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Nov
18
Okay, now tell me what you lurve!
2010 at 10am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
In the last Bookrageous podcast, Jenn, Michele, and I got all ranty about our literary pet peeves, and it was great fun. Sometimes a good rant is just. so. satisfying. And it’s even better when shared with smart friends who love to argue.
But because we are really all about loving books and celebrating what makes them awesome—and because we’re hedging our bets with an attempt at karmic balance—we’re gearing up for an episode that turns back to the ‘rageous by discussing the literary devices, trends, tricks, and tropes we love. Think of it as a big group hug for books and book lovers.
A few things I adore: second-person narration when done well; multiple lines of narrative; non-linear narrative; writers who play with time; repetition with theme/motif throughout a writer’s collected works. I’m been making notes about examples of these for the last few days, and I’m all set. Now I just have to hope my pre-podcasting glass of wine will help with the cleverness with recent Angry Birds addiction seems to be zapping.
Will you help out Team Bookrageous and share a few of your favorite techniques/tropes/etc. here?
No related posts.
I know it can be overused, but I’m a sucker for appropriate alliteration.
And that moment in the time-travel narrative where it all comes together!!!
I am a sucker for goofy jokes and puns, the ones that are “groan-worthy” (probably why I like Jasper Fforde so much).
MelissaW´s last [type] ..What I do when Im not reading or working
You may love WEIRD SISTERS for the narration alone. I think multiple narrators can be done well – I liked it in THE HELP – but some of Picoult’s books, and possibly Anita Shreve at times, lose something in the alternating chapters.
Um I love that picture. I may see if one of our designers can photoshop that lady to be me. Is that allowed?
NovelWhore´s last [type] ..LeAnn Neal Reilly on her self published novel- THE MERMAID’S PENDANT
I think Shreve and Picoult tend to overdo it. You’re not going to get a better spot in heaven for adding as many narrators as possible to a story. I think 3-4 is good if you can do them well. Even two can be marvelous.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rebecca Schinsky, Rebecca Schinsky. Rebecca Schinsky said: Okay, now tell me what you lurve! http://goo.gl/fb/P6jL2 [...]
I like the whole ‘unreliable narrator’ trick…it makes it more of a mystery to resolve if you can’t trust every detail and have to pick up clues from the context and environment and character interactions…
It takes a really good author to do that well, otherwise you can spot the trick a mile away. It could be used wrong, but when done well it really makes a character both memorable and complex.
amy´s last [type] ..The Blindness of the Heart- Julia Franck