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narrative form
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From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 15:48:48 -0700 (PDT)
On Mon, 12 Oct 1998, Marc Aronson wrote:
The "novel" itself must once have been an experiment in form, no? To me, the essential part of a novel is an intrinsically linked plot and characterization -- so that, at the end of the book, I can look back at the world it created (that period of time, with those people), and enter the story at any point, from memory. That is, by the end of the narrative, whether linear or not, I should be able to move around the story in any direction and have it make sense. Therefore, linearity shouldn't be intrinsic, although it does make for an easier reading, since we're used to reading and living linearally ourselves. But in a novel like Whi_, igig_, the world is masterfully put together, just in an unusual order. I've wondered, reading it, if the order isn't similar to the way in which the story comes to the author. Of course, every author comes upon a story differently, but I've often imagined the author as inventing his/her character first, getting to know the character, and then writing/revealing the bits and pieces of story that support the characterization, and weaving this into a plot. This is overly simplistic, of course, but if plot comes last, can't it be shaped into whatever form suits the logic of the story?
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Mon 12 Oct 1998 05:48:48 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 15:48:48 -0700 (PDT)
On Mon, 12 Oct 1998, Marc Aronson wrote:
The "novel" itself must once have been an experiment in form, no? To me, the essential part of a novel is an intrinsically linked plot and characterization -- so that, at the end of the book, I can look back at the world it created (that period of time, with those people), and enter the story at any point, from memory. That is, by the end of the narrative, whether linear or not, I should be able to move around the story in any direction and have it make sense. Therefore, linearity shouldn't be intrinsic, although it does make for an easier reading, since we're used to reading and living linearally ourselves. But in a novel like Whi_, igig_, the world is masterfully put together, just in an unusual order. I've wondered, reading it, if the order isn't similar to the way in which the story comes to the author. Of course, every author comes upon a story differently, but I've often imagined the author as inventing his/her character first, getting to know the character, and then writing/revealing the bits and pieces of story that support the characterization, and weaving this into a plot. This is overly simplistic, of course, but if plot comes last, can't it be shaped into whatever form suits the logic of the story?
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Mon 12 Oct 1998 05:48:48 PM CDT
