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The following review was in last Saturday's Books supplement - it might be of interest to Talkbackers!
Reading Like a Writer
By Francine Prose
Reviewed by Iain Finlayson
The best advice to any hopeful writer is read. Learning to read critically and creatively can be as difficult as acquiring the ability to write. Proses excellent literary primer is a masterclass in how to read properly and with purpose. A schoolmarm of great erudition (lightly worn) and charm, she is sincerely enthusiastic about the literary pleasure and stylistic profit to be found on every page of novels at every level from classic to pulp. Writing can be taught, talent trained and genius studied. This book does all three.
READING LIKE A WRITER by Francine Prose
More reviews on www.timesonline.co.uk/books
Carol - I hope I'm not duplicating any information you've posted!
Thanks Richard - it's useful to have your personal recommendation!
There's also a review in the supplement for The Plot Against Pepys, written by a father and son, James and Ben Long. One is a novelist and the other a historian.
The partnership obviously worked for them, but for most people co-writing a book with such a close relation would be somewhat fraught. And in itself a likely theme for a book - or sitcom!
Thanks for the info about "The Plot Against Pepys". James Long is one of the Tutors on my Arvon Course in October. I must have missed the review when I was flicking through the Times at the weekend. I'm currently reading "The Perfect Sinner" by him which is a good read
Comments
Reading Like a Writer
By Francine Prose
Reviewed by Iain Finlayson
The best advice to any hopeful writer is read. Learning to read critically and creatively can be as difficult as acquiring the ability to write. Proses excellent literary primer is a masterclass in how to read properly and with purpose. A schoolmarm of great erudition (lightly worn) and charm, she is sincerely enthusiastic about the literary pleasure and stylistic profit to be found on every page of novels at every level from classic to pulp. Writing can be taught, talent trained and genius studied. This book does all three.
READING LIKE A WRITER by Francine Prose
More reviews on www.timesonline.co.uk/books
Carol - I hope I'm not duplicating any information you've posted!
Excellent book.
Richard
There's also a review in the supplement for The Plot Against Pepys, written by a father and son, James and Ben Long. One is a novelist and the other a historian.
The partnership obviously worked for them, but for most people co-writing a book with such a close relation would be somewhat fraught. And in itself a likely theme for a book - or sitcom!
Haven't started it yet but it looks good.
Thanks for the info about "The Plot Against Pepys". James Long is one of the Tutors on my Arvon Course in October. I must have missed the review when I was flicking through the Times at the weekend. I'm currently reading "The Perfect Sinner" by him which is a good read
Richard