Short Story Review - Stephen King's "Harvey's Dream"

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From the book "Just after Sunset," by Stephen King: "Harvey's Dream" a ten page story, in a book over 350-pages, $28.000 (I got it on sale for $7.00; thank goodness), dated 2008. To my knowledge, Mr. King hasn't written short stories for a while, this book was his first in a number of years. It says on the leaf inside the book "Stephen King...delivers an astonishing collection of short stories...." Harvey's Dream, is far from being astonishing. I read a few of his books years ago, only one impressed me, but I never read his short stories, and this story is badly written, by anybody's standards. I haven't gotten to the full book yet, it make take a year or two after reading this ten-page story which is real stale, oversimplified, written in short sentences that don't seem to connect properly.

He uses stupid phrases, idioms that don't fit the character or mood or life of the story-and perhaps a bit confusing for the younger reader; it seems he's simply grabbing at anything, knowing his name will carry the book over the silliness of it all, the sentences-in particular their endings awkward to say the least. He sounds like a reporter, and a 3rd person reporter, that shouldn't be reporting. He uses four-letter words, cuss words, to maximize the potency, or let's say, to emphases the mood, and by gosh, it just falls fat, like someone staring at you, dumbfounded.

He uses click, catchphrases, tags like "Waterloo," or "Alfalfa of the Little Rascals," or "The Sopranos," to make his point (dumb, dumb and dumber). I can't imagine any one wanting to reread this story, and I'm afraid to move on and read the other several stories in the book, it's embarrassing, I'm embarrassed for him-odd isn't it. He's evidently, not working for posterity of his works, most folks, writers nowadays aren't, and it shows. But this story should never have been put into the book, it's really beneath him. (8-11-2010)

Room a Novel by Emma Donoghue

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Book Review: Room a novel by Emma Donoghue

A unique novel from the pen of Emma Donoghue, Room is whole lot different from the what you have ever read. The protagonist is a five year old boy named Jack who was born and has lived his entire life in an 11 foot by 11 foot room.

Jack is a typical five year old, innocent and curious with a streak of imagination whose mother was taken away by an abductor named "Old Nick" on her way back home from her college. Ever since that incident she has lived in a small sound proofed room, for the past seven long years where she then gave birth to Jack who is the son of the abductor himself. The mother attempts to feed the curiosity of her son by making up a lot of games that are innovative. The world of Ma and Jack are totally intertwined of course and they devote every ounce of energy to each other. All of this binds both the son and mother who lead their abnormal existence not knowing about the real world outside.

Jack gives us the child perspective of the Room and the situation which he has to deal with in a simplistic manner which just accentuates the horror of the plot. During the nights, he goes behind the wardrobe to hide and perceives Old Nick's presence by counting the number of creaks in the bed. He feels the depression of his mother, but although he knows it, he has no idea why she feels that way. His mother is more concerned about her son than herself knowing full well that as he grows older, his sense of curiosity will increase which may put him in the path of fatal danger.

The plot unfolds from then on but i will not spoil this for you. The book is a thriller and a must read for all, though you will probably only want to read it once!

Was the inspiration from Josef Fritzl? The real life nutcase in Austria who kept his daughter locked up in an underground bunker, probably.

A stealthy feminist manifesto or one of the best books of the year? - I will let you decide

If you have the guts to read a chapter of this scary book click here

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Learn the story of the great short story authors book good?

She wrote a good book should be essential elements of a good story. Means you need a similar title, pulling, moving the first paragraph, and the conflict between at least two opposing action of agents, and finally the solution to the problem (which is not always happy weekend!).

It also seems obvious that describe the characters and the place and time with few words, so the story has its own unique setting her completely. But you will not be satisfied if the official list of criteria. The real value of the literary quality of the story, the school, depending on the group. Characters, plot, setting, and conflict, extension should be the logical parts of a story in which match each of these components. If they don't want to, the story not many readers, and it's not very reliable or convincing.

Where you can get help? The first step for anyone who wants to write a special kind of text is called the great writers. Famous short story writers ever have considered these aspects, masterful and up combinations of these elements. So let me try to use one of the best short stories, "the cat that I know of Hemingway in the rain".

This story has only four pages, but all the pieces are there. There are very precise definition, there are two characters at the end of the conflict, offers a solution that might be positive; At least there is a feeling of hope, change and a young woman can come true, eventually.

All this sounds simple and even banal. But this is a very short story is a masterpiece, because it puts all the pieces together the flow of his qualities and operation that makes unique. The question is, "How do you get the ability to write to the stream of words that make a work of art, or at least a logical construction that some degrees?

My answer is, not only has the talent. You can learn how to write a short story, and of course the school story, taking into account these ideas a few basic rules. Try to create the raw structure your story, perhaps only one event begins your school life. Download it and think the reasons, conditions, problems and implications related to this event. Find two or three people who had to do with it, and then make sure that the second write full story at this point. Use your fantasy, as well as your memory.

Never should forget about dialogue. A short story is a piece of literature to life with direct communication of flies. Through dialogue make it not only read but also exciting. Make people talk, your story will speak your readers!

Henry Arnold, author of the book "stories, published a number of books on American and English novels. With his experience as a teacher at the school for many years, he wrote his first collection of stories only that deals with the life of the school. He tries to help authors who are interested in this subject to make the first steps towards real book stories. His special interest is in describing problems, patterns of the education system, for example, literary means school stories. You can visit his blog for more information on: http://smartschoolstories.blogspot.com/