Hatrack River Writers Workshop: A book you MUST read!!!

This is topic A book you MUST read!!! in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :

If On A Winter's Night A Traveller, by Italo Calvino.

It is simultaneously one of the most spectacular and most frustrating books I have ever read.

It's phenomenal. I think writers in particular would get something special out of it.

Most interesting points (at least, from the perspective of someone who is studying the art of writing):
-It is written (mostly) in the second person (!!!!)
-It is about (mainly? partially?) about the nature of reading
-It frustrates the heck out of the reader (but I, myself, could not bear to put it down nonetheless)
-It shows some SPECTACULAR examples of hooks, and what a phenomenal hook can do to a reader
-The language is beautiful. Calvino has an incredible translator

There is much more to the book if you read it as a reader as well. It's amazing. There is just too much that I can say about the book. So I'll leave it to two words.

FIND IT!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1411) on :

Second person.

"You read a sentence, get frustrated by its POV and close the book.

Do you:
Throw the book across the room? (turn to page 12)
Set the book on fire? (turn to page 27)
Howl in indignant rage? (just keep the book closed)"

Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :

Yeah, I'd never seen it done well before, either!

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

I usually laugh and flip around at random until I establish how the book is supposed to end. Sometimes I try reading it backwards...that's also fun.

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

I read the Jumparound books straight through. It makes an Odd sorta sense.

Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :

Ok, this isn't one of those choose your own adventure books. Just thought I'd make that clear.

Posted by yanos (Member # 1831) on :

You can read the story here...

http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/pwillen1/lit/index2.htm