Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Teaser Tuesday: Blue River



"Sometimes it seemed to me that you had planned your own life, Lawrence, that you had sown it in rows like a field, so that later, in exactitude, it would appear before you.  I wonder how much of what we knew about you in those years -- the years you moved so calmly through the world -- was an invention."


-- Blue River by Ethan Canin.

Ethan Canin is an excellent writer. But his debut novel suffers, as so many do, from trying too hard. Instead of telling a story, he strives for images. His words keep getting in the way of what he is trying to say.


Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event.



6 comments :

  1. I think that Teaser is so interesting. I've never read a book by Ethan Canin.

    http://readwithtea.blogspot.com/2009/12/it-happened-one-night-by-lisa-dale.html

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  2. Thanks for the link, Tea.

    I preferred his America, America book to this one.

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  3. I have never read anything by this author but I think the teaser you share was great imagery. Of course, if the book is full of it I can see it getting in the way.
    Here is my teaser. Have a happy new year!

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  4. Haven't heard of this author before, but the book sounds interesting. We all invent ourselves to a certain extent, I suppose. Nice teaser!

    Here's mine.

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  5. Your teaser is such an intriguing passage, I'd be interested to see how he develops over time. My teaser is up at Calico Contemplations.

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