Pedro’s review of Evenings and Weekends > Likes and Comments
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Save your evenings and weekends for....for...better-written books, Pedro—but I know you don't need me to tell you that;-)
After five consecutive great reads — some even life-changing — I reckoned it was time to try something “new”. I was wrong and am now back to my usual fare. I appreciate the reminder, Fionnuala. ☺️
This is exactly how I feel about most contemporary novels these days. I don't like "putting my intelligence in question" either.
Also, Diane, this needed serious editing and quite a bit of trimming. I kept wondering how it was possible that not a single person who read it before publication noticed that. It really makes me wonder… 🤷🏻♂️
You mention some things here that really capture my interest. Like, WHY did you think you kept thinking about it, even though it wasn't otherwise memorable? Do you mean you just kept pondering why it wasn't pulling you in? Or was the story on your mind?
Also--you've got me thinking about WHAT it is that we do as writers that create a strong visual image of a character? My youngest child (my 15-year-old) and I are currently reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy together. We're in the middle of the 2nd book and she begged me to start watching the first movie. I was very resistant, and I told her, "No, I don't want the movie telling me what everyone looks like. I have my own images of them, in my mind, and I already know who they've appointed as the leads, and that is already getting in my way." She was like, "What do you mean? What do you think they look like?" She shared with me that she's not able to imagine what characters look like, unless the book comes with a visual, etc.
So, maybe not all readers do this anyway? I am so predisposed to doing this, I don't even always like it when the author TELLS me what the characters look like!
Absolutely loved your questions, Julie — I can tell you’ve been spending time thinking about all this. 😄
So here’s my answer to that first capital WHY: there was a very good story with strong themes buried in it. I feel like I can tell exactly which books inspired the author — The Hours and A Single Man, most likely. And of course Mrs Dalloway, with that “one day in the lives of the characters” structure.
But — and this is a very big but — no matter how much I tried to believe these characters were real people, they never really left the realm of the author’s mind. Even though I can sense the sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and writing ability to tell this kind of story, the weak dialogue, the sheer number of characters, and the pages of unnecessary detail kept disturbing the pace.
I know not every reader needs to visualise characters, but I’m not even sure that’s the right word. For me, it’s more about recognising them as human and then letting my imagination fill in the gaps. That’s why I don’t like being told every single detail when reading — I want space to imagine.
Did I answer your questions, Julie?
Yes. Thank you. I appreciate your perspective.
I've often pondered "mood" in stories. It's one of those qualities that I don't really think can be taught to writers. I feel like either you're capable of it, or you aren't. (And why are Spanish writers and descendants of Spanish writers better at it than almost everyone else?).
But now I'm also going to think about WHAT a writer does, or doesn't do that makes you feel as though you have a solid sense of what that person looks like. (I totally get your point, by the way, that you don't necessarily need to know how they "appear" but rather believe that they are real, but I'm putting that aside for the moment to ponder this issue of WHAT a writer does, that causes that to happen so naturally). Larry McMurtry springs to my mind, as someone who always makes you feel as though you could grab a sketch pad, while reading his work, and if five different readers had such talent, they'd all sketch the same looking person. Isn't that uncanny? How does he do it? It's fun for me to think about this.
I think about this all the time. At this point in my reading life, it’s exactly one of the things I love most — trying to understand how it’s done and how it affects me. Or doesn’t. Ah!
Larry McMurtry is a very good example, by the way. His characters get under your skin and into your soul, and no matter how hard you try they never leave, because the memory of them sits in the same place as the memories of people you’ve actually met in real life.
The characters in this book, to me, felt like ideas for characters, not people.
Yes, you are right. Any writer worth a damn wants their characters to be three-dimensional. Why bother otherwise?
Strangely enough, this British writer, Rosamunde Pilcher, who is no longer with us, has presented me with characters as well-formed as Mr. McMurtry himself. She's an excellent storyteller, too. She's not for everyone, of course, and I have a hard time imagining too many men being particular fans of her work, but she's another interesting example to me of somebody making something seem effortless, when we know this really does require skill. Yes, her characters drink copious amounts of tea and the main focus is on the upper classes, but her technical skill as a writer and storyteller puts her at about 80% better than almost any contemporary authors today.
I get it, Julie. Well, what can I say? I think being a writer is like any other form of art: there are the ones who were born to do it, and the ones who do it because they decided to.
I sometimes think about writing something, but then I’m not sure I’d have the stamina for it. Which makes me think that if I were born a writer, I’d just write organically like I do so many other things. I mean, can you imagine writing Lonesome Dove? My brain hurts just thinking about it.
I think a couple of different things may be true here. I do believe that I was born a writer. I've been writing since I was 7, and even when I have been angry about it, I haven't been able to stop the urge. So, it feels like it's part of your DNA, right? But that still doesn't mean that you own a magic pen or something. I think it's the biggest mistake that writers make--they think they're going to sit down, magically write a book, and then POW! it's a bestseller, they've sold the rights, it's being made into a movie and the next installment is instantly published again!
Unfortunately, this isn't true. I have written only one full novel and I found it both exhilarating AND exhausting. I stumbled upon situations with grammar and context that confounded me, and I found writing setting extremely challenging. (Both characters and dialogue come naturally to me; setting does not). So, you're right about stamina! You must have incredible stamina, huge cojones to write and to keep at it, and incredibly thick skin to endure the merciless criticism that you receive, particularly online, and particularly if you are a woman.
And, NO, I can not even imagine being about to produce LONESOME DOVE. But, to clarify, I think it is the most powerful, heartbreaking novel that was ever written. That shy little guy from that dusty little town in Texas stepped up to the plate and handed us THAT. Who would have ever guessed it? He himself could not fucking believe it.
It’s stamina. It’s willpower. If you believe yourself a born writer, then I’m sure that’s what you are. But we only need to imagine what writing a novel is like to realise it would probably mean leaving so many other things on the side. I think there’s got to be a lot of solitude in being a writer — in a way, almost a kind of selfishness. And life’s so short already.
That thought takes me to these young writers trying their luck in the business and the merciless criticism online. But from there I go straight to asking why we write reviews on here at all, if not to help each other pick the next read. At least that’s why I write on here — as an attempt to describe my experience with a book others might be interested in.
A great review and an intriguing discussion here, Pedro! an idea of a character is not the same as feeling them like real people. I still might give this a try someday, but your review helps me keep it lower on that huge list!
It seems not everyone needs fully formed characters to enjoy a story, and I understand that not all novels require them. In this case, though, I really needed them to feel real. It’s the only way this one would work for me.
I really wanted to love it.
Thanks, friend. Nice to see you around here. ☺️
Even if the book was a disaster, the conversation that it engendered between you and Julie makes reading it worthwhile (I mean it makes YOU reading it worthwhile for ME). I can entirely relate to your thoughts on being a writer, Julie. Even if you have the urge and the talent, it is a lot of work if you do it well. I would give anything to be able to tap the place that a book like Lonesome Dove springs from!
Well, Julie’s questions were spot on, and by coincidence I had already thought about all that, so I was happy to try to explain what this reading experience was like.
And you know what, Sara? I wouldn’t actually call this a disaster. It’s just that I could see exactly what the author was trying to do — and why I think it fell short. The author and I have read a lot of the same books; we might even share a few favourites. No, I don’t know him.
By the way, you know Julie is Larry McMurtry’s biggest fan, right? I’m sure you do! Lonesome Dove forever. 😂
Robert Duvall died today, and I couldn't help thinking "Goodbye, Gus"
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Fionnuala
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Feb 08, 2026 01:19AM
Save your evenings and weekends for....for...better-written books, Pedro—but I know you don't need me to tell you that;-)
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After five consecutive great reads — some even life-changing — I reckoned it was time to try something “new”. I was wrong and am now back to my usual fare. I appreciate the reminder, Fionnuala. ☺️
This is exactly how I feel about most contemporary novels these days. I don't like "putting my intelligence in question" either.
Also, Diane, this needed serious editing and quite a bit of trimming. I kept wondering how it was possible that not a single person who read it before publication noticed that. It really makes me wonder… 🤷🏻♂️
You mention some things here that really capture my interest. Like, WHY did you think you kept thinking about it, even though it wasn't otherwise memorable? Do you mean you just kept pondering why it wasn't pulling you in? Or was the story on your mind?Also--you've got me thinking about WHAT it is that we do as writers that create a strong visual image of a character? My youngest child (my 15-year-old) and I are currently reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy together. We're in the middle of the 2nd book and she begged me to start watching the first movie. I was very resistant, and I told her, "No, I don't want the movie telling me what everyone looks like. I have my own images of them, in my mind, and I already know who they've appointed as the leads, and that is already getting in my way." She was like, "What do you mean? What do you think they look like?" She shared with me that she's not able to imagine what characters look like, unless the book comes with a visual, etc.
So, maybe not all readers do this anyway? I am so predisposed to doing this, I don't even always like it when the author TELLS me what the characters look like!
Absolutely loved your questions, Julie — I can tell you’ve been spending time thinking about all this. 😄So here’s my answer to that first capital WHY: there was a very good story with strong themes buried in it. I feel like I can tell exactly which books inspired the author — The Hours and A Single Man, most likely. And of course Mrs Dalloway, with that “one day in the lives of the characters” structure.
But — and this is a very big but — no matter how much I tried to believe these characters were real people, they never really left the realm of the author’s mind. Even though I can sense the sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and writing ability to tell this kind of story, the weak dialogue, the sheer number of characters, and the pages of unnecessary detail kept disturbing the pace.
I know not every reader needs to visualise characters, but I’m not even sure that’s the right word. For me, it’s more about recognising them as human and then letting my imagination fill in the gaps. That’s why I don’t like being told every single detail when reading — I want space to imagine.
Did I answer your questions, Julie?
Yes. Thank you. I appreciate your perspective.I've often pondered "mood" in stories. It's one of those qualities that I don't really think can be taught to writers. I feel like either you're capable of it, or you aren't. (And why are Spanish writers and descendants of Spanish writers better at it than almost everyone else?).
But now I'm also going to think about WHAT a writer does, or doesn't do that makes you feel as though you have a solid sense of what that person looks like. (I totally get your point, by the way, that you don't necessarily need to know how they "appear" but rather believe that they are real, but I'm putting that aside for the moment to ponder this issue of WHAT a writer does, that causes that to happen so naturally). Larry McMurtry springs to my mind, as someone who always makes you feel as though you could grab a sketch pad, while reading his work, and if five different readers had such talent, they'd all sketch the same looking person. Isn't that uncanny? How does he do it? It's fun for me to think about this.
I think about this all the time. At this point in my reading life, it’s exactly one of the things I love most — trying to understand how it’s done and how it affects me. Or doesn’t. Ah!Larry McMurtry is a very good example, by the way. His characters get under your skin and into your soul, and no matter how hard you try they never leave, because the memory of them sits in the same place as the memories of people you’ve actually met in real life.
The characters in this book, to me, felt like ideas for characters, not people.
Yes, you are right. Any writer worth a damn wants their characters to be three-dimensional. Why bother otherwise?Strangely enough, this British writer, Rosamunde Pilcher, who is no longer with us, has presented me with characters as well-formed as Mr. McMurtry himself. She's an excellent storyteller, too. She's not for everyone, of course, and I have a hard time imagining too many men being particular fans of her work, but she's another interesting example to me of somebody making something seem effortless, when we know this really does require skill. Yes, her characters drink copious amounts of tea and the main focus is on the upper classes, but her technical skill as a writer and storyteller puts her at about 80% better than almost any contemporary authors today.
I get it, Julie. Well, what can I say? I think being a writer is like any other form of art: there are the ones who were born to do it, and the ones who do it because they decided to.I sometimes think about writing something, but then I’m not sure I’d have the stamina for it. Which makes me think that if I were born a writer, I’d just write organically like I do so many other things. I mean, can you imagine writing Lonesome Dove? My brain hurts just thinking about it.
I think a couple of different things may be true here. I do believe that I was born a writer. I've been writing since I was 7, and even when I have been angry about it, I haven't been able to stop the urge. So, it feels like it's part of your DNA, right? But that still doesn't mean that you own a magic pen or something. I think it's the biggest mistake that writers make--they think they're going to sit down, magically write a book, and then POW! it's a bestseller, they've sold the rights, it's being made into a movie and the next installment is instantly published again!Unfortunately, this isn't true. I have written only one full novel and I found it both exhilarating AND exhausting. I stumbled upon situations with grammar and context that confounded me, and I found writing setting extremely challenging. (Both characters and dialogue come naturally to me; setting does not). So, you're right about stamina! You must have incredible stamina, huge cojones to write and to keep at it, and incredibly thick skin to endure the merciless criticism that you receive, particularly online, and particularly if you are a woman.
And, NO, I can not even imagine being about to produce LONESOME DOVE. But, to clarify, I think it is the most powerful, heartbreaking novel that was ever written. That shy little guy from that dusty little town in Texas stepped up to the plate and handed us THAT. Who would have ever guessed it? He himself could not fucking believe it.
It’s stamina. It’s willpower. If you believe yourself a born writer, then I’m sure that’s what you are. But we only need to imagine what writing a novel is like to realise it would probably mean leaving so many other things on the side. I think there’s got to be a lot of solitude in being a writer — in a way, almost a kind of selfishness. And life’s so short already.That thought takes me to these young writers trying their luck in the business and the merciless criticism online. But from there I go straight to asking why we write reviews on here at all, if not to help each other pick the next read. At least that’s why I write on here — as an attempt to describe my experience with a book others might be interested in.
A great review and an intriguing discussion here, Pedro! an idea of a character is not the same as feeling them like real people. I still might give this a try someday, but your review helps me keep it lower on that huge list!
It seems not everyone needs fully formed characters to enjoy a story, and I understand that not all novels require them. In this case, though, I really needed them to feel real. It’s the only way this one would work for me. I really wanted to love it.
Thanks, friend. Nice to see you around here. ☺️
Even if the book was a disaster, the conversation that it engendered between you and Julie makes reading it worthwhile (I mean it makes YOU reading it worthwhile for ME). I can entirely relate to your thoughts on being a writer, Julie. Even if you have the urge and the talent, it is a lot of work if you do it well. I would give anything to be able to tap the place that a book like Lonesome Dove springs from!
Well, Julie’s questions were spot on, and by coincidence I had already thought about all that, so I was happy to try to explain what this reading experience was like.And you know what, Sara? I wouldn’t actually call this a disaster. It’s just that I could see exactly what the author was trying to do — and why I think it fell short. The author and I have read a lot of the same books; we might even share a few favourites. No, I don’t know him.
By the way, you know Julie is Larry McMurtry’s biggest fan, right? I’m sure you do! Lonesome Dove forever. 😂
Robert Duvall died today, and I couldn't help thinking "Goodbye, Gus"
