Discussion Forum
Discussion: THE GOOD BOY.- reviews so far.
Dude, two things:
1) This should go really go in the "book talk" forum where you'll find a discussion thread already created for talking about your submission.
2) It doesn't work like that. See, if your book were up on a shelf in a store, trying to get sold amid the many other books on the shelf, you don't get the chance to argue with a prospective reader why they should "see your work from a different perspective." Your job as a writer is to tell your story in a compelling and interesting manner that will ENGAGE THE READER.
My opinion is certainly not the only one in the world, but my opinion is that your story failed to engage me--me, who as I said has a fascination with the time and place in which your story is set! I do not feel that the story was told well, and I gave my reasons why in the review.
You may be right that the "Indian style" is here to stay. In other communities with other literary traditions, to people who have grown up reading and hearing different patterns of language, perhaps the way you've written it would be more engaging. Fortunately for you, at least on this website one or two or even a dozen poor reviews doesn't prevent your book from getting published. If, as you say, the Indian style is here to stay, then eventually enough readers will come here who like that style that your piece will earn however many points it needs in order to get published.
I just won't be one of them.
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Cloister's active submissions:
The Fallen
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First I would like to express my thanks to Cassie and Cloister for taking their valuable time and reviewing my submission. I would like to answer their points in brief. Story line. The first 5K words hardly give the full story line. True the story starts with Independence day which was a big and momentous occasion for the country. But Raju was a poor boy in a small town, where few people understood the purport of Independence. The first chapter was designed to highlight the poverty of Raju. Independence day was celebrated in the school in the best possible way. Secondly for those not familiar with the Indian Histrory, Independence was achieved not overnight but in slow increments. At the time of Independence many institutions have been handed over to the Indians. The celebrations took place in large scale only in big cities. Celebrations also cost money, which the impoverished country didn't have. Style of writing- The novel was written with English (UK) as the default language. Secondly I am an Indian and we Indians have our way of writing. I would like the critics to remember that recently when Jeffrey Archer the celebrated author undertook a world wide tour to promote his lates best seller THE PRISONER OF BIRTH he went to India and not USA after his tour of UK. The Indian middle class is growing rapidly and today it is more than the population of USA. The biggest market for English fiction today is India. It is growing fast. The Indian way of writing is different and has a syntax of its own. This was first recognised with the book MIDNIGHT CHILDREN (by Salman Rushdie), which recently won the Booker of the Booker award. It has received maximum number of votes world wide. I believe in writing short crisp sentences. They may sound like telegraphic sentences but convey the picture and makes the flow of language smooth. Even in UK the Indian style is being recognised. The Indian way of writing is here to stay. It is time this is recognised. I also keep the various ref books next to my PC and check whatever I write. I would be happy if the learned critics point out some specific grammatical mistakes. After all, I've one novel and many short stories and articles published to my credit. It is not my intention to brag that I am a great writer nor to say that my English is faultless. I just wanted to put across my point of view. I shall be grateful if the critics give some specific instances of faulty English or grammar to enable me to correct myself and progress further. I conclude by thanking my critics once again and requesting them to see my writing in a different perspective. I'll hide the ecerpt after receiving their response. Ramarao