I was enjoying this book tremendously.
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I was enjoying this book tremendously. Both the story and the incredible writing. Like, I was comparing it to *William Trevor* - that kind of writing, that good. So I was reading along, minding my own business, then suddenly on page 131, wham! One of the characters became a writer. And started writing a book. And they put that book inside this book. In italics. I mean. For pity's sake. Like elf songs, only worse.
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I was enjoying this book tremendously. Both the story and the incredible writing. Like, I was comparing it to *William Trevor* - that kind of writing, that good. So I was reading along, minding my own business, then suddenly on page 131, wham! One of the characters became a writer. And started writing a book. And they put that book inside this book. In italics. I mean. For pity's sake. Like elf songs, only worse.
I’ve been warning the publishing industry about this for decades, but they never listen to me. Do not print characters’ books inside the real book. Better still, do not let characters write books. In this case, I was caught unawares, because the characters were farmers and gardeners and post office workers, then half-way through, a child grew up and became A Writer.
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I’ve been warning the publishing industry about this for decades, but they never listen to me. Do not print characters’ books inside the real book. Better still, do not let characters write books. In this case, I was caught unawares, because the characters were farmers and gardeners and post office workers, then half-way through, a child grew up and became A Writer.
@CiaraNi bookception
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@CiaraNi bookception
@matt Ha, yes
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I was enjoying this book tremendously. Both the story and the incredible writing. Like, I was comparing it to *William Trevor* - that kind of writing, that good. So I was reading along, minding my own business, then suddenly on page 131, wham! One of the characters became a writer. And started writing a book. And they put that book inside this book. In italics. I mean. For pity's sake. Like elf songs, only worse.
@CiaraNi oh absolute pet hate of mine. Skip!
Bonus points of annoyance when the book/short story/poem/song is then highly acclaimed in-universe. How on earth do people have the self-confidence to write something then have another character declare "this is a masterpiece! The writer is a genius!"?!?
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@CiaraNi oh absolute pet hate of mine. Skip!
Bonus points of annoyance when the book/short story/poem/song is then highly acclaimed in-universe. How on earth do people have the self-confidence to write something then have another character declare "this is a masterpiece! The writer is a genius!"?!?
@louisa_ It drives me bananas. I abandoned this book the moment it happened. And yes, more annoying still when the character's book is presented as some deep profound masterpiece of a work. The self-indulgent self-confidence of (often) Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts graduates, I think.
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I feel this way about every Hollywood movie in which a character works in publishing.
Julie and Julia
Devil Wears Prada
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
…and so on. -
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I’ve been warning the publishing industry about this for decades, but they never listen to me. Do not print characters’ books inside the real book. Better still, do not let characters write books. In this case, I was caught unawares, because the characters were farmers and gardeners and post office workers, then half-way through, a child grew up and became A Writer.
@CiaraNi I really LOVE Foucault's pendulum by Eco, but I must admit the long passages of Belbo's writings were the hardest parts of the book to get through.
