And now I am expecting you will write a piece on "endings", for example the multiple endings of The French Lieutenant's Woman or Henry James last sentence in The Turn of the Screw. Does Miles die at the end of the story?
At the story’s end, Miles collapses. Following this collapse, the narrator states “his little heart, dispossessed, had stopped,” There are a few of us readers who first read the last pages, paragraphs or sentences. Shameful, I know.
This was a very thought-provoking post, Martha, especially for someone like me who is on the cusp of becoming a published author-- with a good dose of luck ( ;
“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.” The Princess Bride by S. Morganstern the Good Parts Version actually by William Goldman. The film is wonderful. The book is fabulous
I remember being in a workshop where the leader emphasized that you should never, ever start your novel with someone waking up--agents are sick of it, she said. All I could think of was the opening of Metamorphosis. I guess it depends on what your character wakes up to. .
one of my favorite openings is by Tess Hadley, "Late in the Day." It just swept me into their world...I also loved the entire book. I, unlike the agents, have patience for beginnings. Sometimes it takes a while for a book to get going. If I like the prose, I'll hang in for a while, but I don't think that's the norm. :-)
And now I am expecting you will write a piece on "endings", for example the multiple endings of The French Lieutenant's Woman or Henry James last sentence in The Turn of the Screw. Does Miles die at the end of the story?
At the story’s end, Miles collapses. Following this collapse, the narrator states “his little heart, dispossessed, had stopped,” There are a few of us readers who first read the last pages, paragraphs or sentences. Shameful, I know.
This was a very thought-provoking post, Martha, especially for someone like me who is on the cusp of becoming a published author-- with a good dose of luck ( ;
“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.” The Princess Bride by S. Morganstern the Good Parts Version actually by William Goldman. The film is wonderful. The book is fabulous
On the other hand, “It was a dark and stormy night” turned out to be unforgettable too…🙂
I remember being in a workshop where the leader emphasized that you should never, ever start your novel with someone waking up--agents are sick of it, she said. All I could think of was the opening of Metamorphosis. I guess it depends on what your character wakes up to. .
one of my favorite openings is by Tess Hadley, "Late in the Day." It just swept me into their world...I also loved the entire book. I, unlike the agents, have patience for beginnings. Sometimes it takes a while for a book to get going. If I like the prose, I'll hang in for a while, but I don't think that's the norm. :-)