(no subject)

[sideways]

Man. Reading classic novels is always a reminder that people used to be able to get away with anything. Frank Herbert won't stop telling me what's going to happen 50+ pages in advance and interrupting conversations so that everyone present can reflect on what was just said and its exact meaning and consequences, and it didn't stop Dune from being the award-winning, best-selling sci-fi story of its era. Throw rigid writing advice to the wind! Follow the weird beats of your heart!

Comments

[singedsun]

This isn't a classic, but I have DNF'd books written in the last decade that do things like this. Specifically I remember a book called The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber that EVERYONE was talking about the year it came out. I eventually picked it up and the author continually self-inserted to tell you who to follow, who you were supposed to be paying attention to. It was maddening. But it was like critically acclaimed and I feel like it really does go to show that people are still just tossing all writing rules aside and could make it in the writing world with these novels of the heart.

[sideways]

Mmm, I've never been hugely into the narrator as a character unless they are, completely and entirely, a character. In Herbert's case it really is just a more old-fashioned style, I think - not unlike Victor Hugo in the explanatory nature of it.

But hey, good for those still carrying on the tradition in the modern age :P Guess I was thinking of how what (admittedly little) I've heard of the publishing industry implies there can be some pretty fierce three-headed dogs at the gates to success.

[anneapocalypse]

Hah! I've always said I'm going to get around to reading Herbert and I keep not getting around to it. I'll admit, sometimes I like those more verbose writing styles that have fallen out of fashion--provided the author can make their ramblings engaging. The present market may not have room for that sort of thing but at least we have older stuff and indie markets that allow people to follow their weird unmarketable dreams!

[sideways]

Agreed, actually! The one big issue I run into with contemporary fiction is that there is much love given to character interactions and the world is sort of hazily shaded in around them. With the older styles, even when my brain occasionally skimmed the passages given over to describing cities or mountains or strange customs, I didn't mind having them there? It was meaty, weighty, evidence of depth. None of Dune's characters are particularly grabbing me, but I'm enjoying the book well enough because it feels like a story grounded somewhere different and interesting. I miss that sometimes.

[hokuton_punch]

True enough!

[sideways]

Can't argue with results!

[alaterdate]

The part in Moby Dick where he just starts dropping (false) facts about whales. Or the part in Les Mis about Waterloo...
People's tastes about what's "allowed" in books has definitely changed over the years. Publishers seem to really want things cut and dried in a way they know sells.
I admit that reading older works is sometimes difficult though. Like when I started reading Pride & Prejudice I was thinking, "Do people really like this book? No, they like the movie, that must be it." I did end up liking the book though.
Maybe its because we like things to go faster these days, we don't want to stop and read about the smell of flowers lol.

[sideways]

Goddd so many authors just inserting some rambles about their interests in there because why not, I guess.

Classic novels are a lot harder to get into in some ways. Dune, to keep belabouring this example, is pretty heavy on telling over showing? So I don't feel especially connected to any of the characters; they're here for a purpose, not for pleasure.

You're probably also right about the average modern brain liking it quick and punchy though, haha.