The Reader Over Your Shoulder - A Handbook for Writers of English Prose
It's too bad that this very funny book is no longer widely distributed. I suppose publishers fear Robert Graves' irony, sarcasm, and scorn does not send a peppy message to aspiring writers. No matter. In this "take no prisoners" handbook, passages written by Churchill, John Maynard Keynes, and even religious leaders are dissected and openly mocked. It's a wonderful sight to behold.
The novels of W. E. B. Griffin featuring Delta Force officer Charley Castillo and his band of troubleshooters have won wide praise for their realism, action, and "punchy prose that connects like a right hook" (Chicago Tribune).
An interesting collection for fans of Auster, even if not all essays are easy to appreciate (the ones about French poetry, for instance). Above all, it was a fascinating read, especially for "The Invention of Solitude" and "Hand to Mouth". Auster's informed enthusiasms, especially for European modernism and aspects of the avant-garde, make him a passionate, intelligent, and stimulating commentator. He writes acutely about the dilemmas which inform serious artistic decisions. The hospitable, generous pieces make one want to go immediately to the writers he discusses.
The collection of poems presents beautiful ballads, a couple of which are based on actual folk tales of Scotland, while others were conjectured by the poet himself. The stories are harmoniously narrated and compiled. The last one touches the tender love of children towards their parents. Scottish author of prose, verse and travel. Stevenson's novels of exploration and exciting journeys, sanctuary and terror have continued in recognition long after his death. His style is both captivating and enduring.
The Russian novelist, dramatist, and short-story writer Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-1883) was a founder of the Russian realistic novel. He ranks as one of the greatest stylists in the Russian language.
