Every piece in this collection is top notch writing. What is “creative nonfiction?” It is an essay format that relates real events (or emotions) by using writing techniques more commonly used in fiction. This union is a great thing. The content gets a snappy presentation and the techniques get wider use. So if you want to write about an attempted seduction you could structure it as a series of statements about your feelings. Or, if you wanted to assess the current state of a particular science you could project it a little forward in time and introduce us to people affected by its development. If you really want to know what it’s all about, read this book. It is an introduction to the wide world of creative nonfiction. More than one piece in this collection prompted me to exclaim, “Mmm, that was good writing!” If there is a drawback to the collection it is that the sort of real events (or emotions) that most often inspire written reflection are intense interpersonal experiences. I mean, how many essays about bad mothers can one read? The best of these best are “The Pain Scale” by Eula Bliss, “Pimp” by Olivia Chia-Lin Lee, “The Woot Files” by Monica Hsiung Wojcik, “The Answer that Increasingly Appeals” by Robin Black and “Wild Flavor” by Karl Taro Greenfeld.
18 August 2010
A Review: The Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 1 – Lee Gutkind, ed.
4 / 5 Stars
Every piece in this collection is top notch writing. What is “creative nonfiction?” It is an essay format that relates real events (or emotions) by using writing techniques more commonly used in fiction. This union is a great thing. The content gets a snappy presentation and the techniques get wider use. So if you want to write about an attempted seduction you could structure it as a series of statements about your feelings. Or, if you wanted to assess the current state of a particular science you could project it a little forward in time and introduce us to people affected by its development. If you really want to know what it’s all about, read this book. It is an introduction to the wide world of creative nonfiction. More than one piece in this collection prompted me to exclaim, “Mmm, that was good writing!” If there is a drawback to the collection it is that the sort of real events (or emotions) that most often inspire written reflection are intense interpersonal experiences. I mean, how many essays about bad mothers can one read? The best of these best are “The Pain Scale” by Eula Bliss, “Pimp” by Olivia Chia-Lin Lee, “The Woot Files” by Monica Hsiung Wojcik, “The Answer that Increasingly Appeals” by Robin Black and “Wild Flavor” by Karl Taro Greenfeld.
Every piece in this collection is top notch writing. What is “creative nonfiction?” It is an essay format that relates real events (or emotions) by using writing techniques more commonly used in fiction. This union is a great thing. The content gets a snappy presentation and the techniques get wider use. So if you want to write about an attempted seduction you could structure it as a series of statements about your feelings. Or, if you wanted to assess the current state of a particular science you could project it a little forward in time and introduce us to people affected by its development. If you really want to know what it’s all about, read this book. It is an introduction to the wide world of creative nonfiction. More than one piece in this collection prompted me to exclaim, “Mmm, that was good writing!” If there is a drawback to the collection it is that the sort of real events (or emotions) that most often inspire written reflection are intense interpersonal experiences. I mean, how many essays about bad mothers can one read? The best of these best are “The Pain Scale” by Eula Bliss, “Pimp” by Olivia Chia-Lin Lee, “The Woot Files” by Monica Hsiung Wojcik, “The Answer that Increasingly Appeals” by Robin Black and “Wild Flavor” by Karl Taro Greenfeld.
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