Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them

by Francine Prose

Book Overview

A distinguished novelist and critic inspires readers and writers with this inside look at how the professionals read--and write Long before there were creative writing workshops and degrees, how did aspiring writers learn to write? By reading the work of their predecessors and contemporaries, says Francine Prose. As she takes us on a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters--Dostoyevsky, Flaubert, Kafka, Austen, Dickens, Woolf, Chekhov--Prose...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060777044
• ISBN13: 9780060777043
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Readers are writers - Class dismiss!

This is an excellent book on reading and writing and the title says it all. It was eye opening to know what I, as a reader should be aware when reading good and bad writing. While I was reading the book, I felt like I was sitting in one of Ms. Prose courses and she, as my English professor, was explaining to me how this author did this and why another author wrote this way. It enabled me to realize the fine points of word choice and paragraph structure, which I will remember when writing, in addition to how it is the writers' job to engage the reader with his or her writings. This book allowed me to see how a writer should write or should look at writing their piece and how I, as the reader, should respond to their writing. It was especially poignant when Ms. Prose said we should slow down when reading. This is against the norm of reading as fast as you can. However, when you read too fast you miss the most important parts of any piece. Reading is not about racing; it is about enjoying the adventure. It also provided me with thought on how I can learn from the classic and contemporary writers to improve my own writing. However, I am not sure I will be able to read "all" the 117 books she recommends to be read immediately. I will just savor each, one at a time. If you love to read and want to read more effectively, or if you are a writer who wants to write the next hit novel, read this book. It will provide you with numerous points on writing and reading that you never thought of before. After reading this book, you will never look at a book again the same way. Thanks Ms. Prose for a wonderful lesson. I enjoyed your class.

Be a Better Reader in Order to Become a Better Writer

You certainly are a person who enjoys reading. The beauty of this book is that its author teaches us how to read carefully, deliberately and slowly in order to digest and extract the ideas behind the words, and also to identify the style of an specific writer. By doing so Francine Prose gives us the tool that we may require to become a better writer. Basically is a process of learning by example, and Prose goes all the way to select and bring us a lot of examples, both from classical and contemporary authors. As you advance through the chapters you will find examples covering the fundamentals of writing, including aspects related to narrative, plot development, characters creation, as well as the basics of sentence and paragraph structure. Even if you have no intention at all of becoming a writer you will love this book, since it also teaches us how to have a better appreciation of what we read.

Prose on Prose

Francine Prose knows prose. In "Reading Like a Writer," she presents the timeless truth that great writers are great readers of great writers. More than that, Prose parses how to read well, which in our hurried, image-driven age, has become something of a lost art, even for literature lovers. She not only encourages and explains the reading of the classics, Prose also offers a diet rich in vignettes from an egalitarian menu of authors. She is like a chef who tells you to eat great food, teaches you how to cook five-star meals, and then takes you to a five-star restaurant to become a connoisseur. As the subtitle suggests, two primary audiences will enjoy "Reading Like a Writer." Anyone who loves books, will glean insights into great books and how to enjoy them. Anyone who wants to write books, will learn how to write better--more creatively, powerfully, and yet still personally. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."