Cold MountainjesspatrickJanuary 3 2007, 03:11:29 UTC
I had a similar experience. Frazier writes in a style that is shunned by the commercial fiction crowd, so you might be brainwashed into thinking that it's "bad". I had that reaction to it, but the story was so good, that it grew on me and I gladly finished it.
Frazier is great with describing backwoods life. He's not so great at dialog and some types of action. When I'd heard that Cold Mountain was made into a movie, which I never saw, I wasn't surprised. That story is perfect for a movie, and screenwriters could handle that plot.
Anyway, I am reading 13 Moons right now. I'd say it's better, but I'm far from finished with it.
Re: Cold MountainjesspatrickJanuary 3 2007, 03:15:21 UTC
Oh, and on the lack of quotation marks. Frazier was following the convention James Joyce insisted on when he published his collection of short stories "Dubliners".
It put me off when I saw that in Frazier's book, too. Since I've learned about the James Joyce link, I understand the purpose. Still. I'd rather see quotation marks.
Re: Cold Mountaincalico_reactionJanuary 3 2007, 03:47:05 UTC
I would really have to sit down and examine Dubliners and understand the context for Joyce's choice. Certainly, he had deliberate reasons. Unfortunately, I think there are far too many artsy copy-cats out there who forgo quotations because it's "cool" and "literary". I'm not saying Frazier's one of those people, and he may have had good reasons (can you enlighten me at all? Do you know why he chose to follow the convention), but I'm with you, I would've preferred the quotations. :)
Re: Cold Mountaincalico_reactionJanuary 3 2007, 03:44:19 UTC
While I'm not well-read in the literary venue, I was something of an English geek once upon a time ago, and love the literary style. No brainwashing here. But I've read far better styles than Frazier's. Read Sheri Reynolds. Read Jeanette Winterson. Read Michael Cunningham. Not only are they better writers, but their words linger long after you finish one of their books. I'm really picky about style, and even in commerical fiction, I demand more of genre writers than most commerical readers do. :)
Backwoods life, bleh. I live here. And I've read Faulkner. Backwoods life does nothing for me. Certainly, there are beautiful moments, but they were few and far between for my tastes.
Glad to hear 13 Moons is better though. I haven't heard much about it, but I have no desire to read it myself. Frazier just doesn't appeal to me as a reader.
Huh. You seem to have hated Cold Mountain. Yet you recommended it to me. Amazing. Even more so given that you were absolutely right to do so. Cause I loved it. So what did you think of Labyrinth? Did you enjoy it, or did you only recommend it to me on the basis of the flowery language? Guess I can go read that review too, can't I
( ... )
Actually, I really liked Labyrinth, but liked or no, I would've recommended it to you for the poetic prose. Course, after our last discussion, you may find you don't like it, but either way, I'd love to hear what you think
( ... )
Comments 29
Frazier is great with describing backwoods life. He's not so great at dialog and some types of action. When I'd heard that Cold Mountain was made into a movie, which I never saw, I wasn't surprised. That story is perfect for a movie, and screenwriters could handle that plot.
Anyway, I am reading 13 Moons right now. I'd say it's better, but I'm far from finished with it.
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It put me off when I saw that in Frazier's book, too. Since I've learned about the James Joyce link, I understand the purpose. Still. I'd rather see quotation marks.
Reply
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Backwoods life, bleh. I live here. And I've read Faulkner. Backwoods life does nothing for me. Certainly, there are beautiful moments, but they were few and far between for my tastes.
Glad to hear 13 Moons is better though. I haven't heard much about it, but I have no desire to read it myself. Frazier just doesn't appeal to me as a reader.
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