A friend recently asked me this question on behalf of her daughter, an Eng Lit A level student: “How do you analyse a novel?” And I tried to be helpful… but what strikes me most about literary criticism is that even though you may analyse a novel on many levels, according to the personal preference of theContinue reading “Literary Criticism, Joseph Conrad Corns and Jane Austen’s Irony”
Category Archives: About Books I love
Favour, privilege, and royal fairy dust
My son mentioned to me that he had learned from Newsround that Garry Barlow of Take That had asked Prince Harry to sing a line in one of their songs. And that Harry had (so far) refused. This led to thoughts about royal power and privilege; especially as I later watched the excellent TV programme “She-Wolves” presentedContinue reading “Favour, privilege, and royal fairy dust”
The Lost World of the Reclusive Bestseller Author
JK Rowling has said, I imagined being a famous writer would be like being Jane Austen, being able to sit at home in the parsonage and your books would be very famous… I didn’t think they’d rake through my bins. I didn’t expect to be photographed on the beach through long lenses. JD Salinger and Harper LeeContinue reading “The Lost World of the Reclusive Bestseller Author”
The Novels We Love and Carl Jung’s Theory of the Collective Unconscious
Among his many theories, Carl Jung includes “the Collective Unconscious”. This “collects and organises personal experiences in a similar way with each member of the species.” If we consider a book to which millions have responded in a similar positive way, for instance Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, we may then see that the story touches uponContinue reading “The Novels We Love and Carl Jung’s Theory of the Collective Unconscious”
Sherlock Holmes And Creative Writing
Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft tells Watson in the latest BBC recreation of this much-loved character, has the mind of a scientist or a philosopher; yet he chose to be a consulting detective. When he was a child he wanted to be a pirate. And Conan Doyle tells us Holmes is also a consummate actor. He willContinue reading “Sherlock Holmes And Creative Writing”
Dramatic Conversion Experiences, and the Mystery of Love versus Willpower
This is the second in my series of posts reflecting upon recent conversations with others about their beliefs. And this question came up: Is faith about emotion or the will? Quite often you may hear people say, “It’s all very well for you. You have faith. I wish I had faith – but I don’t.”Continue reading “Dramatic Conversion Experiences, and the Mystery of Love versus Willpower”
Virgin Births, Electric Monks and Troublesome Beliefs
I enjoy listening to people talking about their beliefs. This is a source of inspiration for me. So here are my insights from some recent conversations – and they’re about the Virgin Birth, the electric monk, and package deals of beliefs. Many of us can fall prey to a certain mental habit: we believe what we want to believe,Continue reading “Virgin Births, Electric Monks and Troublesome Beliefs”
How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Synchronicity Help You in Your Creative Writing?
Among his many theories, Carl Jung includes “synchronicity”. This may be defined as “the meaningful patterning of two or more psycho-physical events not otherwise causally connected”. I’ve known of this theory for several years, and have seen it operating not only in my life but in the lives of others. Now I realise how it canContinue reading “How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Synchronicity Help You in Your Creative Writing?”
Novelists and Screenwriters – Where To Find All You Need To Know About Story Structure
Several years ago, I nearly signed on for Robert McKee’s “Story Structure” workshop in London – tempted by the testimonial from John Cleese, who attributed his success in creating the Fawlty Towers scripts to what he learned from this workshop. But I saw it was essentially for screenwriters, and chose to pass on it. I have sinceContinue reading “Novelists and Screenwriters – Where To Find All You Need To Know About Story Structure”
How to Develop Villainous Characteristic Traits in Your Writing
An effective fictional villain has, to my mind, one essential characteristic. The villain should build up in the reader a passionate desire for his or her comeuppance.
scskillman.com 