Hello my fellow readers and bloggers! Are you ready to do my linguistics homework for me? (Just kidding)
No but actually, the reason I bring up this topic is because I have a syntax paper coming up, and right now I'm brainstorming on a topic. I've played around with the idea of writing in fiction, or more specifically, what kinds of writing draws you into a story, and how is that different from something you didn't like/care about? Does the structure of the sentences have anything to do with it, or does it depend more on relatability, characters, etc.
Basically, since this is for my linguistics/syntax class, I want to research what kinds of sentences appeal more to readers. And this can most definitely be seen in literature, where there are sentences that you would just NEVER say in speech.
For example, taken from Grasshopper Jungle:
Robby and I were the gods of concrete rivers, and history does prove to us that wherever boys ride bicycles, paved roadways ribbon along afterward like intestinal tapeworms.
I don't know why this sentence stood out for me today, maybe it was the use of the word "ribbon". But for some reason, it did stand out, and I wonder why.
Hence, due to said final paper, I've decided to conduct a survey about what draws you into a book. Since this is a discussion, I'm not limiting you to just writing style, it can be anything from plot to characters. You're not obligated to help me out, you can just leave me a comment, BUT YOU SHOULD HELP ME OUT BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME. Plus it's an interesting question: Does sentence structure play a role in literature?
I HAVE A SURVEY FOR YOU. It's pretty short, but I guess it kind of involves some thinking, and your favorite quote! IT WOULD BE AWESOME IF YOU COMPLETED IT. Ya know, for me ;)
Frannie Pan · 524 weeks ago
vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
Jenn @ BL&D · 524 weeks ago
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vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
sharonbernt 39p · 524 weeks ago
vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
Zoe · 524 weeks ago
2). I definitely do! One of my all time favorite blurbs is from Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein, which has an amazingly structured blurb:
A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.
Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.
Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.
Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.
Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.
Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.
By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead.The rhythm of the blurb and the way it flows is honestly what really appealed to me about the book.
3). “It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” (Anne Frank)
Thanks for sharing Val, and great post! <3
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vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
amengelhart 68p · 524 weeks ago
Great paper topic, though. And what an awesome forum for a survey. You should share the results in some way!
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vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
No worries you weren't obtuse :) I'm going to assume you had a quote from a classic? Maybe. Anyways I'm glad I had a couple quotes from classics and it's cool to compare them to more recently published books! Especially since the structure is pretty similar :) And I will share my results! Right now I'm looking to see if the same thing happens in books of other languages (Chinese, French) and so far I am seeing that it does :)
amengelhart 68p · 523 weeks ago
I did have a classic quote in there. And I agree it is cool to see how they compare to today's books!
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shannonmiz 83p · 524 weeks ago
vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
I'm gathering quotes because I want to get different opinions and not be biased, BUT THE REAL REASON is that I also am terrible at keeping/finding quotes. I should probably fix that.
hitormissbooksblog 54p · 524 weeks ago
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vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
Shay@TheStoryGoes... · 523 weeks ago
"I wanted to tell them that I'd never had a friend, not ever, not a real one. Until Dante. I wanted to tell them that I never knew that people like Dante existed in the world, people who looked at the stars, and knew the mysteries of water, and knew enough to know that birds belonged to the heavens and weren't meant to be shot down from their graceful flights by mean and stupid boys. I wanted to tell them that he had changed my life and that I would never be the same, not ever. And that somehow it felt like it was Dante who had saved my life and not the other way around. I wanted to tell them that he was the first human being aside from my mother who had ever made me want to talk about the things that scared me. I wanted to tell them so many things and yet I didn't have the words. So I just stupidly repeated myself. "Dante's my friend.” - from Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe
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vlangloisx3 116p · 523 weeks ago
iskultripscans 74p · 523 weeks ago
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