This is an amazing book. The author starts by talking about the tiny details like words and sentences and then moves onto the larger parts of writing like paragraphs, narration, and dialogue. She covers all the important things like: making your characters interesting, talking like real people, including details that matter, giving characters gestures that are important, etc. She also includes several great first paragraphs.

The best part of the book is that it is both talking about writing and talking about reading all the way through. She looks at lots of different stories and authors who employ the techniques that she describes which not only explains her point but also gives her readers a broader base of modern English literature to look at. About 90% of the books she talked about I had never heard of but after reading her quotes and descriptions I now have another 10-15 books to put on my to-read list. Essentially, the book is a highly detailed review written from the perspective of a writing teacher who loves what she reads.

Some of the stories to note: Freedomland, We Didn't, Lolita, The Marquise of O-, Loving, The Wonders of the Invisible World, A Ship Made of Paper, and The Portrait of a Lady.