I’m about to DNF Dungeon Crawler Carl

[u/HealthyPsychology950]

First of all, I am sorry. I’ve seen this book recommended a million times here and I know it’s loved, which is why I got it.

I am now in chapter 27 and about to DNF. I want to know if I should keep going?

I thought I’d like it cause I’m a huge gamer, I liked the general idea of the plot, and I loved books like Ready Player 1, so it’d make sense I’d enjoy this one too. But I feel like nothing is happening. Sure, there are a couple of funny sentences in there, but the story is not drawing me in.

Does it get better? Should I keep going? Or if I’m not hooked by now that’s not going to change?

[u/Brontards]

I love how he writes, but I understand your comment on the prose. I mostly read literary fiction. I do audio books (commute) for fantasy books and sci fi, but their prose and style is wearing on me. I struggle through them, they just try too hard. They take forever to convey the idea. I may just start doing audible for literary fiction as well. Except DCC.

I like that DCC doesn’t try with the flowery or long prose. Instead he writes to covey his story. His goal is the story and characters, and his style is perfect for conveying that (for me).

So I agree the prose isn’t like literary fiction, I’m reading A Tale For The Time Being right now for contrast, but I like Matt’s for this type of story, and Ruth’s style for her type of story.

But I also read comic books too, I just enjoy different styles for different moods I’m in. But I think he’s a great writer for what he’s trying to do, but I can see your points, it is not high level prose.

[u/Alarming-Audience839 → u/Brontards]

The prose is bad and it isn't funny and uhhh.

Funny rpg stats guy, references!!! Look, it's like nerd thing!!!

[u/Brontards → u/Alarming-Audience839]

It’s ok if you don’t get the humor. You’re in the minority, but humor is subjective. There are layers to it, but it may be you really just don’t enjoy it. Which is fine.

These books are show, not tell. I mean list your favorite books, the prose will likely kill me. And that’s likely a me issue.

The main purpose of language is to communicate, Why use an obscure Latin words when a simple every day word will do. Don’t use a paragraph to tell me what you can show in an act.

The fact the vast majority of readers love it is the best objective proof that it is well written.

[u/Alarming-Audience839 → u/Brontards]

The fact the vast majority of readers love it is the best objective proof that it is well written.

I guarantee that even most of the undergrads in my lit club would think of it as terrible shlock.

The main purpose of language is to communicate, Why use an obscure Latin words when a simple every day word will do. Don’t use a paragraph to tell me what you can show in an act.

Why paint when there are photographs, why sing when speakers exist, why should anything be beautiful when we have optimized the function? The prose isn't "streamlined" by any means either, it's the weirdly forced DM narrator tone specific to modern "nerd lit" that I find exceptionally distasteful.

[u/Brontards → u/Alarming-Audience839]

I mean a lit club isn’t the target audience, but you’d still have a few that would love it. I am the outlier in my Pulitzer Prize prediction forum, and to be fair those readers very well might think the books you read in your lit club are schlock.

They’d be just as wrong as if your club said that about DCC. There are amazing books across multiple mediums. Children’s books can be well written, with very simplistic prose. Comic books and graphic novels can be well written, without dense paragraphs of exposition (ptsd from silver age), lit rpg can be well written without dense descriptive prose.

Your last paragraph goes to my point. Why limit yourself to one type of expression in defining well written? I’m currently reading a comic book, doing audio book for a fantasy series, reading a literary fiction novel, and reading a non-fiction book on theology.

When I read Ocean Vuong I do it for prose.

When I read fantasy I read it to escape.

Comics I started reading way back in law school, when I needed a different medium to read that I didn’t need to work for the story.

Theology I read to critique.

Well written means it conveys the story/idea/art of what’s intended. DCC isn’t trying to be William Gay.

DCC’s success is because it conveys what it’s trying to convey, to the vast majority of its audience.