book review introduction
As I read a great deal, I thought it would be useful (to myself) to review books after I read them. This way I will have a record of what I thought of the book when I read it, and I will be gaining practice for my future career. Maybe I'll even convince someone to read or not read something.
We all have some definition of what we think is good writing. My personal definition is heavily influenced by Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" and a chapter from O'Brien's The Things They Carried titled "How to Tell a True War Story."
If you haven't read "Politics and the English Language" I would seriously suggest that you do. His list of rules is for those of you that haven't:
"i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
iii. If it is possible to cut a word, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive voice when you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous."
O'Brien focuses more on how to tell a true story. He speaks of the difference between true and factual. He doesn't instruct on style, but on the reader's and author's reaction to the story. His definition of true is quite long, so you'll just have to buy the book.
The first book I will be reviewing is The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. I also just reread The Things They Carried, so I might do a review for it. I am currently reading The Dante Club and will review it when I'm finished.
We all have some definition of what we think is good writing. My personal definition is heavily influenced by Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" and a chapter from O'Brien's The Things They Carried titled "How to Tell a True War Story."
If you haven't read "Politics and the English Language" I would seriously suggest that you do. His list of rules is for those of you that haven't:
"i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
iii. If it is possible to cut a word, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive voice when you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous."
O'Brien focuses more on how to tell a true story. He speaks of the difference between true and factual. He doesn't instruct on style, but on the reader's and author's reaction to the story. His definition of true is quite long, so you'll just have to buy the book.
The first book I will be reviewing is The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. I also just reread The Things They Carried, so I might do a review for it. I am currently reading The Dante Club and will review it when I'm finished.