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Experiments in the narrating voice

#105: Mar. - April 2012 (Fiction)
lindad_amato
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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Suzanne wrote:Heledd:

You can add theme threads within the "Goon" forum. For instance you may want to add a thread about the music in the book and members can add to that thread while they read the book. Oblivion makes a good point, sometimes when there is a theme, or a particular writing style that runs throughout a novel creating a thread about that theme makes it easier to talk about it. Oftentimes the themes do not become clear until you start reading the novel. Chapter threads are good for discussing what happens throughout a particular chapter, and theme and writing style threads are good for discussing what happens throughout the entire novel.

Adding a thread is the best way to discuss any themes. That way we can discuss without spoiling the upcoming chapters for those who like to discuss that way. The interactive character chart is mind-blowing. I'm going to play with it for awhile.
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heledd
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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Yes I understand now. Wish that interactive site would work for me, though. I have a problem with the Powerpoint chapter. did you read it on Kindle? It's too small for me to see, and I can't enlarge it.
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lindad_amato
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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I haven't read the powerpoint chapter yet. I'm moving along slowly because I have several books going, but I'll take a look at it on Kindle and see how it works for me.
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heledd
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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lindad_amato - did you manage to read that chapter on Kindle. I had to use a magnifying glass and still could not read the grey parts with white writing
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lindad_amato
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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heledd wrote:lindad_amato - did you manage to read that chapter on Kindle. I had to use a magnifying glass and still could not read the grey parts with white writing
I skimmed it. It was mostly the teenager ranting against her parents. It really doesn't work well on Kindle. I wonder if I plugged my Kindle into my laptop if it would be more visible. Anyway, I don't think Egan's experiment worked all that well because Powerpoint is meant to be seen on a larger screen and with a narrator. In book or paper form it is non-dimensional and, therefore, less appealing to the reader.
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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I found it clever, but admit to almost leaving it out. But once used, I don't think it could carry water again. It was rather gimmicky, but something new. Which audience was she aiming for in this chapter?
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lindad_amato
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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I've finished the book and decided that the narrative did not work for me, nor did the entire piece because I didn't find anything likeable about the characters. Egan seems to be taking a cue from Jonathan Frazen in that the characters are often not sympathetic. I found myself not really caring what happened to them. Oh, well, it was interesting and I enjoyed discussing with my BookTalk pals.
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Re: Experiments in the narrating voice

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If I plug my kindle into my laptop, the laptop cannot read the files if they are bought from Amazon
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