Skip to main content

Writing or riveting?

In this post: Booking Through & Third Sentence


What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?
(Of course, a book should have BOTH, but…)


I buy my books. So before buying any I spend time reading blurbs and reviews as of course I want value for my money. One thing that gives me pleasure in books is reading them from start to finish because of both - good writing and good story. Then I am happy knowing I haven't wasted a cent. On the other hand, good writing for me is very instrumental in tolerating a not-so- good plot. I am willing to forget it is a dull story if the writing is really good it can carry me away.

*More bookish reactions at Booking Through Thursday

Book: Emma

3rd sentence: "Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses, and her place had been supplied by an excellent governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection."

Thoughts: Stepmother scenario in my mind here. A child in the film Nanny McPhee says, "stepmothers... they're an evil breed." I thought how lucky for Emma she got a loving governess. Of course not all stepparents are bad. And aren't we glad good foster homes exist? Our chances of being subjected to the horror stories of child neglect and abuse are lessened.

*Proud Book Nerd hosts Third Sentence Thursday
Labels:

Comments

  1. Eva @Mostraum ViewpointJanuary 26, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    For me it's the other way around :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heather (ham1299)January 27, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    I really appreciate good writing, but sometimes if a story is really, REALLY good, I can overlook crappy writing. Or, at least, less-than-stellar writing.

    I loved Emma. Great book. Thanks for playing TST! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. TinaJanuary 27, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    It was a hard call. I argued the other way, but I can see your point.

    http://nerdbliss.com/wordpress/2012/01/26/rivet-me/

    ReplyDelete
  4. JerikaJanuary 27, 2012 at 9:24 PM

    I agree that good writing can do wonders for a book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. topexpressJanuary 28, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    Im not really a book reader though i have read some, and I believed it is good writing that makes the story more interesting. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

Tacloban . It's where I spent two months of great adventure with college buddies at about the same age as the young adult artists in this video  We Are The World for Philippines ( Cover by Filipino Artsts ) This is the church where I served as piano accompanist for the 1990 summer student choir, and some of the services. According to reports it was filled with dead bodies when this shot was taken. Photo Courtesy: AUP Network on FB On Saturday, November 24th, Central World management (the former WTC Bangkok) lent space for a Haiyan fundraiser without charge. I'd like to commemorate the highlights:   One Voice: Help Haiyan Victims was a serendipity. Organizing events is something I had to pay money to study in grad school. But it was live learning right there that night and observing the process was free. Skywatch : Mission Tacloban The Bangkok Charity Orchestra   reflected tranquility in their music. Poor typhoon victims would benef
30 comments
Read more

Dyslexics and Developmental Pediatricians

Let me begin with an observation on the latter.  Developmental pediatricians in the Philippines are a rare breed. Or that's what I noticed. From society and organization websites, to forums, to word-of-mouth, to my own experience, they seem to be outnumbered by people who need their expertise. A parent of a child with developmental delays has to wait weeks or months to see one developmental pediatrician. Only thirty are listed on the Philippine Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Twenty-five in one Filipino autism blog, and that is not purely DevPeds. A child psychologist, child psychiatrist, and pediatric neurologist are mixed in the list, although they certainly are a big help too. At my son's speech therapy and psychology center I hear the same account from other parents - securing a time slot with a DevPed is hard. They are all fully booked throughout what could turn into a year. You may be lucky if someone withdraws but that rarely happens. I'm playing
25 comments
Read more

Honor, Awards and a Game

Tuesday Couch Potatoes: Made of Honor Awards and a Game/Meme follow. Please scroll down a bit. My pick for this week's TCP theme (wedding movie) is Made of Honor. I like the humor in it. We've all been to several weddings but how many of us can say I've been to one in which the maid of honor was a he? The scene which particularly cracked me up is when the priest mistook the maid of honor for a gay man =) If you're familiar with some of my likes, you'd know why I also love the Scotland location of the wedding. For more of the synopsis click here ; and here's the trailer: Head over to Just About Anything for more wedding movies. ************ My super duper bloggy friend Thom of Thom's Place for Well Whatever and fellow Mom Tetcha of Pensive Thoughts awarded me this Beautiful Blogger award. I have to list seven things about me so here they are: 1. I love wearing jeans more than skirts. 2. One of my favorite colors is purple. 3. I don't mind spending su
19 comments
Read more