Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep

Exceptional

Well done, Steve. This is fascinating and inspiring! You have fired me up to read David Copperfield. It sounds like much could be learned from this novel. Giddy

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thanks, Giddy. Dickens is not for everyone, but I love him.

Steve

Comment from Sasha

Excellent

I love both books you write about. I certainly do not intend to compare myself with Dickens, but when I wrote my book I intentionally wrote it from the perspective of me as a child as I experienced my life. I did not want to repeat the too often use of sitting on the therapist's couch relating events of my childhood. I wanted the reader to experience my life as I did including my all too many misinterpretations of what was happening to me. Great work with this and you have made me want to read both books again. They are called the classics for a reason...

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thanks, Sasha.

Yes, this technique works brilliantly to bring the reader into the novel.

Steve

Comment from Tomes Johnston

Excellent

This is an interesting post that the author has created with this piece of writing. This is an interesting story from the author here. I had a tablet once, but it broke my heart when I broke it.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thanks, Tomes.

Steve

Comment from Fridayauthor

Exceptional

Excellent and thoughtful posting! Great choice of books to discuss.

I too poked around my new toy. I discovered a pinch of history in Ben Franklin's biography and an addiction to Hawthorn.

My son's college professor said a particularly section of "The House of the Seven Gables" was in his opinion, the very best piece of writing he'd ever read. If he wasn't right, he was close.

There's so much to learn from those exceptional works.

Thank you!

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thank you so much for the kind words and the six stars. I have to admit that I don't know Hawthorn at all, beyond his name. I may have to add 'The House...' to my list of titles to download.

Steve

Comment from Nosha17

Excellent

David Copperfield has always been my favourite book of all time, I loved it, read it in full at school in my early teens, then reread it several times after that. My son made a very interesting critique of Dickens' characters, he said it taught him the art of characterisation in novels-my son is a journalist and novelist. My kids brought home Harper Lee from school (US school) and I took one look and knew I couldn't ever like it. I understand your perspective of the role of narrator, it is just that I could never take to the style of writing, compared to the classical style of Dickens-I am biased because I prefer English authors to American. Your critique of the two novels is very good, comparing the similarities and differences of the role of narrator in the two books. For me your writing encouraged me to read David again, and retained my opinion about the other!!! Well written piece of prose. Faye

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Faye, thanks for the kind words. As you know, prose is not my usual genre, but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make this insight readable and accessible to those who may not have read these two books.

Love Dickens!

Steve

Comment from w.j.debi

Excellent

The classics are the classics for a reason. It has been a while since I've read one and I have plenty on my bookshelf. Thank you for a intriguing essay and reminder to appreciate great writing in every age--and perhaps learn something about the skills used to creat it, and even a bit about life itself.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thank you - I like your comment about the classics.

Steve

Comment from nancy_e_davis

Excellent

I love "To Kill A Mockingbird" Truly one of the best books ever. I agree with you about the naive narrator Steve.I Think you really see the world as it should be when you see it through a childs eyes. I couldn't agree with you more. Nancy

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Thanks, Nancy - one of my favourites too.

Steve

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

Your essay is very well written, and your observations sound. A truly wide spectrum of classic literature, read purely for enjoyment-not for a class, not to review-is essential for writing at one's best. It's a weakness of mine...excellent post.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 13-Jun-2015

Ah, yes - how many times have I been drawn away from other tasks by the appeal of a good read?!

Thanks for reviewing.

Steve

Comment from sweetwoodjax

Excellent

this is an excellent write, kiwisteveh, the difference that a hundred years can make in writing and in history is amazing. I watched to kill a mockingbird. I enjoyed reading this.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 14-Jun-2015

Thanks for the kind words.

Steve

Comment from jpduck

Exceptional

I am most impressed with this. Your analysis of the narrative style of two books close to my heart in different ways was filled with wisdom. It is of particular interest to me as I am in the planning stages -- indeed, close to putting finger to keyboard -- for a story based entirely on the diaries of two twelve-year-olds.

Incidentally, I feel your piece is wrongly classified as fiction.

Adrian

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2015

---

reply by the author on 14-Jun-2015

Thanks for the great review and the six stars - I appreciate the generous rating for this piece out of my usual genre. Good luck with the book - sounds interesting. Will you be posting chapters on FS?

You were right about the category - I'd forgotten to change it.

Steve

reply by jpduck on 14-Jun-2015

My 'Two Diaries' piece will be short story length, not a book, although probably split into more than one posting, as I think it is a sound policy to limit any one posting to no more than 2,000 words.

It will appear on FS, though not for a while, as I need to finish the 'Time & Again' novel first -- another 27 chapters at one per week.

I am still struggling with the Diaries concept. I want to make a story of a twelve-year-old boy and girl who become friends and both keep diaries. This is to maintain the innocent narrator feel throughout. The idea is that the alternate pages of the diaries will be covering the same events, but from the very different perspectives of the two children.

The children's relationship develops over the period of a week's holiday at a caravan site to a point of intensity which is confusing, in different ways, to the two two children, and ending in a poignant sadness.

The diary format should be great at providing the innocent narrators, and a good way of conveying changing emotions. But dialogue would seem to be impossible, which is a shame, if for no other reason, because I am devoted to dialogue, and feel that something will be lost without it.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

With best wishes,
Adrian