tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post6711394653693181111..comments2024-01-19T13:24:15.734+00:00Comments on ::Acquired Taste: Tim Strettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post-88744272223783920532009-01-08T11:25:00.000+00:002009-01-08T11:25:00.000+00:00David, the Persian Boy is my favourite Mary Renaul...David, the Persian Boy is my favourite Mary Renault novel, partly for the reasons you outline. Indeed it's only awaiting a re-reading to feature on "Why Should I Read...?"Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post-90908259551223365132009-01-07T20:12:00.000+00:002009-01-07T20:12:00.000+00:00The issue of side characters (who might be factual...The issue of side characters (who might be factual or fictional) in historical narratives is an interesting issue. As you point out, they're an opportunity to introduce some stakes where the outcome isn't already known. They are also a good way to humananize those who are larger than life (the role of the Persian Boy in Mary Renault's novel).<BR/><BR/>All in all, I'm glad I'm not trying to write historicals. It looks like a huge amount of trouble.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post-17796915359653252062009-01-06T08:08:00.000+00:002009-01-06T08:08:00.000+00:00David,Hey, Caesar gets murdered? Thanks for telli...David,<BR/><BR/>Hey, Caesar gets murdered? Thanks for telling me...<BR/><BR/>I like the way "Rome" includes not only the "big" story but also the more obscure characters like Vorenus and Pollo so that even while you know what's going to happen to some of the characters, there's still the narrative hook around the small guys.<BR/><BR/>There's an added complication, of course, in that not everyone knows the historical story - so my partner was shocked and horrified when Pompey's haven in Egypt proved to be anything but...<BR/><BR/>A well-constructed story of this type has to work for those who know history and those who don't.<BR/><BR/>Swainson, I think writers are almost forced to look at things in this technical way - others have the choice. Sometimes I wish I could just go with the flow!<BR/><BR/>And as a regular visitor to the blog, you'll know that "Vancian" is the biggest compliment you can pay me. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>I entirely agree with you about the greater nuances in written fiction: there are some things you can do on the page that just can't be replicated on screen. And arguably the reader dictates the pace of what they read, whereas on film it's the director who determines the pace - quite a major disctinction.Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post-47260506830937239422009-01-05T20:15:00.001+00:002009-01-05T20:15:00.001+00:00Happy new year.What makes you think that it is onl...Happy new year.<BR/><BR/>What makes you think that it is only authors who think about how people construct a story.<BR/><BR/>One of the things I love about reading, as oppose to watching, is the nuance in books is so much finer.<BR/><BR/>I'm just getting into "The Dog"<BR/>Very Vancian type of style.Swainsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12868686527341125913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21671128.post-51360902451214751802009-01-05T20:15:00.000+00:002009-01-05T20:15:00.000+00:00Nice post, and the mention of "Rome" brings up som...Nice post, and the mention of "Rome" brings up something I've often thought about--the kinds of things you can do when the general outlines of a story are already known by most viewers or readers. In such a case the big plot points are already givens (and in the case of history, need not even be plausible). This gives the writer room to concentrate on other matters, and elminates huge amounts of exposition and plot development.<BR/><BR/>This is especially noticeable in revisionist games such as "Shakespeare in Love" or "Wicked," neither of which really hang together without the backstory knowledge we already possess. The pre-existing beats allow the writer to insert their own story as a kind of counterpoint, and also give the occasional nudge and wink to the reader or viewer--who feels like an insider.<BR/><BR/>Caesar's murder now seems inevitable to all of us, but I suspect it would be a real shock if you didn't know it was coming...<BR/><BR/>Today's verification code: seringly.<BR/><BR/>I wish they wouldn't use so many adverbs.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.com