(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

[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.