Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by jdgcreates
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
2.0
Do not underestimate the power of punctuation! It can distract a reader from the story, the characters, and anything that is worthwhile and good about a novel (or any book, for that matter!) Basically, this book looked like someone pissed commas all over every page and I would like to recommend that Ms. Waters and/or her editor learn a bit more about when to use a semi-colon before they endeavor to produce another book together. I realize I am being somewhat unkind and very hypocritical since I also misuse punctuation myself. But, you see, I am not a published author. No one else is battling nausea when they try to navigate the undulations of my punctuation. At least not yet.
Grammar aside, I still didn't care much for this book (though I did finish it, strangely enough) and here's why:
1. Reverse chronology is usually meant to add intrigue and anticipation to a reader's experience. Here, it simply seemed irritating, detracting, and gimmicky.
2. If a writer focuses on too many "main" characters, they lose the ability to deeply develop any of the characters and the reader feels disconnected and/or indifferent to all of them. Not a good thing, obviously.
3. When you do have a whole bunch of folks to develop, do not waste the page space and ink on elaborate (and boring) descriptions of setting, etc., and sacrifice that Great Motivator to Continue Reading...Dialogue.
I would skip this one if I were you.
Grammar aside, I still didn't care much for this book (though I did finish it, strangely enough) and here's why:
1. Reverse chronology is usually meant to add intrigue and anticipation to a reader's experience. Here, it simply seemed irritating, detracting, and gimmicky.
2. If a writer focuses on too many "main" characters, they lose the ability to deeply develop any of the characters and the reader feels disconnected and/or indifferent to all of them. Not a good thing, obviously.
3. When you do have a whole bunch of folks to develop, do not waste the page space and ink on elaborate (and boring) descriptions of setting, etc., and sacrifice that Great Motivator to Continue Reading...Dialogue.
I would skip this one if I were you.