First French
Just finished reading Tana French's "In the Woods," on the recommendation of a friend. It's a detective novel set in Dublin, featuring a male-female pair of police detectives who get involved in a decidedly spooky case. It is French's first novel. I'm not sure I needed to know that fact, but, based on this first effort, I will definitely read the next in what appears to be a series.
The first couple hundred pages are clean and clear with a lot of good development of central characters, but the pace is a tad slow. One last pass by a ruthless editor likely would have helped speed things along. Fifty pages could easily be buried along with the corpse in question.
The last two hundred pages, however, crackle right along, with a lot of good narrative tension.
Overall, it's a nice moody read, ideal for that summer weekend in the woods. Or maybe not so ideal. Just keep your windows closed and your doors locked. And no, that's by no means a spoiler.
One question: Anyone else out there feel they'd be a lot happier NOT knowing that a book was someone's first novel? Frankly, it's a little like telling an editor, hey, this is only a rough draft. Or am I alone in that? When I know a book is a debut I keep looking for flaws, and I usually find them. Very distracting.
Now reading: The Bat, by Joe Nesbo. In the Woods
The first couple hundred pages are clean and clear with a lot of good development of central characters, but the pace is a tad slow. One last pass by a ruthless editor likely would have helped speed things along. Fifty pages could easily be buried along with the corpse in question.
The last two hundred pages, however, crackle right along, with a lot of good narrative tension.
Overall, it's a nice moody read, ideal for that summer weekend in the woods. Or maybe not so ideal. Just keep your windows closed and your doors locked. And no, that's by no means a spoiler.
One question: Anyone else out there feel they'd be a lot happier NOT knowing that a book was someone's first novel? Frankly, it's a little like telling an editor, hey, this is only a rough draft. Or am I alone in that? When I know a book is a debut I keep looking for flaws, and I usually find them. Very distracting.
Now reading: The Bat, by Joe Nesbo. In the Woods
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Brenda
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Aug 11, 2013 10:09AM
I just marked that series for my to-read list!
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Loved the whole series, but especially the second one "The Likeness". Enjoy !!
You ask "Anyone else out there feel they'd be a lot happier NOT knowing that a book was someone's first novel?"I agree that "it's a little like telling an editor, hey, this is only a rough draft."
It's really unnecessary to tell readers that a book is an author's first novel.That may not be a distraction to some readers, but to others it is. So why say it?
It's also a distraction when publishers say that this author also wrote a novel that I never heard of. It's a good idea to mention an earlier novel only when it is well known.
I read Tana French's entire series, and I, too, had problems getting interested in IN THE WOODS until I had read 100 pages. I only read the subsequent books because they got so many great reviews.
I promise, the series gets better and better with each book. She's a very good writer of what I call "literary thrillers." I don't know how she can top her last book, BROKEN HARBOR.
As I'm sure you know, writing is like anything else: the more you do it, the better you get.
What's wrong with slow? I hear that all the time: the book was too slow, or it took too long to develop. Why is everyone in such a hurry?
@Jason: I know exactly what you mean. I mean, I have read some things that actually were too slow, and it was deadly, but some things really benefit from a luxurious, unhurried pace. Naturally, I can't pull a book from my memory when I need to, but the American tv show, "The Killing", is an excellent example. Critics and audience members lambasted it for having such a slow pace, but I always thought it made it so suspenseful, always making me squirm on the edge of my seat. I loved it. @Erik: How is "The Bat", so far? My library is FINALLY getting an English language version, but I'm something like 57th in line for a copy. Can't wait! I've heard such good things, and I'm wondering if the hype is warranted.
