I don't care if you love Strunk & White or hate them - read this book. It delivers exactly what the subtitle promises: "A writer's guide to punchier, more engaging language and style."
Arthur Plotnik doesn't just tell you how to be spunky and punchy, he shows you on every last page. Not only do fun, familiar examples of juiced-up writing by contemporary authors litter each chapter, Plotnik himself has written the surrounding how-to text with exactly the sort of literary ka-pow he's advocating. In other words, the bugger's just plain fun to read.
Fans of The Elements of Style need not worry - despite the obvious spoof of the title, this book is not by any means a bash-a-thon of Strunk and White. Matter of fact, Spunk and Bite is an excellent counterpoint to that old standby. Sure, Plotnik challenges his readers to stretch, bend, and break those tried and true (and sometimes stale) rules laid down nearly 90 years ago, but he also shows the pitfalls of going overboard. Rules without merit don't tend to last the better part of a century, after all.
(I'm hoping this review is spunky enough to do Spunk and Bite justice - in spite of blatantly exceeding my hyphen quota, that is...)
7 comments:
Sarah, I am so pleased with your reaction to SPUNK & BITE that I don't even mind being called a bugger, as in "the bugger's just plain fun to read."
The dictionary's first definition of bugger is "a fellow or lad (used affectionately or abusively)." I think I sense affection in this case--and let's not even talk about the other meanings of the word.
But to the point: You are one of the rare commentators who understood that I am not anti-Stunk & White, for there is much to learn from those, er, dead white male buggers.
Your own Web site is a lesson in narrative, and I'm sure MISS SPITFIRE is, too, given that my long-time employer, the American Library Association, so honored it. I must check it out.
My best wishes to you, a reader that authors and publishers dream of, and best luck on your next work. Regards as well to the noble readers of your blog.
Yours, Art Plotnik
Well pardon my vanity, but how freakin' cool was that comment??
Bugger is definitely used with affection. As in, "This bugger was so good, I gotta have it on my shelf!"
. . .Sarah! I can hear your girlish squeals of delight from here!
You have definitely made me interested in this book, Sarah.
(And oh my word yes! What a COOL comment!)
Gotta get me this bugger ;-)
Ha! Well done.
Thanks for the tip. I'll be picking that one up and putting it next to my copy of Strunk and White. I enjoy your blog :o)
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