moeru_gumi t1_j1eu8iu wrote on December 23, 2022 at 8:04 PM

Reply to comment by smurfette_9 in What are some techniques used in books that you just love for some weird reason by shorttompkins

I’m the opposite, which is fascinating. I feel like it’s poorly constructed and egotistical, like the author thinks so highly of their prose they think it’s poetic, and are just pooping it out onto the page without editing or any concern for how the reader will have to do a lot of work to determine who’s talking. It feels like a very intimate stream of consciousness straight out of the author/narrator.

I react very badly to this, because rather than reading a story, I feel like either I’ve been handed a journal of the author’s personal thoughts or they are just talking directly into my face endlessly. I find it an imposition to have to figure out what’s dialogue and what’s just internal narration/description. And an author who wants me to do that much work must think very highly of themself and who do they think they are?

It’s fascinating that you like it, it really shows that style is so personal.

Perfect_Drawing5776 t1_j1hmso8 wrote on December 24, 2022 at 12:36 PM

I think the only book in this style that I’ve loved is The True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. Fascinated by the picture on the cover of Ned’s armor, I read his letters first and that made all the difference. I’ve no idea how Carey stayed in character but he mimicked Kelly’s style so beautifully. Don’t think I’d make the effort to reread but it’s an amazing work.