It's not the writing that makes a story or an author
memorable, it's the story, the novel. Sometimes images
enhance a work, but if it doesn't tell a story? What good is
it?
In his earlier days, I think, Phillip Roth told great
stories. His writing has steadily improved, he still reaches
the top of the NYTimes bestseller lists, but how good are his
stories today? Not very, I don't think.
The best storyteller, of course, combines that moving
forward, that make us want to know what happens next, with
the strong images, say like Cormac McCarthy, or the way the
Chandler did.
Hemingway made us interested in a man in someone else's
revolution in FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, but by then, I think,
his writing style was stretched and he over-described. By THE
OLD MAN AND THE SEA and A MOVABLE FEAST, he is parodying the
style that made him famous, padding OLD MAN and telling not
much of a story in FEAST
... Yes, OLD MAN is a great story, but 30,000 words worth? I
don't think so.
One of my current favorites is James Lee Burke. Others
may
"just love" his description. I like it, but I like the way he
unfolds a story, reveals a character, and makes us want to
know what happens next. I like better his in-your-face
descriptions of the aftermath of Katrina than his tiresome
repetition of whatever the hell grows outside his door.
Good writing? I'm all for it. But it takes more than good
writing to make a good book or a good story.
There are a lot of "good" writers writing today, some of them
contribute regularly, or at least often, to this list. There
is a luck factor connected with bestsellerdom, but without
the good story, the greatest writing in the world won't give
us the luck to reach that point.
Not a writer I know personally thinks that THE DA VINCI CODE
is well written, but it told a story that people wanted to
read, and it gave those extra bits of information that,
although incomplete, certainly are interesting.
Writing is just a part of what produces a good book or a good
story, and the greatest writing in the world isn't worth much
without story. Did I say that already? It was worth saying
again.
OK, that's an opinion, clearly opinion. Take all the shots
you want at it.
By the way, and this is totally off topic, but I think this
is a good place to tell the story of the origin of one of
today's popular sayings. I heard it first when I was a
BALTIMORE Colts fan, so you know it was at least 20 years
ago:
In the 60's and 70s athletes were more into alcohol than
drugs or steroids. Alex Hawkins, then a Colt and now, I
think, broadcaster for the Atlanta Falcons, was noted almost
as much for his carousing as his gridiron talents. Early one
Monday morning after a Sunday afternoon game, he came
creeping into the house. His wife, hands on hips
(that's an image I just made up) said as he came through the
door, "Where have you been all night?"
Alex said, "I fell asleep in the hammock."
"We took down the hammock last week."
"Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it."
The first part of this message is my opinion, and not anyone
on this list is going to talk me out of it.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Jack
http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JackBludis
http://jackbludis.com/
Recent Story at http://backalleywebzine.com/
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