Scan barcode
saranies's review against another edition
4.0
A well written analysis of what makes good writing, with examples from greats in literature. I love reading and literature and this really reinforced that, while hopefully giving me more things to take note of as I read.
alisonlaw's review against another edition
5.0
Even if you only read Chapter 11 on "Reading for Courage" this is an invaluable tool for any writer.
lanica's review against another edition
5.0
I tried to read this book, but couldn't find a voice for it. I found myself rereading passages over and over again, trying to 'get into it' but failed. Then I found it available via digital download through my library. Wow! What a difference it makes to have a conversational, educational, and clear voice reading this material. I enjoyed all the passages of other books, and her analysis of each.
The only reservations I have about recommending this book is that she has no qualms about giving away spoilers in the books she is discussing. Many of the books are classics, so having not read "Sense and Sensibility" is my own fault, and there are a lot of works I've never heard of and will probably never get around to reading...but I skipped the section on "The Things They Carried" because it's close to the top of my to read pile.
Also, she ends the book with a long tribute to her love of Chekhov, exhorting us all to read him and learn how to break all the rules she just explained clearly to us. He is a writer I've never been fond of and perhaps it's his disregard to rules that makes me cringe when I read him.
If you are interested in learning to read critically, or write thoughtfully, this is an excellent resource.
The only reservations I have about recommending this book is that she has no qualms about giving away spoilers in the books she is discussing. Many of the books are classics, so having not read "Sense and Sensibility" is my own fault, and there are a lot of works I've never heard of and will probably never get around to reading...but I skipped the section on "The Things They Carried" because it's close to the top of my to read pile.
Also, she ends the book with a long tribute to her love of Chekhov, exhorting us all to read him and learn how to break all the rules she just explained clearly to us. He is a writer I've never been fond of and perhaps it's his disregard to rules that makes me cringe when I read him.
If you are interested in learning to read critically, or write thoughtfully, this is an excellent resource.
jenniferdeguzman's review against another edition
3.0
This book was more of an explanation of how I already do read for me than something that taught me much new. Still, Francine Prose nicely breaks down the different elements of fiction that are important for the writer to pay attention to while reading -- all the way from word choice, to sentence and paragraph structure, to dialogue and details. Not much on plot, however, which is my weakness -- my skills for reading for plot could use some bolstering, and this wasn't the book for helping me with that.
It must have been a quick write for Prose, as most of it consists of passages from works of fiction. She'll have very long quotations, tell you to look for X in it, but not offer her own close reading. I guess it's nice that she wants the reader to do the work, but it also strikes me as a little thin on effort.
It must have been a quick write for Prose, as most of it consists of passages from works of fiction. She'll have very long quotations, tell you to look for X in it, but not offer her own close reading. I guess it's nice that she wants the reader to do the work, but it also strikes me as a little thin on effort.
jamiejamie's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
One of my new favorite craft books - going on the shelf next to The Emotional Craft of Fiction.
pdxpiney's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Not a lit survey, and won’t tell you how to write. What writer wants that anyway, really? Prose pushes close reading and freedom from arbitrary rules. Many of the sources she draws on as examples I wouldn’t go near for pleasure, and that in itself was instructive: look what you can get out of this. Overall a bit dated, but again exercise your mind and learn from the book anyway.