Comments on: Learning to Write XVI http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:14:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Out Stealing Timber | John Baker's Blog http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/comment-page-1/#comment-110027 Out Stealing Timber | John Baker's Blog Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:02:22 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/#comment-110027 [...] thirties, and she has a soft smile which works for her with both men and women. I’ve written elsewhere about how fictional character is accrued and the woman with the smile is already beginning to don [...] [...] thirties, and she has a soft smile which works for her with both men and women. I’ve written elsewhere about how fictional character is accrued and the woman with the smile is already beginning to don [...]

]]> By: susangalique http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/comment-page-1/#comment-21341 susangalique Mon, 08 Jan 2007 01:58:32 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/#comment-21341 I do a lot of serious reading for school and such, but for fun I like the Sookie Stackhouse, Dead Until Dark books by Charlyne Harris. Sookie is for me such a strong character and the last book she seemed like a limp fish compared to the earlier books. I still liked it but in the next book I hope Sookie's characterzation is back. So I totally get what your saying, even in fun books <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Susangalique. Thanks for dropping by. Hey, I read your interview. I do a lot of serious reading for school and such, but for fun I like the Sookie Stackhouse, Dead Until Dark books by Charlyne Harris. Sookie is for me such a strong character and the last book she seemed like a limp fish compared to the earlier books. I still liked it but in the next book I hope Sookie’s characterzation is back.

So I totally get what your saying, even in fun books

jb says: Hi Susangalique. Thanks for dropping by. Hey, I read your interview.

]]> By: Lee http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/comment-page-1/#comment-21288 Lee Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:30:38 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/#comment-21288 Now I am genuinely curious about <em>The Cleft</em>, though to be honest, it's quite far down on my list of reading priorities. <strong>jb says</strong>: I can hear what you're saying. Now I am genuinely curious about The Cleft, though to be honest, it’s quite far down on my list of reading priorities.

jb says: I can hear what you’re saying.

]]> By: Lee http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/comment-page-1/#comment-21104 Lee Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:04:27 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xvi/#comment-21104 Though I've not read Lessing in years, this review of her latest - and apparently characterless - novel The Cleft reminds me that we need to take all dogmas, including the writerly ones, with that proverbial pinch. Here's the link: http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,,1984239,00.html <strong>jb says</strong>: I also have not read Lessing in years - perhaps not since The Golden Notebook. But if anyone was going to write a novel without characters or plot I would not be at all surprised if it was her - she is nothing if not courageous. While taking your point about dogmas, including the writerly ones, I wonder if a fairer review of <em>The Cleft</em> isn't represented in Jane Cornwell's <a title="australian" href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20975196-5001986,00.html" rel="nofollow">interview </a>of Lessing in The Australian: <blockquote>. . . when asked to what extent <em>The Cleft</em> harks back to her early writing on sex, on the way relations between the sexes affect every aspect of our existence, she can't resist a dig. "I wasn't interested in any of that," she tsks. "You start with the characters and then the story takes over. You should know that. Like <em>General Dann</em>, the plot just emerged. Everyone is on the run from drought, famine, floods, civil war, war. So it was about refugees, which I didn't realise when I was writing, even though it's so much on our minds, isn't it?" She pauses to watch her fat black-and-white cat, Yum Yum, pad across the carpet towards us. "But this one," she adds, nodding at <em>The Cleft</em>, "is just speculation."</blockquote> There is more in the interview worth reading. Not only about this book but about Lessing and her life and ideas. Though I’ve not read Lessing in years, this review of her latest – and apparently characterless – novel The Cleft reminds me that we need to take all dogmas, including the writerly ones, with that proverbial pinch. Here’s the link:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,,1984239,00.html

jb says: I also have not read Lessing in years – perhaps not since The Golden Notebook. But if anyone was going to write a novel without characters or plot I would not be at all surprised if it was her – she is nothing if not courageous.
While taking your point about dogmas, including the writerly ones, I wonder if a fairer review of The Cleft isn’t represented in Jane Cornwell’s interview of Lessing in The Australian:

. . . when asked to what extent The Cleft harks back to her early writing on sex, on the way relations between the sexes affect every aspect of our existence, she can’t resist a dig. “I wasn’t interested in any of that,” she tsks. “You start with the characters and then the story takes over. You should know that. Like General Dann, the plot just emerged. Everyone is on the run from drought, famine, floods, civil war, war. So it was about refugees, which I didn’t realise when I was writing, even though it’s so much on our minds, isn’t it?”
She pauses to watch her fat black-and-white cat, Yum Yum, pad across the carpet towards us. “But this one,” she adds, nodding at The Cleft, “is just speculation.”

There is more in the interview worth reading. Not only about this book but about Lessing and her life and ideas.

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