The best writing tip in the world?
READ.
So....I offer this post as a testament to that.
I'm not a book reviewer and I don't play one on TV....so I wouldn't attempt to review this book.
But I AM gonna say how much I loved The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer.
First of all - the subject is fascinating: historical fiction about a circus on a boat, based on a real boat, called Floating Palace. Who knew?
But it's the writing that grabbed me with this one.
I mean, how can you not love a book that starts out:
I shoulda listened to my brother. Right follows Zach like a shadow, but wrong wears me like a skin.
I definitely had to lock the highlighters away while reading this library book, because my fingers were just itching to mark all the lovely sentences and phrases. (I suffer from OHD: Obsessive Highlighting Disorder.)
- It smelled like dirty boys. And dirty boys are mean boys....
- My family was a pile of rags now - shredded and torn.
- Still, the corner felt safe and good, like vegetable soup on a rainy day.
- Anger and fear took turns with me all night, so sleep did not find me until the pale lavender light wedged its way through the open door.
- I couldn't picture myself in their top-buttoned world anymore. [I love that: top-buttoned world.]
Lovely writing.
5 comments:
Love that book.
I love this book, too!
those are lovely sentences and phrases.
I am going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to pick up one of your books.
I promise to turn the others cover out!
great blog.
Hi Barbara,
So I'm curious. Do you actually highlight within your own copies of books? I have always had the urge to do this but was taught when I was young that it is not acceptable to "mark up" a perfectly good book. I am an adult now (most days anyways) and I still can't bring myself to break this "rule"... But I want to oh so badly. I am often copying down favourite phrases, and often just not getting around to it and I see how easily this could be overcome if I simply highlighted my favourite text!! Of course many of the books I read are borrowed so this wouldn't work in that situation but....still. I think I'm about to give myself permission to grow up and exercise my Right to Highlight! Thanks
Yes, I DO highlight in my books. I LOVE doing that. I'm such a rebel, huh? Ha!
I think you should give your permission to be a rule breaker and highlight to your heart's content.
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