Sunday, February 22, 2009
Book Review
I promised -- some time ago -- to read and review some of the writing books I have in my personal library. Honest, I have been reading them, or at least one or two so far. For this first review, I thought I'd start with an easy one.
Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz, Writers' Digest Books, 2002.
Well, of course this is a great book. How could it not be?
Snoopy is determined to be a writer. Nothing fazes him; not rejection after rejection, not critics and certainly not his lack of talent. His perpetual opening mutates through dozens of drafts and yet still retains its basic absurdity. He expresses the thoughts that we all have when we first start writing ("Dear Editor, why do you keep sending my stories back? You're supposed to print them and make me rich and famous. What is it with you?") Schulz's classic cartoons make us laugh, but it's because they reflect the painful truth. It's fun to follow along with the famous beagle author as he ... well, doesn't exactly grow as a writer ... but at least he learns a lot about himself and the process of writing.
The book also includes short pieces from famous and/or successful authors, giving advice, pep talks, insights and sometimes rueful observations. Useful stuff!
But even if you only get it for the brilliant cartoons, this book is worth reading and re-reading. My personal favourites, naturally, are the terrible puns. No, I'm not going to reveal them. They are best when encountered unexpectedly.
Unfortunately, it looks like you can only buy the book from resellers, so if you're lucky enough to find one, go for it (as long as it's available for a reasonable price, of course).
Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz, Writers' Digest Books, 2002.
Well, of course this is a great book. How could it not be?
Snoopy is determined to be a writer. Nothing fazes him; not rejection after rejection, not critics and certainly not his lack of talent. His perpetual opening mutates through dozens of drafts and yet still retains its basic absurdity. He expresses the thoughts that we all have when we first start writing ("Dear Editor, why do you keep sending my stories back? You're supposed to print them and make me rich and famous. What is it with you?") Schulz's classic cartoons make us laugh, but it's because they reflect the painful truth. It's fun to follow along with the famous beagle author as he ... well, doesn't exactly grow as a writer ... but at least he learns a lot about himself and the process of writing.
The book also includes short pieces from famous and/or successful authors, giving advice, pep talks, insights and sometimes rueful observations. Useful stuff!
But even if you only get it for the brilliant cartoons, this book is worth reading and re-reading. My personal favourites, naturally, are the terrible puns. No, I'm not going to reveal them. They are best when encountered unexpectedly.
Unfortunately, it looks like you can only buy the book from resellers, so if you're lucky enough to find one, go for it (as long as it's available for a reasonable price, of course).
Labels: cartoons, Charles Schulz, Snoopy, writing books
# posted by Leslie Carmichael @ 8:24 PM 
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I haven't read this one, but now I'll have too. I like books that can shed humor on the writer's plight...it makes the reality of the annoying things more bearable.
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