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tree_star's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books on character structure/plot/etc. that I have ever come across. Forster's language comes off more like a conversation than a 'lecture', which is what this book is compiled of.
eliser217's review against another edition
3.0
This was a surprisingly easy read. I'm not a huge E.M. Forster fan, but he definitely has interesting things to say about how novels are constructed and differences between writers. I would recommend this to anyone interested in how novels are written and literary criticism.
geoffreyjen's review against another edition
4.0
[a:E.M. Forster|86404|E.M. Forster|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402057803p2/86404.jpg]’s book is not what one expects. It is not, in fact, an exposé of how to write. Rather it is a study of what is written, from one writer’s perspective. This is both the book’s strength and its weakness. Forster has opinions about everything, and is often critical of writers we tend to think of as canon. And yet, he offers insights into good writing that can be stunning, and hard to find elsewhere, perhaps because already stated here. He also offers us ways of looking that are surprising. Take his discussion of a novelist with a prophetic voice : « His theme is the universe, or something universal, but he is not necessarily going to ‘say’ anything about the universe ; he proposes to sing, and the strangeness of song arising in the halls of fiction is bound to give us a shock. » There is also a lovely portrait of ‘Homo Fictus’, that is, the way people are presented in novels : they seldom eat, nor sleep, they are obsessed with love and relationships, they die readily, they come into the world ‘more like parcels than human beings’, and they are open to our gaze. Here’s another insight I think particularly telling : « Nearly all novels are feeble at the end. This is because the plot requires to be wound up... and usually the characters go dead while he is at work, and our final impression of them is through deadness. » He is right, of course. Most novel endings feel ‘dead’. Perhaps there is a challenge here to writers to find ways to enliven the endings of books.
The book is packed with insights like these. It may not impact directly on my writing per se, but it has already had an impact on how I understand what a novel is, and what a writer does. Recommended. To both writers, and readers.
The book is packed with insights like these. It may not impact directly on my writing per se, but it has already had an impact on how I understand what a novel is, and what a writer does. Recommended. To both writers, and readers.
abetterjulie's review against another edition
2.0
This book has a few gems mixed in with the outdated and esoteric references. I've read a lot of classics comparatively, but hardly any of the ones he uses as examples. That made it a bit of a strain to follow along. I felt like it started out strong, and I did highlight a couple of excellent thoughts, but then it fell apart and I was just reading to finish.
fraboo's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
un rollercoaster.
(almeno mi ha fatto sentire qualcosa: <b>l'incazzo.</b> una tantum.)
(almeno mi ha fatto sentire qualcosa: <b>l'incazzo.</b> una tantum.)
davenash's review against another edition
3.0
Most books on writing a novel draw from this. Forester has a nice professorial and conversational style of writing. A lot of references to Austen, Dickens and Tolstoy.
wmhenrymorris's review against another edition
It was interesting to see where some of the truisms of fiction come from. And the section on The Ambassadors is great (even if I disagree). A lot of the other stuff is only interesting from a historical standpoint.
mouseyhare's review against another edition
5.0
A must read for anyone who likes reading. Or wants to write. Or both.
carolynmariereads's review against another edition
5.0
"No English Novelist is as great as Tolstoy"
...as if I couldn't love E.M. Forster even more!!!
That fact that one of my favorite authors (Forster) has also read and loved the same books as I have just makes my heart sing!
Going into this book, I thought it was going to be a type of "guide to writing fiction." Well, I can happily say that I was very wrong.
I did know I would love this book because it's a written transcript of his Cambridge lectures. What I didn't expect was for it to feel like a love letter to other classic books and authors!
Something that made me smile, was how humble E. M. Forster was! He honestly didn't consider himself a "great" writer, which makes me adore him even more. I wish I could travel back in time and tell him just how great he was and still is! His books have impacted so many people and have stood the test of time. In these lectures he spoke about Dickens, Austen, the Brontë sisters, and so many more classic authors. What he didn't realize then, is that he is now among them! If only I could have been one of the many lucky people sitting in on these lectures. My dream of being an Oxford student came alive while reading.
Instead of instructing "how to write fiction" or "the art of fiction," he chose to consider what made a novel "a novel." These lectures weren't a "how to" but a "what is." By picking apart these "aspects," he shows us the beauty of narrative storytelling. To accompany these aspects, he selected certain books and read excerpts to prove his point. By doing this, he was able to illustrate each aspect and give them backing.
I not only found this incredibly inspiring as an aspiring writer, but as an avid read! This book can also be looked at as a curated reading list from Forster himself. I have added so books to my TBR because of his wonderful words about them!
What's better than getting book recommendations from one of your favorite authors?
...
Well know that I think about it, it would be even better to talk with them face to face!
*contemplates time travel*
...as if I couldn't love E.M. Forster even more!!!
That fact that one of my favorite authors (Forster) has also read and loved the same books as I have just makes my heart sing!
Going into this book, I thought it was going to be a type of "guide to writing fiction." Well, I can happily say that I was very wrong.
I did know I would love this book because it's a written transcript of his Cambridge lectures. What I didn't expect was for it to feel like a love letter to other classic books and authors!
Something that made me smile, was how humble E. M. Forster was! He honestly didn't consider himself a "great" writer, which makes me adore him even more. I wish I could travel back in time and tell him just how great he was and still is! His books have impacted so many people and have stood the test of time. In these lectures he spoke about Dickens, Austen, the Brontë sisters, and so many more classic authors. What he didn't realize then, is that he is now among them! If only I could have been one of the many lucky people sitting in on these lectures. My dream of being an Oxford student came alive while reading.
Instead of instructing "how to write fiction" or "the art of fiction," he chose to consider what made a novel "a novel." These lectures weren't a "how to" but a "what is." By picking apart these "aspects," he shows us the beauty of narrative storytelling. To accompany these aspects, he selected certain books and read excerpts to prove his point. By doing this, he was able to illustrate each aspect and give them backing.
I not only found this incredibly inspiring as an aspiring writer, but as an avid read! This book can also be looked at as a curated reading list from Forster himself. I have added so books to my TBR because of his wonderful words about them!
What's better than getting book recommendations from one of your favorite authors?
...
Well know that I think about it, it would be even better to talk with them face to face!
*contemplates time travel*