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A review by sookieskipper
The Narrative of John Smith by Jon Lellenberg, Arthur Conan Doyle
3.0
There are pieces of music, notes really, stuck in your head that you heard in passing or a long time ago. The notes have a touch of familiarity though the lyrics or the complete arrangement escape your memory. It haunts you every now and then, slamming in your mind at odd and different times.
The narrative of John Smith is something like that. This half a novel is far from perfect or even good. Its a glimpse to the evolving mind of Doyle - in the way he saw things and understood them. It cannot be anything less than a memoir to his thought process, the organic way it seems to have shaped into a man who gave the world its greatest detective.
The severe lack in experience in his observation is almost cute. The ramblings of protagonist is probably a mirror to Doyle's own shaping mind that isn't a well oiled machine yet. This book is a must read for writers who think that every keystroke should produce a masterpiece and every piece of writing is their magnum opus.
The process of reading this book/draft can be a humbling experience and can teach a lesson or two on writing.
Three stars (though the content doesn't demand anything more than one point five or two if one is being generous). Why not? Its Doyle.
The narrative of John Smith is something like that. This half a novel is far from perfect or even good. Its a glimpse to the evolving mind of Doyle - in the way he saw things and understood them. It cannot be anything less than a memoir to his thought process, the organic way it seems to have shaped into a man who gave the world its greatest detective.
The severe lack in experience in his observation is almost cute. The ramblings of protagonist is probably a mirror to Doyle's own shaping mind that isn't a well oiled machine yet. This book is a must read for writers who think that every keystroke should produce a masterpiece and every piece of writing is their magnum opus.
The process of reading this book/draft can be a humbling experience and can teach a lesson or two on writing.
Three stars (though the content doesn't demand anything more than one point five or two if one is being generous). Why not? Its Doyle.