Like most people who want to write novels for a living, I read a lot. I devour books. The urge to read overpowers me the way a bottole does an alcoholic. It’s part of learning how to write a novel. If you don’t read a lot, you won’t be a good writer. It’s about as simple as that.
This week I read, for the second time, James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider. Now say what you will about Patterson – some literary types believe his tight, compact prose hardly warrants writing. Those guys are welcome to their opinions and may freely share them with the students they torutre in their Sophomore Year English Lit classes. The truth is, Patterson undertands STORY and he is a master. (So is Stephen King and don’t let any snotty lit-type in a sweater vest tell you otherwise. That’s a different rant, however.)
WARNING – SCENE SPOILER BELOW. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK THE BELOW WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU.
For example – Along Came A Spider begins December 21, 1992. (The prologue takes place in 1932, at least in the antagonist’ imagination, but the story opens Dec. ‘93.) In part IV, we cross November 11, 1993. That’s a lot of time and a helluva lot happens. Every chapter raises the stakes, increasing the tension and keeping one flippen pages. And when you think you’ve got it figured out, a plot twist punches you in the eye. I like that in a story.
I didn’t like that Sampson shoots the bad guy. Come on, we all know the good guy has to win his own war. He can’t be rescued. I was disappointed to see an otherwise solid craftsman break that rule. Thoughts?
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