Echo answers “Can some please tell me why everyone feels...”

Sandy asked this question about The Bone Garden:

Can some please tell me why everyone feels the need to write a plot synopsis? Seriously, people, a person like me wants to know the value you got from the book, not jacket cover blurb before you offer your insights.

Echo People do that because that's what English classes generally tell you to do when you write a book review. You start off with a synopsis of the plot in…morePeople do that because that's what English classes generally tell you to do when you write a book review. You start off with a synopsis of the plot in your own words primarily because what you actually see happening in the story can often be quite different from the blurb, which is written to sell the book more than anything else. It's not a book, but the movie Brave is a good example. Watch the original trailers that aired for the movie, and then ask someone who has seen it what the movie is about—it's practically a different plot all together. It's also a helpful exercise in writing workshops when doing peer reviews because it tells the author if the people reading the book are getting the message and plot they're trying to get across.

On that note, I definitely agree that the plot synopsis is annoying, as I don't really care to have plot spoiled for me. I just want to know generics like plot pace and if the character development was good and other reasons that a person liked it. (less)

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