What's your opinion towards books that include present-day brand names, like Coke?

I get ya. And i no what you mean, you can't help but think that maybe, they were paid to use the name, or even paid money to the owners to use the name. I understand that they like to do this to feel closer to the reader, especially teenage books. But it just feels like they try too hard to fit the names in and make up a story around the brands.

But personally, i'm worse when an author uses a word to ofter. There was a book i was reading, and 'meanwhile' came up about every 5 pages! Everytime i read it i was distracted trying to think when it was last used. Then i lose the flow of the plot. Similar kinda thing though.

Glad sumone else can be distracted by certain words in books. :)

If I like the actual story, the setting or whatnot doesn't matter too much. I really can't recall being extremely put off by brand names used in modern writing. I kind of like novels written by Micheal Crichton, and his modern settings certainly do not make efforts to exclude the names of any company or brand name. In fact, in his story, 'Sphere,' he mentions 'Coke' that is found in a ship from the future, and one of the characters mentions he would 'buy into that company, now that he knew it would still be around in 50 years.' It was a clever piece of humor. I liked it.

What I don't like as much, is when writers try to force politics and such on people. Coincidentally, those types of statements could certainly include modern corporations or brand names.

But anyway, I've found what you get out of reading the story is more significant than the method the writer uses to achieve their intended theme.

'Carcass' - Siouxsie & the Banshees (a persons'' in chilly storage searching for Heinz significant couses) 'stuck in a Dream' - Alice Cooper (tryin' to capture a experience in a Cadillac) 'motives To Be joyful (area 3) - Ian Dury (Camel cigarettes) 'Camarillo Brillo' - Frank Zappa (...or is that a Sear's poncho?) 'Broadway Melody Of 1974' - Genesis (..smoking Winston cigarettes) 'Funplex' - B-fifty 2's (..right here's your stupid 7-Up) 'Barbie female' - Aqua 'Cheepnis' - Frank Zappa (...get the Canfield's) 'pink effortless' - Siouxsie & the Banshees (Polaroid) 'robotic' - The Plastics (IBM, TDK, RCA, EMI) --------------

Well these brands are brands you'll encounter in your everyday life so if the story is set in moderns days then including these name brands will make their story seem more realistic.

MANY authors - especially novices really overdo it. I see them here ... I got up from my bed with 500 count Egyptian cotton Ralph Lauren sheets. drank a coke, ate my Eggo Waffles, put on my Gucci Jacket and Jimmy Choo heels and got into my Volvo and headed for my expensive private school. That is just a sign of immaturity. Professional authors really try to hold that crap to a minimum. For some reason, novices seem to think it is cool because people like Lisi Harrison and Stephanie Meyer do it. Trust me, it's not. Pax-C

I agree with you. It dates the book in a way, I guess... like I can't imagine a "timeless" story having brand-name items mentioned in it.

Mmmm...I don't like or dislike it. Brands like Coke are so much a part of our society that when it appears in print, it is merely a reflection of that.

um.... i think "i want a coke" idk... like ive seen songs in book that are like not to old... @_@idk. i dont think opf it to badly tho

What? Your question doesn't make any sense.