How To Write A Sentence: And How To Read One (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
This book does not contain kernels of wisdom but rather evanescent shards of sentence celebrations. In the time honored tradition of show don't tell, The Fish demonstrates wonderful sentences and their authors in a narrative arc -- beginning, middle, and end -- and lambastes his expected detractors in literary parody -- satire. "This is the saddest story I have ever heard" directly mocks the literary know-it-alls incapable of understanding the story he tells. The whole last chapter is uproariously hilarious and worthy of the Canadian fifteen dollars I donated to Harper and Fish. Oh, and thank you Mr. Fish for helping me identify opportunity in my own writing. I never saw the relationship between nut and shell before. Started strong, lost its way. The author deconstructed (primarily) sentences written hundreds of years ago, and while there are points to be given for timelessness, it doesn't do much for modern writers and readers, looking to create or find beauty in the prose of our times. Additionally, the author leans heavily on religious writings-- I'm not bothered by the content, but for writing purposes, I don't see much value in over-examination of formal language to the exclusion of more-often used casual styles.
What do You think about How To Write A Sentence: And How To Read One (2011)?
Yes...this explains why I've always respected Woolf and Gertrude Stein but never liked them.
—Red
Interesting but last chapter was all over the place.
—wildsheepchaser
A very helpful book. Interesting. Great excerpts.
—awesome
