Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
Synopsis
This book is a modified version of Blake Snyder's guide on screenwriting, and breaks down the essentials of novel writing into fifteen distinct story beats under three overarching acts. Brody meticulously details the process of plot structuring, developing character arcs, hooking the reader, creating effective tension and much more. She also provides ample descriptions of each story genre, or kind of journey the main character is meant to take, detailing examples of popular novels that coincide with these beats to make her points. There's a healthy mix of comprehensive advice and interactive worksheets to aid in the planning process. She also details how to write likable characters, mentions a few methods for raising the stakes in a story and describes how to effectively integrate central themes.
Review
Recently, I have been drafting my first novel, and this has really guided me through the beginning stages of that difficult process. Brody gets her ideas across in a way that is specific, and not convoluted or info-dumpy. This has been an essential resource for me and uncovers the anatomy of what makes a book great. Brody avoids any fluff, instead offering distinct formulas for new writers. Her passion and expertise for storytelling is palpable and infectious. It promotes confidence in its readers' abilities and is a great reference or jumping-off point for writers of really any fiction modality.
Book Reviews
After climbing down a mysterious staircase on the expressway, Aomame discovers some strange differences in the world around her. A second moon appears in the sky, her perception of time shifts and she repeatedly and inexplicably crosses paths with the religious organization Sakigake
Nation follows a boy named Mau, who is a native islander and lone survivor of a tsunami that wiped out his entire community. Throughout his upbringing, he was taught that he should aspire to act like a man--to show bravery, stoicism and follow ancient traditions without question. Wh
This is the second installment of Elena Ferrante's series My Brilliant Friend. The volatile yet passionate friendship between Lila and Lena continues, and we get to see their transition from adolescence to womanhood with the backdrop of 1960s Italy. While Lena shows great progression in her education and career as a writer, Lila is stuck in an abusive relationship with her new husband. Her previous invention of the renowned Cerullo shoe is overtaken by her brother Nino, and she gets roped into working a dull job as a clerk at her h
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Nabokov's Lolita is about Humbert, a pedophilic professor who sets his sights on the twelve year-old "nymphet" Dolores Haze. Through a series of unfortunate events, Humbert becomes the adoptive father to Dolores, or "Lo" for short, and together they embark on a roadtrip across the country. He uses grooming tactics to get closer to her, and we see a shift in her emotional state as Humbert's flirtations develop into full-fledged sexual abuse. This is told through his first person perspective, so we get to experience his thoughts completely unfiltered. If you've heard of Nabokov or the infamous 1997 film adaptation, you'll know how controversial this novel is. It explores unequal power dynamics and the potential for innocent, vulnerable people to be be corrupted.
The Girl From the Other Side by Nagabe is a fantasy twelve-part manga series. We are introduced to a cheerful little girl named Shiva, who was orphaned as a baby. She is rescued by Teacher, a dark and lonely soul with a kind heart. In this world, there are human "insiders" and transformed "outsiders," who are vilified by the rulers of the kingdom. The afflicted, turned outsiders can spread their curse with a simple touch. In this whimsical series, a tale of adventure and survival unfolds, all centered around the special bond between two unlikely companions. The dynamic and contrasts between the two main characters illustrates how love can transcend blood relation, as well as the difference between corruption and innocence. The accompanying art style is characterized by gothic black and white illustrations with distinctly whimsical and storybook qualities.
This story is set in 1940s Barcelona. We follow Daniel, the young son of a bookseller who is grieving the loss of his mother. One day, his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, where he must select a single novel to cherish and protect forever. He chooses the mysterious Shadow of the Wind and is instantly mystified by it. As Daniel grows older, he comes to obsesses over the book and the history of its author, Julian Carax, who has since disappeared. Daniel doesn't realize the dangers of his fascination until some strange characters emerge, and the race to find Carax's last surviving novels begins. The book motif is essential to Zafón's story, and symbolizes the immortal connection between memory and storytelling, obsession and love, and goodness versus corruption.
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This is a series of short horror stories inspired by classic European fairytales, such as Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland and Bluebeard. The first story follows a young bride who discovers that her betrothed
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H.P. Lovecraft's 1936 novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth is heralded as one of his best works and an essential work of gothic literature. In this piece, Lovecraft utilizes a combination of cosmicism, the uncanny, and horror to convey the haunting story of an isolated seaside town in Massachusetts. We begin with an anonymous narrator, who travels to Innsmouth in order to investigate some rumors about the inhabitants' strange appearance and behavior. He observes that the population of Innsmouth has an unsettling look about them, with their protruding eyes, gill-like appendages and scales. He discovers that the strangeness of their features is a product of interbreeding with fish, and refers to them as the "deep ones." Through his investigative work, his unease increases as he learns more about the cultish, supernatural history of the town and how these people came to be. Beneath the decay and claustrophobic feeling Lovecraft injects into his writing is a story about racial degeneracy, cosmic indifference and the terror of losing ones connection to the self.
This is the first installment in Larsson's world-renowned murder mystery series. It follows Mikael Blonkvist, a financial crime journalist who has recently been convicted of libel against the powerful Wennerström corporation. Blonkvist is hired by the elderly industrialist Henrik Vanger who's niece Harriet was the victim of an unsolved murder in the 1960s, on the very island Blonkvist used to visit with his family in childhood. Under the ruse of writing a personal biography for Henrik, he joins forces with hacker Lisbeth Salander. Salander is recruited by him to aid in the investigation, and both characters bring their unique skills to the table. Together, the two grow close and discover some long-held secrets regarding the Vanger family, but the underlying moral is the potential for self-growth and learning to be vulnerable with the ones we love. Above all, the book is a commentary on both systemic and interpersonal violence, specifically in the case of women in Swedish society.
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