Amazon.com
Like eating a well-conceived meal at an exceptional restaurant, reading this book is a wholly satisfying experience. Less-skilled chefs may have failed to get the book's many disparate elements to cohere, but, in the hands of editors Carolyn Forché and Philip Gerard, those ingredients sing. Brenda Miller compares the shape of a lyric essay with that of a loaf of challah bread; Nicholas S. Hentoff and Harvey A. Silverglate offer a primer on legal land mines. Christopher Merrill ponders the art of war writing, while Dinty W. Moore explores,the use of humor in creative nonfiction. There's an essay about bringing oneself into the story, and another about taking oneself out. Bob Reiss offers hilarious yet salient advice on surviving as a writer overseas. The contributors (Annie Dillard, Phillip Lopate, Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams, et al.) spend the first half of the book discussing creative nonfiction and the second half demonstrating it. Not only does the format work, but pairing the works of creative nonfiction with the accompanying commentary is educational and entertaining.
Among the book's most interesting sections, perhaps because their subject matter is underrepresented in writing-reference literature, are those about biography. Philip Furia discusses the need both to conduct an unbelievable amount of research and to leave a whole bunch of it out. And Honor Moore focuses on the intensity of biography writing: "I had no idea I was getting into twelve long years during which I would put preoccupation with someone else's life ahead of attention to my own." --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Writing Creative Nonfiction presents more than thirty essays on today's hottest literary form--creative nonfiction. The stellar line-up of contributors includes Philip Lopate, William Least-Heat Moon, Diane Ackerman, Ted Conover, Dinty Moore and many others. From researching ideas and structuring the story, to reportage and personal reflection, this book covers every key element of the craft. Each essay is followed by three exercises for hands-on learning.
* An impressive line up of the best teachers from the finest writing programs throughout the country
* Creative nonfiction titles are hot--with new books hitting the bestseller lists everyday!
* The AWP's role guarantees strong consumer and academic interest
Customer Reviews:
an excellent resource.......2006-01-19
whilst one can not expect every chapter to be directly relevant, i found each of them thought provoking. this book has enabled me to view the genre, and my writing attempts, in a new light.
an essential read for anyone interested in writing narrative non-fiction.
Does Creative Nonfiction Exist?.......2003-07-27
Over the past several years there has been quite a controversy as to what exactly is creative nonfiction.
In fact, there are some who even go so far as denying its existence and claim there is no such animal!
If we are from the school that accepts that it is alive and kicking, we must then be able to describe what exactly is creative nonfiction.
Carolyn Fauché and Philip Gerard, editors of Writing Creative Nonficton, perhaps best sum up what it is all about when they state: "creative nonfiction has emerged in the last few years as the province of factual prose that is also literary-infused with the stylistic devices, tropes, and rhetorical flourishes of the best fiction and the most lyrical narrative poetry. It is fact based writing that remains compelling, undiminished by the passage of time, that has at heart an interest in enduring human values: foremost a fidelity to accuracy, to truthfulness."
In order to support their belief in creative nonfiction, Fauché and Gerard have presented more than thirty essays that examine all of above key ingredients inherent in writing creative nonfiction.
Divided into three sections, the reader will receive tips pertaining to such topics as researching ideas and structuring the story, reportage, personal reflection, developing powerful observation techniques, awareness of the filters that put you between yourself and the world, shaping the lyric essay, creating biography, war writing, using humor, and taking yourself out of the story.
What is quite noteworthy about the book is that the reader receives valuable advice from over thirty well- known writers such as: Terry Tempest Williams, Allan Cheuse, Phillip Lopate, Carolyn Forché, and Philip Gerard, all of whom contribute immensely in convincing us that, yes, creative nonfiction does exist.
It may be true that it has undergone many name changes over the years- nonfiction novel, narrative non-fiction, literary journalism, literary non-fiction, and new journalism, however, they all lead us to the conclusion that no matter how confusing it sounds, creative nonfiction is still distinguishable from daily journalism, academic criticism, and critical biography.
The book also offers a primer on the practical business of drafting a business proposal as presented by Stanley Colbert, and a section about what happens after publication.
Finally, as the editors most aptly state: "as a final gift to the reader, we've included the `Creative Non-Fiction' reader offering the companion pieces and other exemplary essays to inspire, delight, reach, and simply to enjoy."
This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site: Bookpleasures.com
Nicholas Hentoff rules.......2001-10-11
This book is almost uniformly excellent, but the essay by Nicholas Hentoff alone is worth the purchase price. Hentoff, a semi-legendary Arizona criminal defense lawyer and champion of civil rights, offers invaluable advice to nonfiction writers on avoiding legal landmines, and therefore avoiding the tendency towards self-censorship. Every journalist who cares about doing work that matters should have a copy of this essay.
From biography and true-life adventure to narrative history.......2001-08-16
In Writing Creative Nonfiction: Instruction And Insights From The Teachers Of The Associated Writing Programs, the editorial team of Carolyn Forche and Philip Gerard present essays by more than thirty contributors focusing on all aspects and elements of the creative writing craft as it applies to nonfiction. This outstanding compendium of presentations ranges from researching ideas and structuring a story to reportage and personal reflection. Along with insightful prompts and exercises, Writing Creative Nonfiction covers every type and category from biography and true-life adventure, to memoir and narrative history. Here is an invaluable reference whose reading will enrich and enable any aspiring writer to significantly advance their skills and expertise at writing nonfiction whatever the extent of their previous experience or training.
A Journey for Writers and Teachers of Writing.......2001-07-14
I purchased this book as an inspiration for designing the Advanced Feature Writing class and others I teach at Northwestern University. As I read and did some of the exercises suggested in the book, I began to realize how useful this book is not only for aspiring and senior writers of all kinds, but also for those who teach others to write.
It's a compendium of essays and writing exercises written by various authors from poet to essayist to magazine feature article writer, with some selections of their writings at the end of the book.
Don't let the long titles of mini-chapters steer you away from this book. For example, one chapter is entitled "Saying goodbye to once upon a time or implementing postmodernism in creative nonfiction." It may sound daunting, but the chapter is written clearly, creatively and thoughtfully about how fact, truth and fiction often get tangled when we write. The author of this chapter, Laura Wexler, shows us that the only place we can find cold, hard facts is in fairy tales. Yes, that's right. Fairy tales. Because in a fairy tale we can all say with certainty that Cinderella lost her glass slipper and Prince Charming found it and placed it on her foot, and they got married. But life isn't like that. And neither is nonfiction writing.
Wexler writes, regarding the Rodney King beating: "The Rodney King beating cannot be told as a fairy tale. There is no single true version of What Happened. Because everything about it is up for grabs, everything is unstable: motives, actions, and interpretations. It seems we cannot, despite Rodney King's famous plea, 'all get along' -- because we tell different stories about the same events. We always do." Wexler, however, does not leave us perlexed and discouraged about this "fact." Instead she offers insights and advice on how to write while remembering the nebulous qualitites of truth, fact, and fiction.
Incidentally, references to recent events such as the Rodney King beating pepper the essays throughout the book making it "fresh" and "new."
Not every chapter is as captivating as the one described above, and occasionally, some of the authors of the essays tend to become preocuppied with their knowledge of other authors and writing. And although I enjoyed the chapter on humor writing, I had hoped for much more on this subject. We need not be told that irony, satire and exaggeration are tools in humorous writing; rather we need to be shown how to use them, what works, and what doesn't.
The writing and interviewing exercises in the book are worthwhile, and I would have liked more. One example: Interview separately two people who were involved in the same event. Transcribe the interviews and consider the similarities and differences in the two versions.
This exercise is terrific for journalists as well as creative writers.
As a writer and editor, I found the book to be reaffirming as well as challenging. Many of the writing philosophies I've developed over the years are explained in exemplary fashion in this book. I am eager to work with my students on the exercises, and to share some of the chapters with my writing and editing colleagues.
Sheryl De Vore Assistant Managing Editor, Pioneer Press Senior Lecturer, Northwestern University, Journalism Department sdevore@voyager.net
Average customer rating:
- moving story
- As The Mystery Unfolds
- MY EYES!!!!! THE PAIN!!!!!
- Gone but not forgotten
- Looking for Red
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Looking for Red
Angela Johnson
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ASIN: 0689863888 |
Book Description
Twelve-year-old Mike -- short for Michaela -- loves the ocean. The sights, sounds, and smells of her coastal home are embedded in her very soul.
But Michaela loves her brother, Red, even more.
Then one day Red disappears. One minute he's there, the next...gone. No warning. No time to prepare. And Mike must come to terms with that loss or risk never finding comfort in what remains of the life she and her brother once shared.
Customer Reviews:
moving story.......2006-11-30
This novel is a moving depiction of grief, and of the unbearable secrets we keep even from ourselves. I use LOOKING FOR RED in my course on writing fiction for children and teens at Mills College as an example of spare and lyrical writing.
As The Mystery Unfolds.......2006-05-23
I first became aware of this book three years ago as a first -year teacher. It was at this time that I went to the school's library to find a book to read with small groups. I found Looking for Red written by Angela Johnson. Overall, I found it to be a very realistic view of guilt and grief and how a young girl and her friends deal with it. I did notice however, that may of the students had a difficult time following the main character's thoughts and actions as they switch from present to past, yet we forged ahead and finished the book. I really liked Ms. Johnson's style of writing and would recommend her books for Middle School students to read.
MY EYES!!!!! THE PAIN!!!!!.......2005-11-29
practically everything that can go wrong with a book did in this one. i couldn't understand a STINKING word this girl said! i just couldn't follow this girls thoughts. at the end, i finally got to understand what happened to Red, but did it really have to take a hundred pages? i, like another reviewer, had to force myself to finish this book. it was a terribly boring. i think i didn't really enjoy this book because it's one of those stories with a deeper meaning. and i was not about to spend my time with a shovel digging.
Gone but not forgotten.......2004-05-01
I personally hate anything sad. I know things happen but reading about it is even more hard to deal with. This book is about Michaela called 'mike' for short, she narrates about how one day her brother disappears. The book is told in many variation, from current to past times. You have to really pay attention because if not you can miss what is going on. It was kind of hard to read but it really is about a young girl talking fondly of her older brother. I was confused at first about how he died but in the end it explains exactly what happened to him. I did not like that it did not explain why Mona his girlfriend left...meaning did she leave the neighborhood? I wish the author would have given a better conclusion. I personally like everything coming to an end when the book is finished. Altogether it was a very moving story.
Looking for Red.......2004-03-11
Overcoming troubles
In this story Looking for Red there is a girl here name is Michela. She is trying to overcome her fear of losing her brother that she spent all her time with. One night, michela's brother was gone from his bed and there family searched for him for weeks. Then they found his body a couple of weeks later in the woods. Michela could not forget here brother that she loved so much she couldn't look at his body at the funeral. She felt there was no safe spot where she could feel her brother's love again. She felt so lonely after her brother died was she going to do well read this book and find out.
I didn't like this book because it was hard to read. I had to read this book over again to understand it. Also this book is sad and not very many details of what is going on, there is no other big event in this book. The only excitement was in the beginning when her brother dies. This is hard to understand because there are too many flashbacks that I couldn't tell what she was saying or thinking.
Book Description
A Fact About Frogging With new species discovered every day, it's hard to find a rule to catch a good frog, except to say that when it comes to frogs there are no rules at all.
Karrie Kline had kissed her share of frogs. But when it came to finding her prince her pond was dry. With disappointments ranging from a Colorado bound Casonova to a lascivious lawyer she meets online, Karrie's frustration climbs so high even dreams of meeting her match on her own reality show become a nightmare. But she still has her tales. An enterprising actress, Karrie turns her dating stories into a successful one-woman show. Has her quest to put her bad-date karma to good use turned her into a dating pariah? Her old frogs are hopping out of the woodwork. But offstage, Karrie journeys back to the beginning to figure out how she got here. From finding her very first tadpole on up to her biggest horniest toad, Karrie comes away with an even stronger sense of herself and relationships, passing on a prince for her own good frog.
Download Description
A Fact About Frogging:
With new species discovered every day, it's hard to find a rule to catch a good frog, except to say that when it comes to frogs there are no rules at all.
Karrie Kline had kissed her share of frogs. But when it came to finding her prince, her pond was dry. With disappointments ranging from a Colorado-bound Casanova to a lascivious lawyer she meets online, Karrie's frustration climbs so high, even dreams of meeting her match on her own reality show become a nightmare. But she still has her tales.
An enterprising actress, Karrie turns her dating stories into a successful one-woman show. Has her quest to put her bad-date karma to good use turned her into a dating pariah? Her old frogs are hopping out of the woodwork. But offstage, Karrie journeys back to the beginning to figure out how she got here. From finding her very first tadpole on up to her biggest horniest toad, Karrie comes away with an even stronger sense of herself and relationships, passing on a prince for her own good frog.
Customer Reviews:
The Perfect Summer Beach Book..........2006-07-27
...but be careful, you might get a sunburn because it's hard to put down! Whether you're sitting by the ocean or Karrie's enormous pond, you'll definitely enjoy the new adventures of actress-turned-dating-expert, Karrie Kline. What a perfect ending! BRAVO! And, it goes without saying, ENCORE!
rooting for Karrie.......2006-07-07
From the dating swamp to the spotlight of the stage you will find yourself rooting for Karrie in this fun read. Laurie Graff takes you for a tour of New York (and a funny visit to West Palm Beach!) as Karrie takes her dating lemons and makes them into lemonade!
Great summer read!.......2006-07-01
Jump into this pond!
A great, fun read! Graff finds both the humor and heart of being a single, creative woman in NYC. Her sharp, smart writing engages you from beginning to end in Kari's journey. If you miss 'Sex and the City' as much as I do, you'll love this book!
Makes a Great Gift.......2006-07-01
Karrie is older and it isn't spunk anymore. It's chutzpah. When her confidence is high, she sees these guys for the frogs they are, and she tells it like it is. But since she's still looking for Mr. Goodfrog, she can't help feeling intrigued by them. This book has all the humor of the first one (You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs) with a deeper and more interesting story line. It feels so real, I keep hoping to catch the one-woman show "Frogophobia" that Karrie produced! And some of my single-guy friends want to meet Karrie (yes, guys like this book too!) and be Mr. Goodfrog.
Take Mr. Goodfrog to the Beach.......2006-06-26
What a refreshing, funny story about dating and the frogs, masquerading as good catches, who populate the pool. I love Graff's Karrie Kline -- a strong, single, do-it-yourself woman -- who makes lemonade out of the lemons she's dated! The J-Date story is hysterical. Go Karrie! I can't wait to read about your next adventures! Great summer reading!
Average customer rating:
- Memories
- A must read for moms
- Red Clay & Vinegar: Looking at Family Through the Eyes of a
- Excellent piece of history with feeling.
- A book every southerner should read.
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Red Clay & Vinegar: Looking at Family Through the Eyes of a Southern Child
Naomi Haines Griffith
Manufacturer: River City Pub
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1579660215 |
Customer Reviews:
Memories.......2006-08-21
This wonderful book was bought for me from the author who spoke at a meeting my sister attended. Reading this book takes you down your own memory lane right along with her family memories, the things you remember! The thankfulness in your heart for the family love and get togethers and the funny things that happened too. RED CLAY AND VINEGAR is a magic carpet to take you back in time and warm your heart - get a copy today!
Jackie Griffey, author of the Maryvale series.
A must read for moms.......2000-05-27
I started reading this book last night after putting the kids down, intending to read a chapter to wind down. At 1:30 am, I was closing the book, wishing there were more to read. This is the absolute best book I have read in quite some time that reaches to the core of who we are as family, and what we could do to strengthen it. What I especially liked was the fact it wasn't preachy, textbook dull or the type that would make you feel like a terrible mother if there were ways you could improve. It was learning by example of her life, how she was raised, mistakes made, losses, successes, and at the chapter's end she would write one paragraph that would encourage the reader to implement one value or tradition to strengthen the family unit he/she was a part of. Excellent book--I'm buying copies for my mother, mother-in-law and sisters!
Red Clay & Vinegar: Looking at Family Through the Eyes of a.......2000-05-07
I heard Naomi speak at a conference on parenting and families recently. I was moved to tears when she spoke about the love she has for her 100 year old mother and cried again when I read her words in print. Naomi helps us understand that it is our responsibility to "teach" our children and others how to be good parents because if we don't,how else will they know? I admire this women and loved the book.
Excellent piece of history with feeling........1999-09-29
Naomi Haines Griffith writes a powerful recollection of her childhood memories. After hearing her speak, reading the book I felt as if she was talking to me. I could feel her emotion in each part and experience she shared. Red Clay and Vinegar is a good read that you can learn the small lessons in life from, and share them with your family, friends and neighbors.
A book every southerner should read........1998-11-24
This book left me with a very warm and secure feeling of family and growing up in the South. Any baby boomer who grew up in the South will be able to relate to this wonderful story. Good job Naomi!
Product Description
HBDJ, EX-SCHOOL Library copy with STAMPS/Stickers; O/W, GOOD+/VG, UNDATED Early 1950s, Dustjacket light Wear, Rub, & small Tears Extremities
Product Description
HBDJ,1968, Stated 1st Edition, LATER Printing, VG+/VG-, AS-IS, DJ Bright Colors Light Rub, Wear & Scuff Marks & Tiny chips Tears Extremities & Spine DJ Ends, 5 X 7.5 inches,
Book Description
When a seafaring grandfather returns home for the last time, his ten-year-old grandson searches for the great treasure hidden in the sailor's old wooden chest. But Grandfather's legacy is much more than gold coins--it is the promise that the imagination holds the mightiest treasure of all.
Customer Reviews:
There is much more to look for in this book than Atlantis.......2004-05-29
When the narrator of "Looking for Atlantis" was a ten-year-old boy his grandfather came home from the sea for the first time. His grandfather had traveled every ocean a hundred times and visited every country of the world from the plains of Patagonia to the distant volcano of Tristan da Cunha. Before he died the boy's grandfather gives him the large wooden chest by his bed, telling him "Everything you could ever want is in that chest if you know where to look for it." He also talks about the boy getting to Atlantis, explaining that you have to learn to look for the mythical land but that it "is right here, all around you."
After the grandfather dies writer and artist Colin Thompson shows us the lifetime of treasures contained within that chest. "Looking for Atlantis" is primarily a picture book. By this I mean two things. First, that the chief attraction here are the pictures, in which Thompson often fills every square inch with literally dozens of details. You can spend an hour just looking over everything that we see when the boy opens up his grandfather's chest for the first time. But those who are familiar with Thompson's other work, such as "The Paperbag Prince" and "How to Live Forever," know that is exactly what to expect from his books. Young readers will have to ask adults for explanations as to the meaning of "Macho Mariner Biscuits with Extra Weevils" and to point out which bird is the Dodo.
Second, "Looking for Atlantis" is a picture book because after the detailed narrative at the beginning the words disappear for the most part. There are six picture spreads in which there is only a single line to be read. Clearly Thompson knows that once he gets going with his detailed illustrations words are something of a distraction from the main feast. However, there is a point to the story regarding the power of the imagination and the transcendental quality of love, it is just that the art is so visually stunning that you have to remind yourself that there is a narrative thread to the book as well.
There are also references to famous paintings throughout the book, which means that young readers will be able to return to this book as they grow older and find they get more of what is going on in each illustration. Thompson came up with the idea of "Looking For Atlantis" because he wanted to do a book that was a cross-section of a house. Having already used the idea in the 1993 Leeds calendar, Thompson needed a reason for a young boy to go through all the rooms on a house and decided that searching for Atlantis was a much better idea than just looking for a lost book or a cat. Eventually the idea was refined to the point that Thompson clearly had a lesson about how to look for something was more important than knowing where to look for something. Just be forewarned: once you enjoy one of Thompson's picture books you are going to want to track down the rest of them as well.
They loved it!.......2001-08-08
I just spent a week at the beach with my two grandsons, ages 4 and 5. We read this book over and over and over and over again. Searching for objects and moving through tiny doors to each new magical page, their interest never waned. I recommend it very highly!
The Magic of Imagination.......1999-12-02
I am giving this book 5 stars for the benefit of my two sons, ages 10 and 6. Both of them have enjoyed this book so much, it can't be rated any less than 5 stars. The pictures are mesmorizing and add to the magic of the storyline which teaches children to use their imagination. It also teaches them that, with their imagination, anything is possible!
Books:
- Writing Nonfiction, 4th Edition: Turning Thoughts into Books (Writing Nonfiction)
- Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (perfect-bound) (11th Edition) (Writing Research Papers)
- 1001 Palabras Inglesas Mas Utiles Para Hispanoparlantes
- 501 German Verbs
- 501 Latin Verbs (501 Verbs Series)
- A Guide to Mla Documentation
- An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians
- Arabic Verbs and Essentials of Grammar: A Practical Guide to the Mastery of Arabic
- Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Works of Shakespeare
- Basic Grammar in Use With answers, with Audio CD: Self-study Reference and Practice for Students of English (Grammar in Use)
Books Index
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