me— I do think there is a formula, and more so when one particular formula is a hit and becomes a trend for the next couple of years. The thriller community comes across as expecting SO MUCH— like the next mind blowing twist, and somehow if they don’t then the author is bad. Or it becomes a “hah! I predicted who the killer/villain was in the first chapter itself! This book is bad!”
Could be the way I read thrillers— I admit I don’t scrutinise all the details, I enjoy being taken on a journey. I like sordid characters or authors using things like tense to throw readers off. IDK most thriller reviews come across as mad at the author for not fooling them well enough. What a strange thing to be upset about. Even if you’re able to predict it, perhaps the way the author has gone about the plot is also considerable.
This is not pertaining to poorly written (again, subjective) thriller stories with endless plot holes or loose ends, or convenient lazy writing. I just think thriller is a difficult genre to conquer, often predictable and its beauty lies in how each author can adapt to the vastness of human nature/personality.
I get perhaps the feelings of being “cheated” are much stronger in a genre promising a thrill/twist, and that’s why the criticism is so harsh. But yeah. What do you guys think?
by medusagets_youstoned