tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post8832158753817426321..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Busted!—Jane Hamilton Caught Using Setting as CharacterDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8368558177573096192013-08-01T07:10:53.773-06:002013-08-01T07:10:53.773-06:00Love this post, Kathryn, and the reminder that Eng...Love this post, Kathryn, and the reminder that English, even with its shortcomings, can create such eloquent and effective depictions. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24800711487271801922013-07-31T10:24:48.528-06:002013-07-31T10:24:48.528-06:00You've met my couch!You've met my couch!Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63027423330835329812013-07-30T11:26:35.835-06:002013-07-30T11:26:35.835-06:00Yes Maryann, Lehane is a great example of someone ...Yes Maryann, Lehane is a great example of someone who writes more literary crime fiction. Engaging the reader at this depth does slow the pace, to be sure—it's not for every book, and it's not for every page of the books that should employ it.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67272915761174847542013-07-30T11:13:56.629-06:002013-07-30T11:13:56.629-06:00I love reading books that have this kind of imager...I love reading books that have this kind of imagery. Those are my treats when I have time to savor my reading, as opposed to just having something to read at breakfast besides the cereal box. (smile)<br /><br />I use imagery in my writing, but not to the depth cited here. I think that works well for mainstream fiction, but the mystery and thriller genres usually call for a faster pace. Louise Penny does a good job of using more detailed imagery while keeping the suspense up, as is Dennis Lehane, but I have always thought of their books as novels with a mystery. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-16505930603699077452013-07-30T09:14:40.522-06:002013-07-30T09:14:40.522-06:00Let your inner couch potato thrive, Christopher—I ...Let your inner couch potato thrive, Christopher—I only hope to exercise the mind. ;)<br /><br />"The couch wrapped its over-stuffed arms around Christopher and lulled him back to sleep."Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-1680893918532131602013-07-30T08:03:11.044-06:002013-07-30T08:03:11.044-06:00Good stuff, Kathryn ... but there you are with the...Good stuff, Kathryn ... but there you are with the exercises again ... sheeesh, even the BRP is trying to get me off the couch.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6717375904566031702013-07-30T07:59:13.750-06:002013-07-30T07:59:13.750-06:00"Deliciousness"—a perfect word. It's..."Deliciousness"—a perfect word. It's amazing how flat a plain old description can be. I say take what others would skim and instead make it sing.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14063185462095333272013-07-30T07:56:42.026-06:002013-07-30T07:56:42.026-06:00Great, Elle, I'm glad it could help. And yes, ...Great, Elle, I'm glad it could help. And yes, a gothic manor is the perfect kind of place to assert itself—what a shame it would be to have such an exotic setting and not make full use of it!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29513507919026020222013-07-30T07:55:14.712-06:002013-07-30T07:55:14.712-06:00Stuart, I know it's hard to do in one sentence...Stuart, I know it's hard to do in one sentence—but you did it! The fact that the shop "illuminated the fresh snow" really brings it to life. These don't have to be huge changes to be effective. Thanks for sharing!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33029160285942166432013-07-30T07:53:18.276-06:002013-07-30T07:53:18.276-06:00Shirley and Catherine—isn't it beautiful? It s...Shirley and Catherine—isn't it beautiful? It so richly engages the imagination and pulls you-as-reader into the prose. Ahhh.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24118714254226004372013-07-30T07:52:45.356-06:002013-07-30T07:52:45.356-06:00Love this author and this book. The examples reall...Love this author and this book. The examples really bring your article to life. Thanks for sharing it. Descriptions and setting can make or break a reading experience for me. There is a special deliciousness if the author excels in these areas.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19576547125643973682013-07-30T06:33:52.582-06:002013-07-30T06:33:52.582-06:00These passages are evocative and haunting. So much...These passages are evocative and haunting. So much can be done with "simple" landscape.Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14000899555379267562013-07-30T01:16:48.293-06:002013-07-30T01:16:48.293-06:00In my first crime novel, the manor house where the...In my first crime novel, the manor house where the protagonist lived was very much a "character"; I tried to evoke the gothic atmosphere as much as possible. I will definitely save this post for when I start the revision on that book.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57747254733061618542013-07-30T01:10:41.717-06:002013-07-30T01:10:41.717-06:00I included the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales in...I included the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales in my romantic thriller, Breaking Faith. Here is a sample from the beginning of the book, 'Mrs Greenhough’s shop was still open when I reached the dark village, its lights illuminating the fresh snow on the pavement.' It's difficult to give a feeling for the way in which the landscape became another character with a single sentence, of course. It insinuated itself into the narrative as it was described through the eyes of the two viewpoint characters, Faith and Leigh, underlining their common love and their divergent views.<br />Always a good idea to make the location live; it brings another layer of experience to the reader.stuartaken.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05695584662320617659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-544632212835445412013-07-30T01:05:14.971-06:002013-07-30T01:05:14.971-06:00What a beautiful use of language. I always try to ...What a beautiful use of language. I always try to use the setting to advantage but I could surely learn a thing or three from this author. Thank you for sharing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com