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Post by dormouse on Apr 30, 2019 18:00:35 GMT
One of my observations about books, fiction especially, is that they often start very well or very poorly, and the beginning if frequently a poor guide to the quality of the rest of the book. I don't know why writers publish books with bad beginnings - it often strikes me that they have over-worked in an attempt to get things right. I thought a thread on good and bad beginnings might be interesting.
I'm starting it off with a very atypical book, but it's what I'm reading now. It's (very) literary fiction - Number 43 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels - and is a 12 novel sequence: Anthony Powell's A Dance To The Music Of Time. First book published in 1951 and the last in 1975. It's has been compared to Proust's A La Recherchu du Temps Perdu, though it really isn't that similar. It's the first book he wrote the war and he switched to a complex, heavily layered, somewhat ponderous style which is apparent in the introduction. It introduces the style - if you don't like it there's no point reading further - and sets the pace. And finally explains exactly what the books will be about, presenting an image for the series title. Also introduces the narrator.
I see it as one of the better ones. Anything more gripping or active would be misleading. Description quite vivid; feels heavily worked without being over-worked.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Apr 30, 2019 19:47:16 GMT
Yes, that snippet bores me to tears, so I would not read any further. I agree that beginnings are very important since they are your hook to pull readers into your story. And I know some people will check out your sample before deciding to purchase or not purchase. I rarely do. I impulse shop. If the cover excites me I one-click, and sometimes regret it, sometimes not.
Although sometimes good books do start out slow. I can't say as a reader I've ever sat there and thought, "wow, this was a good opening!" As long as I'm not too bored I keep reading. I've heard many readers say they will give a book a few chapters to hook them. And then I've heard others say they stop after a few sentences.
But yes, every writing instruction book admonishes you to work on a strong beginning.
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Post by dormouse on Apr 30, 2019 21:17:25 GMT
I'm hoping I will find some good and bad examples in my next few books and of a more popular style. I've been really struck by the number I've seen where the writer has clearly tried hard to make it strong but made it weaker instead. It's important that it hooks you in (depending on the patience on the reader) but should also convey accurately the style and content of the book so that the reader doesn't become increasingly dissatisfied.
As a reader, I'm happy with slow. It's just another style, another rhythm. Easy for me to say though, as I'm a fast reader. One potential advantage is that it offers the potential of greater dynamic range and variation, just as classical music does. But most people seem not to like that either unless it's been used in a film.
PS This book doesn't speed up. Parts of it are compelling and some parts are faster (as I remember it), but the style stays as is. I don't think I finished all 12 books before; I would have been dependent on libraries then and if one book was absent, then that was it; or maybe I just got bored. That's one of the reasons I'm rereading - to find out. It left some strong impressions without me ever thinking it was good.
PPS I feel a bit bad for starting the thread off with a 'genre' and style which will won't connect with most people. I thought I'd add to it (and the character description thread) as I read new books and this just happens to be what I'm reading now.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on May 1, 2019 7:00:36 GMT
As much as you read I'm sure you'll find some good ones soon! Literary is just as legit as any other style, so sharing excerpts from it isn't a bad thing. I think I remember a long argument thread about it on Kboards many years ago, but different folks like different things, and you never know what may finally catch a lurkers eye and persuade them to slide out of lurkdom. I am going to try to manage my time better so that I have more time to read because I do miss it, and I know it can help a lot with writing craft, too. And I found a Josephine Tey, today!
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Post by dormouse on May 21, 2019 15:30:42 GMT
This is the whole of the prologue from Pretty is as Pretty Dies (A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Elizabeth Spann Craig. Though short, it was nearly enough to stop me reading further. And would have stopped there if K'Sennia hadn't been positive about the book. Firstly the typos/errors: "brushing her hair model-quality blonde hair"; "Champaign-colored BMW" . I believe that it is easily fatal for such manifest errors to appear on the first page (in practice, there were far fewer in the rest of the book than this would have suggested). Secondly, the overall style. I didn't take to it at all (again, it seemed to work better in the rest of the book). It could be rewritten or simply dumped. But then, I might be the odd one out.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on May 21, 2019 20:17:18 GMT
This book is written in a different style from the rest of the books. The first one is the only book to show the murder happen or to have viewpoints from other characters. The typos/grammar continue though. Everything with Myrtle is the same throughout, as well. I enjoy them because I love the characters and they make me laugh. But I'm sure they're not for everyone.
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Post by dormouse on May 21, 2019 21:36:23 GMT
This book is written in a different style from the rest of the books. The first one is the only book to show the murder happen or to have viewpoints from other characters. My problem with it was entirely the prologue. I'm very glad that the other books don't have its equivalent. It's interesting that the other books are in a different style; I've picked one up to see how it goes. In general, I liked the style of the book. I don't know why the prologue felt so different to the rest.
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Post by dormouse on Jun 25, 2019 21:27:59 GMT
From Elizabeth Edmondson's A Man of Some Repute
The headline device works well to set the scene. The start of the narrative is OK; does its job, but nothing special.
This excerpt contains one of the few period errors in the book. Alvar Lidell wasn't a newsreader on the Home Service in 1947. But most people won't know that, and he was the most famous BBC newsreader at the time and so better at triggering the period for some readers than any alternative. There are a number of recordings of him reading the wartime news available online.
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Post by dormouse on Jul 5, 2019 18:36:38 GMT
This is the start of Agatha Christie's Crooked House It's simultaneously a description of one of the main characters. It captures the tone of the book (good) but not very inspiring or involving. Might pull the reader in? Intriguing? I didn't much like it, but then I didn't much like the book and should possibly have taken the hint from an accurate introduction.
Maybe it captures her idea of a good relationship.
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Post by dormouse on Jul 5, 2019 19:04:01 GMT
The beginning of Leonora Meriel's The Unity Game. I like the book, but think the first paragraph is overdone. But it gets going in the second paragraph, pulling you in to the character's mind. And showing the contrast between the character's thinking in the first paragraph with his thoughts in the second. I suspect that makes it good, but a little risky. However, similar switching goes on throughout the book, so it is important that the reader can cope, and that message is right there up front.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Jul 6, 2019 1:54:05 GMT
Yeah, my eyes just gloss over the first part until I get to David. Give me a person to care about or I'm walking. New York City by itself means nothing. What does it mean to David? So yeah, I'd rearrange to start with David, but that's just me.
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Post by dormouse on Jul 6, 2019 23:06:25 GMT
Don't think it's just you.
But starting with a description of a setting is a common style. Can be helpful, and, if it is, there's the calculation of how much will readers stand before switching off. Easy to read gives you more time; this isn't very, so time is limited. If someone has started to read a book, you probably have a couple of pages to engage them, but if they are only thinking about it, you might not have that paragraph.
Of course, readers used to be more patient. There could be pages of description, chapters ever, before a character appeared or anything happened. But those days are gone. Unless you are content with a very small, 'elite' readership.
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