Kylie Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Comparing the two kinds of books - if a novel has a lot of story in it but the writing's barely literate, I throw it across the room. Conversely, I think a writer with a talent for using the English language can make even the most nondescript actions interesting. So if I had to choose, I'd go for style over story. I absolutely agree. If I had to choose I'd go for style over plot. I'm a sucker for beautiful language. I think that was the saving grace of Atonement for me. The story was so-so, but I could largely forgive the plot because of the language. Although even I felt that the first section was too long - it could have been made shorter while still retaining its beauty. Atonement is what finally drove me up the wall. It's had such rave reviews all over, and for the first half it's just a really tedious upper class mansion kitchen-sink drama, with one little event. Then there's the brief good bit, with the war stuff, and then it's back to the girls, and then finally it has that insanely annoying "twist" ending. I'm sure I've read reviews where people haven't enjoyed the war stuff as much of the rest of the book. They just wanted it to get back to Briony and Cecilia. Personally I enjoyed reading the war section more. Not only was it educational (for me anyway), but it moved a bit more quickly. I suppose Remains Of The Day could be tarred with the same brush...and also I actually enjoyed reading it even though not much happened. That's an interesting comment. I suppose it depends on the book - sometimes I can read a beautifully written book where not much happens and really enjoy it, and other times I may just get frustrated. I wonder why that is? You didn't like Atonement, but you enjoyed Remains of the Day. So despite not much happening in RotD, there must be something else that 'redeemed' it. Was it something to do with the plot, or perhaps other aspects of the novel (characterisation etc)? Nobody has mentioned John Updike. Surely the greatest living writer. The Rabbit novels each defined an era & the style was compelling. In places it was music in words. I've been looking forward to reading the Rabbit novels, and now I'm looking forward to them even more! They sound great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Seriously, though...I could name (but won't) one particular novel with a big, big, BIG story and the worse-than-preschooler level of writing in it completely killed off any enjoyment for me. The author's style (or lack thereof) murdered any hope of it being a good book. Considering the story they were aiming to tell, it really is mind-boggling that a novel could be bad enough to make such an exciting idea boring - and yet also laughable. It was a monumental feat of literary murder. Talk about killing your darlings.. Did you have pyjamas on when you read it...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freewheeling Andy Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Someone like Umberto Eco, for instance, or Salman Rushdie - they could make their shopping list fascinating. You say that but, say, Foucault's Pendulum is Da Vinci Code written by someone who knows how to write. Massive difference there. And Midnight's Children, too, has a genius plot based around possibly the single most significant event in world history since the second world war. They don't write shopping lists. They manage to write brilliant plot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freewheeling Andy Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 That was meant to be praise, about Foucault's Pendulum. Good plot and interesting writing. Eco isn't just about the writing style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sedgewick Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Foucault's Pendulum is Da Vinci Code written by someone who knows how to write. I would swing it the other way. The Da Vinci Code is thirty pages of Foucault's Pendulum written by somone with no end to their ineptitude. Foucault's Pendulum, after all, did come first. And Umberto Eco's shopping list is probably just something like: books, more books, smokes, and books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Stein Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I'm pretty excited about the late works of Philip Roth, steeped in his obsession with death. I think it's because of all that money he's leaving me in his will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsecorset Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Robert Tressell - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists I think this just falls within the cut-off date. I'm about 2/3 way through this and I am loving it. Such rich characters. Working class socialist philosophers -genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KW Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 Oooh...Notes on a Scandal had passages I had to stop and sigh over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 prospero, I also loved the book, and disliked the film. (I'm not sure we can blame audiences for the film writer's mistakes though? ) The book had very mixed reviews on here though, if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 I'm sorry...can't help it... Is it only American film audiences? Notes on a Scandal was a UK production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Stein Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 Changing films to suit test audiences is not a US-only phenomenon, nor a particularly recent one. I remember John Cleese talking about A Fish Called Wanda (which came out 20 years ago) where the original ending, where Kevin Kline's character Otto was killed, was changed because test audiences didn't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 I know I'm always mentioning him but for my money I reckon Jonathan Coe will at some point have his place in modern literature. I think of him as a less wordy modern day Charles Dickens - he uses humour, caricatures, and differing perspectives to recreate the social and political and human conditions of the latter part of the 20th century. In decades to come people will read his books and get a true flavour and picture of 'the past'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I know I'm always mentioning him but for my money I reckon Jonathan Coe will at some point have his place in modern literature. I think of him as a less wordy modern day Charles Dickens - he uses humour, caricatures, and differing perspectives to recreate the social and political and human conditions of the latter part of the 20th century. In decades to come people will read his books and get a true flavour and picture of 'the past'. I've never heard of him. I will have to give him a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I've never heard of him. I will have to give him a try. He is featured in the latest edition of Newbooks, Interesting man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I read that article at work - it was a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsecorset Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Sorry to be forum rude (an' detract from the issue).... None of you read The Ragged Trousered Philantropist? I highly recommend. Anybody with just a hint of socialist bone in their body will love it. Those who don't will soon find themselves fighting for the 'Red' cause. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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