by James W. Hall
What is a bestseller? How does it "work?" How do you write one? James Hall, known for his popular mysteries (Dead Last), answers these age-old questions in Hit Lit. Years ago, he started teaching a class about American bestsellers to see what he might come up with. The class became very popular and was offered regularly. With his students (including Dennis Lehane), Hall gradually came up with a list (or "code") of 12 elements or "features" all über-popular novels possess.
Hit Lit analyzes 12 books to demonstrate these keys to success, from The Da Vinci Code to Jaws, To Kill a Mockingbird, Peyton Place and The Godfather. These blockbusters "spring from a single purpose," Hall writes: "a desire to capture the uniqueness of the American story" with its inspiring traditions, bold idealism, violence, contradictory values and extraordinary characters. He also identifies 12 predominant elements in their stories, from "hot button issues" to "secret societies" to "mavericks" to "fractured families."
So if one could write a novel to these specs, it'd be a sure success, right? No: without the author's "feeling," a deep personal commitment to the story, it's just a "sterile exercise." (It's also got to be a page turner.) For some readers, Hall may be slightly reminiscent of the teacher in Dead Poets' Society who didn't rip out the introduction, but overall Hit Lit is an amusing and arguable book you can enjoy or dismiss. --
Tom Lavoie, former publisher - Shelf Awareness.
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