![]() ![]() Changes of point of view have to be shown quite clearly, preferably by an extra line break or a new chapter. The same applies to recounts, where you find out what is going on through a letter, a phone call or a character spending time bringing everybody up to date. Flashbacks can be interesting but for me, they need to be used very sparingly and I need very clear signals that the section is not in the same ‘timeline’ as the main story. It’s acceptable in dialogue where it might relate to a character’s speech patterns, but not elsewhere. ![]() (I’ll come to plot later.) Repetition annoys me, whether it’s repeated adjectives or repeated information. Then there’s the structure of the writing. I can easily be ‘thrown’ by dangling participles for example, though I usually have no objection to prepositions at the ends of sentences. If the writer uses things like fragmented sentences they have to know what they’re doing and break the rules carefully, showing quite clearly that they know the rules in the first place and are breaking them for special effects. To begin with, my five star book has to have impeccable grammar. Because they aren’t exactly right for me. ![]() Not because there’s anything wrong with them. ![]() I often read books, even those written by friends, which are fine – no criticism – but which don’t attract my five star rating. Whilst sharing my monthly reviews with you I’ve been wondering what makes me really love some books. I thought I’d better post this before it’s time for my March reviews (coming soon, of course). ![]()
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