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186th out of 321 books
—
503 voters
The Half-Known World: On Writing Fiction
A rigorous examination of the workings of fiction by the novelist Robert Boswell, “one of America’s finest writers” (Tom Perrotta)
Robert Boswell has been writing, reading, and teaching literature for more than twenty years. In this sparkling collection of essays, he brings this vast experience and a keen critical eye to bear on craft issues facing literary writers. Example...more
Robert Boswell has been writing, reading, and teaching literature for more than twenty years. In this sparkling collection of essays, he brings this vast experience and a keen critical eye to bear on craft issues facing literary writers. Example...more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
July 22nd 2008
by Graywolf Press
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This book was weird because as I was reading it, I didn't really care for it and didn't think the advice was that helpful. However, afterwards, when thinking about writing and writing a paper on writing, I found Boswell's words creeping into my head and on to the paper. His book proved to be the most helpful and his words stuck with me without me even knowing it. After writing a paper, I found a lot I too away from his book. Always half know the worrld you are writing about. To fully know it is...more
Charming, straightforward and good-humored like Boswell himself. Keeps his ideas about writing fiction grounded in the texts of stories and novels he loves, resulting in my to-read and to-re-read lists growing. "Politics and Art in the Novel" and "You Must Change Your Life" were my favorite essays. "On Omniscience" seemed to lack the power (and not just emotional power) that I remembered from when Boswell's delivered it as a lecture.
There's definitely a bias to realist, psychologically-driven fi...more
There's definitely a bias to realist, psychologically-driven fi...more
Author Robert Boswell has a clear point of view on how to write literary fiction and does a nice job supporting his theory with personal anecdotes. His main point is that literary fiction is an exercise involving both the author and the reader. The author's role is not just to present a story, setting and characters; but to do so in a way that implies a much more expansive world specific to the story. The reader's job is to use his/her imagaination to fill out this "half-known world" based on wh...more
A book about writing literary fiction that is not only informative but a work of art in itself---a demonstration of the blurring of the lines between fiction and nonfiction.
Some of the best and most thought-provoking craft essays available, period. Boswell deftly weaves personal narrative with lessons on the mysteries of literary fiction in a way that asks me to return to this book again and again, for inspiration and direction, but also because, as I grow and change as a writer, so the essays and what they mean to me change as well. There are three that are essential reading, in my humble opinion: "The Half-Known World", "Process & Paradigm" and "Narrative Spa...more
Robert Boswell's The Half Known World is a great read for anyone interested in writing "literary" fiction and the first two chapters are a great read for anyone period. Chapter one is the book's cornerstone. Here Boswell inveighs against creative writing classes that have students making character lists, about birthdays, jobs, etc. This reminds me very much of Flannery O'Connor who insisted on the "mystery of personality" as the core of good stories. Anything that kills mystery for readers and w...more
Jul 01, 2009
Malbadeen
marked it as on-hold-for-now
Warning!
The following anecdote will tell you next to nothing about the content of this book.
Once I had a boyfriend that was freakishly worried that I would, "run off with a librarian or a writer". I, of course, acted extremely insulted by this assumption and found myself to be quite convincing at times.
And then tonight, as I'm sitting in my daughters room waiting for her to fall asleep this book fell open and I noticed one of the notes I'd jotted in the margin of page 1. The note is a small hear...more
The following anecdote will tell you next to nothing about the content of this book.
Once I had a boyfriend that was freakishly worried that I would, "run off with a librarian or a writer". I, of course, acted extremely insulted by this assumption and found myself to be quite convincing at times.
And then tonight, as I'm sitting in my daughters room waiting for her to fall asleep this book fell open and I noticed one of the notes I'd jotted in the margin of page 1. The note is a small hear...more
This one requires some digestion. Boswell's points are brilliant, and his examples are necessary to illustrate the arguments he makes, but I'd be lying if I said that there weren't some tedious sections.
However, I've taken quite few notes and highlighted passages and decided to read a few new things...so there's a lot worth pursuing in this one little book. It packs some really useful insights into a small space.
However, I've taken quite few notes and highlighted passages and decided to read a few new things...so there's a lot worth pursuing in this one little book. It packs some really useful insights into a small space.
This is a really fine book on craft, up there with Charles Baxter's Burning Down The House but geared more toward practical application. A couple of the essays are too specific to be helpful to everyone (there's one on detective fiction and one on political fiction), but overall I found the book to be thought-provoking, warm, and full of good advice.
Read for Thesis Seminar. This is the best book on writing fiction that I've ever read. Boswell skips the jargon and superior attitude bullshit and just writes essays that deeply analyze fiction and provide strategies for writers to try for the same effects in their own work.
Excellent book on the art of reading and writing the sublter forms of literary fiction. Great analysis, great examples, great writing. Worth reading whether you're writing or not. No formulas here.
This is a really, really good craft book. The basic premise--that in writing fiction, we should start by writing a half-known world, giving the story time to teach us what it wants us to say before we start imposing our ideas onto it--really resonated with me. Boswell de-emphasizes "practical" suggestions (like lists and writing exercises) and encourages the writer to let the story take the lead.
I've had to read this for a class, but it's a definite resource and I will absolutely be going back to it!
Extremely readable book about writing. Good for us writing neophytes.
Jun 15, 2009
Jocelyn Kelly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
writers
Shelves:
about-the-craft-of-writing
One of the best books on writing fiction that I've ever read. Boswell's essays approaches each topic with self-deprecating wisdom, and gives practical and accessible advice for any level writer. I found his essay "Politics and Art in the Novel" especially enlightening.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
I read one essay the day I processed this book at the library and liked it so much that I ordered the book from my local bookstore. I cited the essay in my own essay, too. Fucking fantastic orientation -- very clear cut yet sparse, beautiful prose. Yeah, I have yet to pick up the book, because I have no money. But I will. Sorry, Walden Pond. I know it's been there for weeks.
I read most of this in 2009, so I guess it's legit.
The best book on writing I have read in a long time. Maybe ever? I love his discussions of published works. Everything he says is very straight forward and insightful. It made me think differently about many elements of fiction.
Highly recommended.
The best book on writing I have read in a long time. Maybe ever? I love his discussions of published works. Everything he says is very straight forward and insightful. It made me think differently about many elements of fiction.
Highly recommended.
Great series of essays on some of the more subtle elements of the writing craft. My favorites were: "The Half-Known World", "Narrative Spandrels", "Private Eye Point of View", and "You Must Change Your Life."
Definitely recommended for fiction writers seeking something new in a craft book.
Definitely recommended for fiction writers seeking something new in a craft book.
This was the first book I ever read on the craft of fiction writing. It was recommended by a former student of the author. I found the chapter on third-person omniscience especially useful. I plan on reading one of the authors actual novels soon.
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Wonderful. Next best thing to being in class with Boswell, whether or not you've been so lucky.
Loved his essays on craft. Inspiring. I'm getting my pen and paper out right now.
May 16, 2013
Michelle
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Robert Boswell is the author of eleven books, including The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards, a story collection with Graywolf Press, in April 2009. His novels: Century's Son, American Owned Love, Mystery Ride, The Geography of Desire, and Crooked Hearts. His other story collections: Living to Be 100 and Dancing in the Movies. His nonfiction: The Half-Known World, a book on the craft of writing,...more
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Feb 15, 2013 08:20pm