tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post116448257757584724..comments2023-10-10T05:08:34.827-05:00Comments on A Crockhead Abroad: Book Report: Winter's Bone by Daniel WoodrellCrockheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410758631825372736noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165643935816546992006-12-08T23:58:00.000-06:002006-12-08T23:58:00.000-06:00It's Suite Francaise for next month. It's 395 page...It's Suite Francaise for next month. It's 395 pages, so I've got to get started myself. Hope you like it. (I think you may be our toughest reviewer--though Steve and M.G. aren't easily won over either.) I always love to hear from those who aren't afraid to speak their minds! When you DO like something wholeheartedly, it will mean a lot.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165548160810810192006-12-07T21:22:00.000-06:002006-12-07T21:22:00.000-06:00Well now I won't feel bad anymore that I brought t...Well now I won't feel bad anymore that I brought the book back to the library, unread. I did like the way he used words in the first few pages that I did read.rdlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04062856086277201874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165279105429569192006-12-04T18:38:00.000-06:002006-12-04T18:38:00.000-06:00I realized that the story would have been better s...<I> I realized that the story would have been better served if my attention had not been diverted to the words.</I><BR/><BR/>I felt exactly the same way. After a while, I thought, 'I'm working awfully hard to read this thing. And that bothered me because I think had the writing been a little less dense, I'd have flown through and recommended it without reservations.Mindy Tarquinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02970872751327021013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165270527340845912006-12-04T16:15:00.000-06:002006-12-04T16:15:00.000-06:00Colleen, I'm going to have to be watching for some...Colleen, I'm going to have to be watching for some "abrupt green eyes." Maybe I'll know them when I see them.<BR/><BR/>Patry, thank you. Being contrary is part of my make up, unfortunately. I did enjoy Steve's review. For other reader's it's <A HREF="http://ontheslowtrain.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">here,</A><BR/><BR/>becca and Gerry, I probably sounded more negative about the book than I intended. Overall, it was a worthwhile book to read; I've read a lot worse. It certainly is a good example of colorful writing. <BR/><BR/>gnightgirl, I'll get you a copy of Houseboating. A good deal of it was written in the cafe where you like to hang out, so you have to read it.<BR/><BR/>tara, I got what training I have in writing as a newspaperman myself, so maybe that's why I favor a more minimalist approach. And, I'm a big Mark Twain fan, so I appreciate your comment.Crockheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08410758631825372736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165268876040370552006-12-04T15:47:00.000-06:002006-12-04T15:47:00.000-06:00"Never use a dollar word when a dime word will do...."Never use a dollar word when a dime word will do." Advice I got as a young journalist years ago. Mark Twain said something like "I never use metropolis for 7 cents when I could use city." There's a lot to be said for prose that's like clear glass. You see the world of the story through it without being aware of it. For that reason what you said about the writing in Winter's Bone resonated with me. Though I loved much of the description, sometimes I found myself stopping, startled, by something written. I couldn't tell if being halted was good or bad. It took away from the forward motion of the story, certainly, but sometimes the images were startlingly beautiful. Every now and again, though, I wasn't so sure about the way something was phrased. I experienced fewer of these moments, though, the deeper I got into the writing, as Ree's experience pulled me onwards. Great review, and thanks for commenting on mine!Shannon Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12724093833220026696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165258935949741032006-12-04T13:02:00.000-06:002006-12-04T13:02:00.000-06:00Back to Houseboating on the Ozarks; I looked for i...Back to Houseboating on the Ozarks; I looked for it at the library this week, but it is not in their system. :-(Lori Stewart Weiderthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601450336245218356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165246907581476152006-12-04T09:41:00.000-06:002006-12-04T09:41:00.000-06:00As a drop-out this month, I'm reading as many revi...As a drop-out this month, I'm reading as many reviews as possible, and getting gladder and gladder I didn't read the book.<BR/>I read your review carefully, and was surprised you handed out three stars.gerry rosserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06095232815291651669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165200494554733282006-12-03T20:48:00.000-06:002006-12-03T20:48:00.000-06:00I really like this comment: There is a difference ...I really like this comment: There is a difference between seasoning that makes the prose taste "just right," and dumping every spice in the cabinet into the pot. I began longing for a little bland before I had digested much of this book.<BR/> <BR/>I did enjoy Woodrell's descriptive phrases and use of language, but I agree it was distracting at times. However, as I said in my reivew, I rather welcomed this distraction from the downright brutality of the storyline.<BR/><BR/>Excellent review! Glad you participated, and I look forward to reading your comments on the next book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165191275700147332006-12-03T18:14:00.000-06:002006-12-03T18:14:00.000-06:00amishlaw: You dared to say what no literary review...amishlaw: You dared to say what no literary reviewers did--that sometimes too much original language can be a distraction. I admired much of it in Woodrell's book--including the abrupt green eyes, which worked for me--but a lot of it was distracting. <BR/><BR/>Have you read Steve's review? (On the Slow Train. He's also an intrepid reviewer.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165173887619274552006-12-03T13:24:00.000-06:002006-12-03T13:24:00.000-06:00I loved the description "abrupt green eyes," but I...I loved the description "abrupt green eyes," but I also understand what you mean. I paid a lot of attention to the writing before the story took hold... like watching a movie and seeing how the kiss is choreographed instead of just believing the kiss. <BR/><BR/>There are many non-mainstream life-styles in this country that the average American might be surprised by. Living in one myself, I found his description believable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165150508041478462006-12-03T06:55:00.000-06:002006-12-03T06:55:00.000-06:00I agree with you, Paris. The book is only 200 pag...I agree with you, Paris. The book is only 200 pages; maybe I should recommend it as an example of how to put color into one's writing.<BR/><BR/>Tinker, you're right that the two communities can and often do exist in the same place geographically. And, I think it's also true that they often exist without much awareness of the presence of the other.Crockheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08410758631825372736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165143426474760182006-12-03T04:57:00.000-06:002006-12-03T04:57:00.000-06:00I have to admit, while I enjoyed many of Woodrell'...I have to admit, while I enjoyed many of Woodrell's colorful phrases, there were many others that simply distracted me somewhat from the story. <BR/><BR/>Living in a "good" community - surrounded by several that don't enjoy a very good reputation (to put the situation in the best possible light), I can understand how the same area, the Ozarks depicted in both books can actually be depicting the area and its inhabitants, fairly accurately. Rather like seeing the dark side of the moon versus our usual view of it.<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed reading your review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-1165136166113452742006-12-03T02:56:00.000-06:002006-12-03T02:56:00.000-06:00I agree with many of your points. I too found some...I agree with many of your points. I too found some of the language distracting, including the phrases you mentioned, although other phrases I found beautifully descriptive. As for the names of families, there are many people in that region with similar names who are vaguely related to each other -distant cousins, etc. I also found it hard to imagine that virtually all the characters were so thoroughly miserable. If they had money from drugs, where did it go? Certainly not into their lifestyles. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for reading and participating in Third Day. Hope you'll join Patry next month for another selection.paris parfaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457437124988976587noreply@blogger.com