Books › How fiction works
How fiction works
First published 2009 · 282 pages
An illuminating masterclass that permanently alters the way you experience the architecture of a sentence.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a sunlit university office with the most brilliant, passionate literature professor you have ever had. It is a steady, deeply contemplative journey through the invisible machinery of storytelling, breaking down the magic of narrative without ever losing a sense of reverence for the art form. The prose is elegant and precise, brimming with infectious enthusiasm as it guides you through the nuances of free indirect style, character, and detail. It is an illuminating experience that shifts your perspective, turning you from a passive consumer of stories into an active, appreciative observer of craft. This is a must-read for anyone who loves words and wants to understand exactly how great fiction casts its enduring spell.
- Mood
- contemplative
- illuminating
- intellectual
- Tone
- erudite
- passionate
- analytical
- authoritative
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the mechanics of art · the magic of storytelling · reader-text relationship · the power of detail
- The writing
- Elegant, precise, and deeply observant, characterized by rich metaphors and an infectious enthusiasm for the written word.
- The arc
- Moves from analytical curiosity to a profound, almost reverent appreciation for the invisible machinery of great literature.
- Who it's for
- Avid readers and aspiring writers who want to peek behind the curtain to understand exactly how great novels cast their spells.
About the book
Provides a somewhat academic approach to a discussion of the main elements of fiction using examples (good and bad) from literature.
Description from Open Library.
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