Chapter
One, Page One... the first thing I noticed, before even reading
a word, was the inconsistent spacing, and the inconsistent
indenting of dot points. Hopefully such anomalies will be
fixed before the book is published five weeks hence. Then
on the same page we are asked to check out the first paragraph
of Hunger Games before going on to analyze the paragraph -
but it is not cited for us, although under international copyright
law such citations is specifically permitted for critical,
educational or scholarly purposes, and this usage fits on
all three grounds. The deconstruction of the paragraph is
pretty good, and it is well chosen for the writer's purpose
- just would have been nice to read it.
The title of the book is obviously targeting it to a particular
demographic -certainly not the highbrow writer of literary
fiction. This may engender the fear that it will continue
at this level like certain similarly named books. This reviewer
was pleasantly surprised both by the quality of the writing,
and the depth of understanding of the writer's task - as would
befit an experienced author and teacher writing for an inexperienced
reader. Indeed the book is more like a textbook than I expected,
with tasks for the reader both within the chapter as well
as in end of chapter exercises.
The examples used are from popular literature and even more
popular films. And then, as for the promise in the subtitle,
I've been everywhere man... But there were indeed some new
ideas for me too, as well as some old ones dressed in new
clothes.
So don't be put off by the title, and do be prepared to do
some homework...
This is a book that is worth working through as you write
your first novel, and perhaps your second, and perhaps your
third, ...
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