IvanOpinion
asked:
For those who 'eye' read the book, did you think the unconventional punctuation served a worthwhile purpose? (I'll provide my view in my answer to my own question.)
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Girl, Woman, Other,
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Deedi Brown (DeediReads)
I absolutely loved the way this book was written as a mix of prose and poetry. In my opinion, it added a lot. So many of the line breaks cut me in half, too.
Isabelle
why no
periods but
yet commas I wonder
Either way, this random (or is it?) punctuation is a problem for me. I keep having to re read lines to figure out what is being written. Why not go further and tie allthewordstogether while she’s at it?? ;)
it makes for a
very chaotic and exhausting read I am not
sure how long I
will keep going
periods but
yet commas I wonder
Either way, this random (or is it?) punctuation is a problem for me. I keep having to re read lines to figure out what is being written. Why not go further and tie allthewordstogether while she’s at it?? ;)
it makes for a
very chaotic and exhausting read I am not
sure how long I
will keep going
IvanOpinion
Here is my answer to my own question.
I loved the book, but this aspect of it puzzles me.
I think part of the reason I ask is that I 'read' the audiobook and from this I had no clue that it had been written without punctuating the start and finish of sentences.
I knew little about the book at the outset and it was only when I finished and I then discussed it with someone who read it on paper that I learned about the (lack of) punctuation. This makes me wonder what was achieved by eschewing sentence punctuation.
I thought back: the audiobook narration did not sound any different to a normally punctuated novel. I don't remember being puzzled about what was a sentence, so much so that the question never even occurred to me at the time.
This made me start to wonder if the narrator had added pauses or intonation to indicate what she saw as being a sentence, even though they weren't there. I suspect so, in which case I wondered if the narrator had therefore effectively dumbed down (or at least lost) part of the experience of what the author intended?
But now I look at the written text it seems generally clear where the punctuation would be. Perhaps there is the occasional paragraph where a reader might need to slow down, momentarily, to work out what is meant, but not often. Perhaps it would have been harder if the paragraphs contained several sentences, but they do not.
I can see how this sort of approach can achieve a literary effect in some novels, such as helping the reader to share the disorientation or perception problems of a character or to show a stream of consciousness. But neither of these approaches seem to apply here.
It seems to me that the book is in fact written in sentences, but just without conventional punctuation to denote them. So, the narrator was not imposing structure that was not intended; she just spoke what was implicit (even though it would normally be explicit).
Perhaps the book shows that sentence punctuation is not essential to interpretation, which might be of interest in an academic linguistic sense, but I could not really see any literary purpose. That is, if the punctuation had been normal (which it effectively seems to be if you audioread it), the book would have been just as good.
But perhaps I would have had a different experience if I had 'eye' read the book first, so I'm curious if people who did so feel that the (lack of) punctuation somehow enhanced their experience.
I loved the book, but this aspect of it puzzles me.
I think part of the reason I ask is that I 'read' the audiobook and from this I had no clue that it had been written without punctuating the start and finish of sentences.
I knew little about the book at the outset and it was only when I finished and I then discussed it with someone who read it on paper that I learned about the (lack of) punctuation. This makes me wonder what was achieved by eschewing sentence punctuation.
I thought back: the audiobook narration did not sound any different to a normally punctuated novel. I don't remember being puzzled about what was a sentence, so much so that the question never even occurred to me at the time.
This made me start to wonder if the narrator had added pauses or intonation to indicate what she saw as being a sentence, even though they weren't there. I suspect so, in which case I wondered if the narrator had therefore effectively dumbed down (or at least lost) part of the experience of what the author intended?
But now I look at the written text it seems generally clear where the punctuation would be. Perhaps there is the occasional paragraph where a reader might need to slow down, momentarily, to work out what is meant, but not often. Perhaps it would have been harder if the paragraphs contained several sentences, but they do not.
I can see how this sort of approach can achieve a literary effect in some novels, such as helping the reader to share the disorientation or perception problems of a character or to show a stream of consciousness. But neither of these approaches seem to apply here.
It seems to me that the book is in fact written in sentences, but just without conventional punctuation to denote them. So, the narrator was not imposing structure that was not intended; she just spoke what was implicit (even though it would normally be explicit).
Perhaps the book shows that sentence punctuation is not essential to interpretation, which might be of interest in an academic linguistic sense, but I could not really see any literary purpose. That is, if the punctuation had been normal (which it effectively seems to be if you audioread it), the book would have been just as good.
But perhaps I would have had a different experience if I had 'eye' read the book first, so I'm curious if people who did so feel that the (lack of) punctuation somehow enhanced their experience.
Elsof
Most definitely the punctuation (or lack of) matters because this is an ongoing story, one woman's life rolling into the next, without end.
Theresa
I don't know why authors, or whoever, decide to leave out punctuation, capitals, and quotation marks. I've seen many other authors try it. But the way Evaristo puts down the sentences on the page is the first time it actually succeeds. It is the first time I've seen where the flow is not inhibited and perhaps even enhanced. I hope her structure becomes the standard for how it should be done.
Would love to hear from the author as to why she chose to leave out punctuation, etc. And if she has done this in other books?
Would love to hear from the author as to why she chose to leave out punctuation, etc. And if she has done this in other books?
Jennifer
The book for me, was read the way poetry is read. The lack of punctuation allowed for the words to flow in my mind in a different way than they would with punctuation. I found it lovely.
M.E.
As a grammar geek who reads books on paper only, the lack of punctuation threw me off to the point where I let this book sit on my shelf for a few months before delving in. Once I did, the narrative drew me in and, as others have mentioned, you sense where the missing punctuation is. Still, I'm of two minds as to whether this really added to the story or detracted from it.
Dominika Ciechanowicz
It's the only thing about this book I didn't appreciate. I could still 'feel' where sentences finished and started, so honestly I can't see the point...
Cynthia Cooperstone
This is not an uncommon technique used by folks who want to explore, expose, implode, etc. traditional paradigms that they feel do not adequately reflect the fluidity of today's gender identities. Annoying as it may be to those of us who enjoy the traditional use of punctuation, this break with convention actually serves a purpose, reflecting the ideas and characters who don't uphold the patriarchal canons. I think the author's use of this form is brilliant and effective: slowing me down, engaging me in examining preconceived notions and biases and shedding fresh perspective
Elizabeth
I had a rough time with the broken up sentences and the lack of punctuation. It was jarring. (was that the intent?) Honestly, it disturbed me so much I gave up on finishing the book.
R Davies
It infuriated me when I first opened the book, and I thought "oh how pretentious" etc. But when I actually started reading it, it took mere minutes for that initial judgement to disappear. I found it flowed so effectively. It does give it that immediacy, and facilitates the mixed narrative POV really well. Didn't take long to win me over.
Veronica
Andy's answer is an interesting theory, but I don't think it's adequate justification. I considered various possibilities but didn't really get it, other than thinking she was trying to write the way people do in texts and WhatsApp using their thumbs -- can't be bothered to do capitals and punctuation. But it still doesn't make sense. This is a novel, she's presumably not writing it on a phone. In places the line splitting works in a poetic way, but mostly not. That apart I am actually enjoying it.
Chris Rigby
No
I hated it
Thoroughly pretentious
in my opinion
Though if it had been poetic I wouldn't have minded.
I hated it
Thoroughly pretentious
in my opinion
Though if it had been poetic I wouldn't have minded.
Dina
I really hated it and the first 30 pages did not encourage me to struggle further. I understand the lack of capital letters and punctuation when it's an internet meme or an especially vanilla poem but in this book, it was unnecessary and irritating. We can come up with many excuses like it makes the words flow or makes an impression of no start/ending, but the truth is it just makes the already chaotic story unreadable. I'm glad so many people liked this one but then again the other 'poetry' book I read also received many 5 stars for virtually no reason.
Harinder
I liked it. It gave the storytelling an immediacy - as if the women were talking directly to you - that made it (for me) easier to read and quicker to get into.
Andy Cunningham
I think the answer to this lies in Morgan's story and the After Party - the style is meant to resemble tweets. Hence, it's written for this generation in a style that it's familiar with and will digest.
Valentina
The author in the interviews (there are many post Man booker prize in YouTube) said it was a way for her to feel the musicality of the sentences, it gave her a rhythm that wasn't that of prose and not ever really poetry. Sometimes the lines are very short and this way they are given emphasis. Sometimes the most important word is in the following line, like in an enjambement, and this way the natural order of the sentence is disrupted and it is added meaning. I absolutely loved this device and think that it was part of my fascination for this novel. A way to give also an implicit point of view on thinks. I didn't find it tiring at all (quite the contrary)
Katherine
I think the format goes towards expanding the range of what constitutes a novel (blurring the lines between poetry and prose) as well as indicating how difficult it is to make sense of their experiences. The difficulty reading the book, in my analysis, goes to show how difficult it is to be a Black woman in society, and this shows their efforts to sort through their memories/thoughts.
Kamon Kur
I found the unusual punctuation and formatting did not help the story. Neither did the very long chapters. When used properly, these three things help organize the story and break it into a clear, easy-to-follow narrative. I got through the very long first chapter and decided that while the story was interesting, the effort in reading it was not. I quit reading. That is a shame because the characters and their plight are interesting to me and I would love to have learned more about their lives. But telling that story in an unconventional style sabotaged my effort to learn.
Cecilie Jøhnk
I believe that without punctuation, I "hear" the book more laconic ... more stating the fact without expressing pity or triumph.
Fact stating in deliberate indifferent "voice" have served authors pointing out injustices before, as well Brecht as Fay Weldon and Margareth Atwood.
But as you read it, the laconic voice disappears, as the text isn't otherwise different from a text with punctuation. A few places it becomes poem-ish, but most of the book would be very much the same with punctuation - so I, too, considered whether this was just affectation on the author's side?
Still, it is a really good and very genuine novel, so I wasn't annoyed as I would have been, if the text in general had seemed affectated and vain.
Still a good book, though.
Fact stating in deliberate indifferent "voice" have served authors pointing out injustices before, as well Brecht as Fay Weldon and Margareth Atwood.
But as you read it, the laconic voice disappears, as the text isn't otherwise different from a text with punctuation. A few places it becomes poem-ish, but most of the book would be very much the same with punctuation - so I, too, considered whether this was just affectation on the author's side?
Still, it is a really good and very genuine novel, so I wasn't annoyed as I would have been, if the text in general had seemed affectated and vain.
Still a good book, though.
Maria Antonia Oanes
It actually bothered me. I read this on kindle and my obsessive-compulsive side was asking: is this the beginning? am I reading a continuation of something? when does this start and when does this end? I also struggled with the first 2 chapters so the punctuation didn't help me. I finished reading the book and got used to the unconventional punctuation. But honestly, if I read this on my own, and not because this book is discussed at our book club, I would've closed the 2nd chapter and not discover the beauty of the story from Dominique onwards.
Andre Pawney
I think the intent of it was to further free the form of the novel. There are no quotations marks and no full-stops. Yes, you can imagine where the punctuation could be, but that also permits you to read it in any way you like. Freedom of language and phrasing on the page would also free the characters of the novel and their speech, so the notion of 'freedom' can be stretched to its very limit. It also seems akin to poetry, again through the freedom in structure and the variation of pacing.
Sonia Johnson
I think that there is probably no difference between you hearing the audiobook and me reading it. I just read it as if someone was talking to me. It is an easy, chatty style which worked for me.
Harry Bryan
I sort of agree that it gives it a feel of tweets or texts, but I think it really just shows the fluidity of the language. As you listened, you heard no difference. As I read, I hardly noticed (after page 1), and I whole-heartedly approve of Evaristo's statement (if that's what it is) about punctuation. "Shove your Oxford commas, children."
Florence Oliveira
I'm loving it. Keeps the lecture dynamic!
Sue Laurence
I thought the writer's decision not to use punctuation was quite pre-meditated. Anna Burns who won the previous Booker prize with 'Milkman' the year before used a similar technique, but with much more devastating effect as she was portraying a woman who was jogging and being stalked during the Norther Irish 'troubles'. The lack of punctuation was like following this woman's journey where there were no interludes but continual movement. Evaristo's technique did not assist the narrative in any way and her characters were crude caricatures. It's a pity as Evaristo when interviewed is interesting and I am sure she can write better than this. I really look forward to reading more by her.
Tabitha Ormiston-Smith
No, I didn't; I found it affected and offputting. In general I see little virtue in departing from accepted norms just to be different.
Charity Wairimu
I found it made for an easy, relaxing read. l have a good mind to write my next novel using this style
Jennifer Stevens
I HATE the new lack of correct grammar that authors are now allowed to publish!
Keith Burgoyne
I absolutely loved it. The sparse punctuation allowed me to read it quickly—there were fewer pauses for periods and commas and so on. The line breaks and carefully-chosen syntax kept the meaning clear. And then there's the rhythm of the wording. I felt like I could get into a groove and pass through several pages more quickly than other books I've read lately. Evaristo's convention was also put to good use, allowing control of that rhythm for emphasis, for slowing us down when things got heavy, and speeding us along when things were light. Like good poetry. In short, it really worked for me.
Monica
My initial reading of the book was aborted because of the unusual lack of grammer. It laid unread for months until I read a blurb about it somewhere or other and picked it up again - and am I glad I did! The confusion soon passed as I got into the story and soon became forgotten as I was taken on a ride of surprising and intriguing twists. It was mind blowing and opened up a world I knew nothing about but so badly needed to know..
Colleen
Knowing this makes me glad I listened to the audio. Obviously I can't judge without having read the print version but it sounds gimmicky. Loved the audio narrator BTW.
Sophie Siersack
Loved it, and used it in my own column that will be published today. It never bothered, and emphasised what needed to be.
Ingke Apelia
Yes I noticed this at the very beginning of my reading. Any idea? found it really interesting, the lack of punctuation helps me to read the whole story better.
Evchen
I found it insufferable and could not finish reading the book. May get it as audiobook, so as not be distracted.
Gytha Ogg
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Darlene
If the majority of the characters are defying rules and conventions, then perhaps the lack of punctuation fits nicely with this theme. Wouldn't there be just two characters who would object, Shirley and Penelope, the teachers of the lot? I personally wasn't bothered by it, in fact I found I could read a lot faster and it did flow. Nzinga was disturbed at how the women sounded so "British". The original poster mentioned how hearing the book didn't give a clue about the lack of conventions, but could it be a metaphor of British people of color writing their own unique story while fitting into the society they find themselves in?
Ki
Perhaps the lack of punctuation works better for young people. I am old and I thought it was self indulgent and detracted from the stories. Apart from that I got a lot out of reading the the book, having, myself written a novel told by eleven female characters. Being white, I liked the emersion in a veritey of black experience. I soon got used to the style and read it in a few days. With all the demonstrations in London and elsewhere it seemed a very timely read and I gave it five stars in spite of the punctuation, or lack of.
Viviana
I did not find it a problem, just a gimmick. I found it to be the least of the problems of this book.
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