Very informative book that took me a long time to go through for outside reasons. The book is detailed yet simple, informative without being heavy hanVery informative book that took me a long time to go through for outside reasons. The book is detailed yet simple, informative without being heavy handed and complex. Pictures are helpful and clear. A good reference book on trees, for sure. ...more
The format's a bit weird, and the selections range from obvious to subpar, but for the most part, this is a good art reference book. It serves its purThe format's a bit weird, and the selections range from obvious to subpar, but for the most part, this is a good art reference book. It serves its purpose and I enjoyed browsing through the artworks. I wish i could get more than a simple photo of the exhibits that were explained and shown in a single image, however, as most of them require the viewer to actually be there. ...more
What a fascinating collection, to have various forms of narrative in one collection is a journey through some of the forms of story, of communication.What a fascinating collection, to have various forms of narrative in one collection is a journey through some of the forms of story, of communication. I wish there was some introduction to each of the stories, sometimes of the author, as they were unfamiliar to me from time to time. I also have heard that later editions included more variety of authors (most of what we have here is dead old white guys), which is great, but i think today, 2015, an entirely new worldview anthology would be even better. But as it is, this is not a bad collection, it serves its purpose and I enjoyed reading it. Well worth checking out and having on your reference shelf. ...more
I deliberately only read the Fiction and Non-fiction narrative chapters, therefore i am being fair and not rating the entire book. However, from the tI deliberately only read the Fiction and Non-fiction narrative chapters, therefore i am being fair and not rating the entire book. However, from the two chapters that I did read, the book is not really all that impressive. If you don't consider yourself a beginning writer, just starting out with hardly anything written, this book will feel remedial and backwards. I am not a graduate student yet and the creative writing courses i've taken at the undergraduate level are far more in depth than this. The book barely covers the basics. However, its got some info about MFA programs so that's nice to have.
If I rated it (assuming the rest of the book is just like the first two chapters, anyway): TWO STARS...more
This a good grammar book, don't get me wrong, but I was just hoping for a more in depth text. Grammar girl explains the ways of grammar in a way that This a good grammar book, don't get me wrong, but I was just hoping for a more in depth text. Grammar girl explains the ways of grammar in a way that even a complete nincompoop can understand, therefore I still highly recommend it for those that want to refresh their memory on the workings of grammar. ...more
There is a good chance in the future I will get some of these confused again, but i've learned quite a few facts about words and their usage that the There is a good chance in the future I will get some of these confused again, but i've learned quite a few facts about words and their usage that the outcome of reading this book is right around what I was hoping to get out of it. A more precise, accurate use of language is one result that will come from my reading of this book. It's not perfect, and about a quarter of the examples (possibly a little more) I found to be very obvious, but I am an English major and not everyone is, therefore I didn't mark that in the overall rating.
And now I shall place the book on my desk, next to all my other reference books. Thank you Grammar Girl! ...more
Technically I give it three and a half stars, but whatevs.
The book is at its best a good listing of all the MFA programs and writer colonies and granTechnically I give it three and a half stars, but whatevs.
The book is at its best a good listing of all the MFA programs and writer colonies and grants and such, which is definitely helpful and it's strength. The only weakness is that it doesn't come with other important information. However I still think this book shouldn't be overlooked by anyone even considering an MFA.
At the time of this writing I have placed the book on my desk along with all my other graduate school stuff, and it will probably be there for the next year or so while I do tons and tons of research to find where I'll be going for my own MFA. Wish me luck. ...more
I am glad I read this, even though ultimately I should have read it five years ago. Much of the information in it I have concluded for myself over theI am glad I read this, even though ultimately I should have read it five years ago. Much of the information in it I have concluded for myself over the years. However, Gardner has a lot of knowledge on the process of writing a larger work that for the most part I either agreed with or found interesting, being a writing professor and all no doubt gave him a lot of insight into how young writer's minds work, the typical problems that they ran into.
One idea I never realized was that the short story workshop can be detrimental to a novel writer and their writing process. I have been to several of those and I do think I'm more of a novelist than a short story writer. Not that short story workshops have done more harm than good for me, but I never thought that the processes strictly for short story and that for novel writing are different and that that was the cause of my troubles.
I do recommend this book for anyone considering writing a novel-sized work. ...more
The best book on writing that i've read in a great while. Though at times Gardner gives story titles without any examples from the text, a list to reaThe best book on writing that i've read in a great while. Though at times Gardner gives story titles without any examples from the text, a list to read before reading this book would be extremely helpful. The length of Gardner's knowledge on literature and writing is quite extensive, and he doesn't dumb down his ideas for anyone. I practically painted my copy in ink, underlining, notes, etc.
At times Gardner's own opinion gets in the way of his lessons (for example at one point he comes to a full stop to explain why Steinbeck is a flawed, sentimentalist writer), but overall I like his ideas and found his explanations of literature and writing helpful.
If you want to be a serious writer in any degree, I highly recommend this book. ...more
I'm a nerd, guilty as charged. I have this sitting on my bookshelf. though dusty it's still a nice resource for everything nerdy. I'm a nerd, guilty as charged. I have this sitting on my bookshelf. though dusty it's still a nice resource for everything nerdy. ...more
Loading...
