How Fiction Works by James Wood Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of How Fiction Works
Book Review: Bellow's Cigar
Summary: 5 Stars
The model for this book is John Ruskin's, "The Elements of Drawing," intended as a primer to help the practicing painter, the art-lover, or curious viewer. Ruskin, a perceptive critic of painting and architecture, fostered art appreciation, but could not realistically have expected his readers to become good artists. Wood, who writes with sensitivity and wit about literature, wishes to help readers better notice what they are reading, but certainly does not expect them to become good writers. He would likely count it a hard-won success to allay a little "the contagion of moralizing niceness" that he censures in book reviewers who complain about dislikeable characters. Not to fear. The well of human tragedy never runs dry, and thankfully some writers are always drawn to it.
Writing about novelists' use of detail to describe "reality," Wood notes that literature helps us to better notice the details of life, which in turn makes us better notice details in literature, and so on. Most young readers are poor noticers. Twenty-year olds are relative virgins because they have not yet read enough literature to be taught how to read. Experience matters, whether in life, sex, reading, or writing. Nothing here suggests that reading well and closely, as hard as it is, by itself makes one a better writer. And yet, can it not be that Wood's long practice of careful reading contributes to the quality of his writing?
Wood quotes a favorite image from Saul Bellow's "Seize the Day." The detail reflects the linkage between criticism, reading and writing. Mr. Rappaport smokes a cigar. "A long perfect ash formed on the end of the cigar, the white ghost of the leaf with all its veins and its fainter pungency." It is one thing to appreciate the perfect, ghostly ash, another to savor the mildly narcotic smoke, and yet something else to create it - doubtless a fine, hand-rolled, Cuban. Alas, the mass-manufactured stogies are never as good.
Book Review: Best book on writing fiction ever.
Summary: 5 Stars
I learnt more about reading and writing fiction from this little wonder than anything else. Its also an opinionated, amusing joy to read.
I leant it to a freind who loves it to, but I cant wait to get it back again.
Book Review: Brilliant little book
Summary: 5 Stars
Breathtaking exposition on the development of the novel over the last few centuries, in particular the "realist" style. Brilliant non-fiction gem about fiction. Opinionated rather than encyclopedic, but a great touchstone for further reading.
The design of the book is particularly inviting--its modest weight, friendly typeface, and wide margins make this book a pleasant evening companion--a book you aren't afraid to ask out on a second date. I plan to re-read it once or twice if I ever get it back.
Bracing, memorable writing. If you want to add another dimension to your appreciation of the novel, this gorgeously edited book is ideal. If, like me, you are a writer of non-fiction, this book is a model.
If, on the other hand, you want cheerleading or technical tips for writing a novel--if you want reinforcement of your personal idea of what's Good in fiction--this book may not be right for you.
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
James Wood is one of the clearest, and most insightful of contemporary literature critics. This little volume is an extraordinary little to guide to creative writing from an obviously well read author. Wood privileges the modern realism of Flaubert and Tolstoy over more avant-garde approaches to literature. But nevertheless he is more than balanced in assessing the various perspectives on voice, detail, and character. He often emphasizes the importance of the inner tension between the voice of the author and the voice of the character, and assesses various authors in their successes (Joyce), and failures (Updike) with this perennial question. This is a truly intelligent and well written literary guide.Book Review: Excellent book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating read, with many "aha" moments for me. It has already had an impact on my writing. Highly recommended.