The fact is, this book doesn’t make anyone a Tolstoy write-alike. It is in itself a fascinating guide to what is literary, a how-to-write book, but a very good one with exquisite excerpts from many superb authors to instruct readers in gaining finesse in literary taste.

I liked this book very much because it focuses on in-depth writing instead of the flimsy plot and character building tips that some, not all, writing books resort to giving. Rather, the author reflects on the ethics of composition, voice, originality, good dialogue, endings, rhythm, and revisions.

What I liked the most, however, is the author’s warning that no rule should be taken as the absolute truth and that most writing rules are there to be broken.

This book was a treat for me, and I think people who appreciate literature, even if they are not writers, would enjoy its contents.

building appreciation and good literary sense

Just about everything.

Richard Cohen is the former publishing director of Hutchinson and Hodder & Stoughton and the founder of Richard Cohen Books. He is also the author of Chasing the Sun and By the Sword.

I enjoyed reading it and it will teach a few things to most writers.

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Created May 04, 2017 at 7:31pm • Submit your own review...