Thanks for this, I was just searching for a new book to read. I just finished the 1980’s trilogy about the civil war “North South” by John Jakes. Good for the detail of the history, politics, social customs prior to, during and in the aftermath of the Civil War. Not very good about the realities of slavery. A bit too polished there. However it will be an excellent segue into this novel. I thirst for one with more art to the writing
Well-written and enjoyable description. I loved this: ‘When a book is well-written the experience is in the read—even when you think you know what is going to happen. And to learn from a book, it must be read a second time.’ Agreed! There’s plot, of course, but there’s also the prose style, the voice, the language, the syntax, the use of tension and sensory details, etc. As you said: the joy is in the read. Re reading a book twice, I once had a Brit-Lit professor in college who said you haven’t really read a book until it’s been gone through three times. That stuck with me. Might be a tad extreme, but I think the sentiment is correct.
Yes! I reread Catcher in the Rye during the pandemic. The last time had been probably fifteen years prior. This time, reading both as an adult and as an nyc resident, I understood the book on a much deeper level. Fascinating. The book
Yes. Such books are those old "grow charts" we had as children, on the doorposts!
An odd little book I've read many times, though not for years, is James Kirkwood's "P.S. Your Cat is Dead." The first time, for the humour. Each time another layer has risen. The story of a NY resident, who stays home in his darkened apartment on a New Year's Eve to catch the burglar who's been terrorizing him. He does. He ties him up. And they spend the night talking...
I am finding these sorts of posts so relevant. I did a first pass through of first half of novel I am working on in preparation for starting on the second half yesterday. And apropos your first section on when to put in information, I took out 220 words (saving them in a separate file) because it was clear the information needed to come later in the book--and closer to where the information was actually going to be used, rather than just back story. This confirmed my instinct, and encouraged me to probably do even more of this shifting of material as I write that second half. Thanks!
I love your line about "confirmed my instinct." THIS confirms that writers are always actively--consciously or subconsciously--developing exactly that. Then the capacity to listen to that self. And we start to pay heed! (Confidence required!)
Thanks for this, I was just searching for a new book to read. I just finished the 1980’s trilogy about the civil war “North South” by John Jakes. Good for the detail of the history, politics, social customs prior to, during and in the aftermath of the Civil War. Not very good about the realities of slavery. A bit too polished there. However it will be an excellent segue into this novel. I thirst for one with more art to the writing
Then you will enjoy this one, yes.
Well-written and enjoyable description. I loved this: ‘When a book is well-written the experience is in the read—even when you think you know what is going to happen. And to learn from a book, it must be read a second time.’ Agreed! There’s plot, of course, but there’s also the prose style, the voice, the language, the syntax, the use of tension and sensory details, etc. As you said: the joy is in the read. Re reading a book twice, I once had a Brit-Lit professor in college who said you haven’t really read a book until it’s been gone through three times. That stuck with me. Might be a tad extreme, but I think the sentiment is correct.
Too, there's reading a book multiple times throughout your life--each time excavating another layer.
Yes, I'm inclined to agree with the words of your prof--a useful extreme.
Yes! I reread Catcher in the Rye during the pandemic. The last time had been probably fifteen years prior. This time, reading both as an adult and as an nyc resident, I understood the book on a much deeper level. Fascinating. The book
doesn’t change; we do.
Yes. Such books are those old "grow charts" we had as children, on the doorposts!
An odd little book I've read many times, though not for years, is James Kirkwood's "P.S. Your Cat is Dead." The first time, for the humour. Each time another layer has risen. The story of a NY resident, who stays home in his darkened apartment on a New Year's Eve to catch the burglar who's been terrorizing him. He does. He ties him up. And they spend the night talking...
I am finding these sorts of posts so relevant. I did a first pass through of first half of novel I am working on in preparation for starting on the second half yesterday. And apropos your first section on when to put in information, I took out 220 words (saving them in a separate file) because it was clear the information needed to come later in the book--and closer to where the information was actually going to be used, rather than just back story. This confirmed my instinct, and encouraged me to probably do even more of this shifting of material as I write that second half. Thanks!
I love your line about "confirmed my instinct." THIS confirms that writers are always actively--consciously or subconsciously--developing exactly that. Then the capacity to listen to that self. And we start to pay heed! (Confidence required!)
This is all so good. Thank you for sharing this!