Book Talk: Does an author really owe you?

One of my biggest peeves when reading reviews of a book is when a reader disliked a book because the book didn't pan out the way that the reader wanted and they felt "gypped", or "betrayed by the author", or a sense of being "owed". This is ridiculous. And it is a serious problem! (Links below)

Let's just get this newsflash out of the way -- the world owes you nothing.

The people in the world owe you nothing. It's just better to accept this simple (yet sometimes unfortunate) fact. As much as you may feel connected to an author/series/character(s), their outcome isn't your choice. Their fate is the choice of their creator. And if you don't like it, sorry. It's a good thing that pass-time-reading is a free choice.

Can endings be upsetting, unjustified, and/or of no sense? Yes. If that's the case, then the book may simply be flawed in that sense. Does it mean the readers should raise pitchforks, start petitions for refunds, and attempt to trash an author's reputation over their personal disagreement because they felt "betrayed" by the author? No.

There are numerous books/series that I could go into that many would recognize as being "controversial". But I won't. I admit. There are some books that really pissed me off. I mean, I just dedicated time, money, and a ton of emotion to a fictional world only to feel like I had been murdered by my best friend at the end. Like my feelings meant nothing to these characters. Like I gave them everything in life and what did I get in return? A rusty knife in the heart. Being turned.

But guess what? That doesn't matter. Because the story did what it was supposed to...
Evoke passion. Start conversation. Drive readers. Be it good or bad, the story did something. Which was the goal of the author.

So why do so many feel like they are owed something because the author did their job? I don't understand it. The frustration makes sense, but the "rioting" and hate discussions that tend to follow do not.

For as much as an author writes for their fans, they are also writing for themselves. Trust that there is a method to their madness. It may not be a method that others agree with. But if every reader agreed with every plot twist, then there wouldn't be too much to talk about.

Having an opinion is a great thing. Not everything is for everyone. But trying to take legal actions, sending hate messages, threatening lives, attempting to ruin careers and other uncalled for things just because you're upset with a book is ridiculous. Free will is a beautiful thing that goes both ways; and having your reader-feelings hurt by an author does not justify such hateful actions or self-righteous feelings of being "owed".

So enough with terrorizing authors (or anyone for that matter). It's uncalled for, ridiculous, and an ACTUAL crime. I can guarantee your "But the author's writing style made me angry" schtick won't hold up against harassment in court...

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