CV Rick's Reviews

On Writing, Inspiration, and Practical Advice

Stephen King manages to create the most interesting and inspiring writing advice book I've had the pleasure of reading.  It's part memoir and part practical writing instruction.  He takes the reader on a journey through his own life - what made him the writer he is, the nuggets and kernels of his earliest creativity, and both his failures and successes. 

Through telling his own story he leads you comfortably along until he gets to the basics of writing.  Throwing out traditional English Composition coursework he gets down and dirty with what makes a sentence, what style is and how to apply it, and when, where and how to write.  You can't help (well, I couldn't) but to be inspired and want to jump right out there and start writing after reading his stories. 

This is a must-read for every would-be writer as well as every Stephen King fan. 

- CV Rick, April 2008

Reclaiming Positions and Creating a Platform

I wasn't expecting a whole lot from The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. I thought it would be a lengthy stump speech, worth knowing but no revelations. What I found, however was a thoughtful plan, mapping out a direction for restoring common sense into the political process. Obama is a well-spoken, well-written, humble man who really knows how to articulate a message. He uses personal anecdote, history, Constitutional interpretation, and a healthy respect for the expertise of others in building a cohesive platform for success. Were it delivered consistently as well as he delivered his prose in this books, it would be the basis for repairing many of the rifts in the political landscape torn apart by extremism.

What really impressed me about his ideas was the respect he showed to the opposition. The book lacked the vitriol common to today's political discussion, more rightly called bucks in rut. He recognizes that most people don't live, eat, breath, and bleed politics. Most people have families and jobs and lives to live. Most people have dozens of important issues that are important to them and aren't nearly as extremist in their views as our dichotomous news media would have us believe. People want the opportunity for comfort, education, success, security, and happiness. Obama knows this and writes eloquently about it - it's not us vs. them, but it's us trying to succeed together.

His positions are clear - protect American jobs, regulate for safety with a mind toward capitalistic growth, health care for all, and a strong education system. He describes the process by which Republicans framed the debate, usurping issues and positions, claiming them as their own. He shows how this is false and declares the need to reclaim those arenas of discourse that Democrats have been thrust away from in public opinion. Democrats can be men of faith, most believe in God, most are Christians. Democrats are hard working motivated individuals and business owners who believe in a strong capitalist economic system so long as protections against abuses are in place. Democrats understand the need for both petroleum and petroleum alternatives and aren't trying to thrust us back into the 1800's.

He's right in this book and I'd have given him all five stars if there'd have been more passion in the words, more commitment to the change processes, and more leadership. Perhaps if he becomes president and afterward writes a memoir he'll speak of those passions and commitments more freely.

- CV Rick

What it Takes

What it takes to write one great book is a lifetime of preparation. It seems that every element of Daniel Keyes' life, up to the writing of Flowers for Algernon, was gearing toward that one great book. Every piece of Charlie's life, and every phrase spoken by his coworkers and the scientists who changed him came from Keyes' experience.

Half of this autobiography is the set-up to his great novel, the one work that would define his life. The other half is the aftermath. Thrust into fame and the machine that profits off other's works, Keyes' found himself tossed to and fro.

A writer wants to write, not to examine contracts and make decisions about rights. A writer wants to create and then to own his creations, not to see what came from his mind as property to be arbitrated. Daniel Keyes' found himself in the fortunate position of creating a work of beauty and then wrestling with ownership of that beauty for many years afterward.

What I loved about this autobiography is the journey which prepared him to write a great novel - showing the work and creativity and effort that goes into an instance of genius. What I also loved was the life's lessons learned that he put down on paper so that another person might have an easier journey.

- CV Rick

Great Narrative Voice

What I love about well-written Southern books is the clever setting descriptions and wonderful wordplay characterizations and Rebecca Wells delivers on both nicely. She's a fantastic writer and here's why:

I hated the story of discovery. I hated the travel through a coming of age decades-come-late. I hated the little organization of friends who support and encourage each other through understandable secrets and hard life's lessons. I hated all of it, yet I kept reading the book and the reason I kept reading the book is because Ms. Wells is just that good of a writer. I even asked myself, "Why are you reading this book?" and my answer was, "I want to write that cleverly."

For someone who loves intricate stories of women's lives and motivations, this book is going to be heaven. For someone who doesn't, this book is a lesson in how to do it right - or how to do it write. I recommend on either count.

- CV Rick