Musing Monday (March 1)

Sorry for today’s question being up later than usual – I spent all yesterday freaking out about there being a tsunami morning and all today cursing the storms for knocking out my net. I guess my priorities were a little skewed.

I hope that anyone living in areas affected by the earthquake or resulting flooding is doing okay, and my thoughts are with them.

Musing Mondays2Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a story format.

How do you feel about books written in a differing format – whether this be journals or letters (epistolary), verse novels, or any other form? Is this something you enjoy? Or do you prefer straight forward chapter prose.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.

 

I find that reading books with a different format – whether that be in verse, shorter chapters, letters, what have you – makes me more aware of what I’m reading. This can be both good and bad: good because I feel that I’m concentrating more on what I’m reading, but bad because I don’t feel absorbed into the book like I would with really good prose.

That having been said, I really enjoy this in a book. This question came up because I just finished reading Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted. Though I’ve seen the movie several times, and knew the main character to be a writer, I’ve never picked up the book before. I expected it to be a journal, and was surprised by the short chapter, topic-like contents. This format have it such a beautiful focus, and I’ve been wondering if it would have been as effective if it were told another way.

30 comments :

Li said...

Sorry to hear about yesterday! Hope all is well on your end now *nods*

Great question for this week's MM. Here's my response: http://www.rulethewaves.net/blog/?p=1267

Grace said...

Great question.

My response is here

Hope all is well with you.

Grace
Books Like Breathing

Kim said...

Hope your week is better than your weekend!

To me, variety in reading is a good thing.
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2010/02/musing-mondays-is-hosted-by-rebecca-at.html

*smiles*

crestina said...

here's mine...

http://addlife21.blogspot.com/2010/03/whatever-suits-you.html

Mark A. Swallow said...

Great question, written in response to what you are currently reading (which is always interesting).

Chapter & prose - should I broaden my horizons?

http://www.mswallow.typepad.com/

the little reader said...

i'm in hawaii, so i completely understand. we were all on our toes yesterday watching and waiting to see what happened with the tsunami. i hope all is well on your end.

my musing is HERE.

Lynda said...

Hope all's well with you.

Good question.
My answer:
http://lyndasbookblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/mondays-musings.html

Take care ;0)

CMash said...

My thoughts are here
CMashLovesToRead

gautami tripathy said...

Interesting question.

Mondays: Musings/Mailbox/Whereabouts

Michelle said...

I know some people have some fairly strong opinions on this topic. It will be interesting to see what everyone says!

http://www.michellesmastermusings.com/2010/03/musing-mondays-march-1-2010-and-story.html

fredamans said...

Here is my musing; http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/03/musing-story-format.html

MizB @ Should Be Reading said...

Praying for all those affected by the weather caused by the earthquake in Chile!

My answer is here: http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/musing-mondays-march-1/

~MizB

Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker said...

Fire & Ice Musing Monday

Lori said...

Here's Mine.

Molly said...

Fun question to ponder!

Here is my response:
http://mycozybooknook.blogspot.com/2010/03/btt-story-format.html

Harfro said...

http://breezesbooks.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/musing-monday/

I don't have a really strong opinion!

DanaB(Windows Wide Open) said...

What a great question--I really enjoyed this! I'm a Musing Mondays debutante this week :)

~~

Dana said...

After thinking about it, I'm always going to have to judge on a case by case basis whether I like journal/letter format books.

Reading Amidst the Chaos

Jennifer Oberth said...

My thoughts are also with those affected by all these earthquakes and tsunamis and even the bad snow everywhere causing all sorts of accidents...

Love this question. It makes me want to start reading autobiograhpies once again!

My full response is here.

Carina said...

...but bad because I don’t feel absorbed into the book like I would with really good prose.

I have that same problem, which is why I tend not to like books written in alternative formats.

My post is here.

Sheery said...

Glad to hear you are all right, Rebecca. I hope everyone else is, as well.

My MM response: http://sheeryhall.blogspot.com/2010/03/musing-mondays.html

Sherrie said...

Hi Rebecca,
Mine is posted at my place, Just Books. Have a great day!

Sherrie
Just Books

Nise' said...

Today's MM

vampira2468 said...

Mine is here
http://vampira2468.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/taking-a-different-route/

DelGal Reviews said...

Happy March 1st all!

www.delgalreviews.com

Tasha said...

Here's my musing:

http://trillianbooks.blogspot.com/2010/03/musing-mondays.html

Emily said...

This was my first Monday Musing! I'm definitely a fan of the alternate format, but that doesn't keep me from loving regular prose!

http://theninjalibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/03/musing-mondays-1.html

Matt said...

As long as the story is engaging, format doesn't matter.

My musing is up.

Anonymous said...

It does matter to me, but I'm a bit picky. However, I'm usually open to suggestions, which is how I've branched out in the past. Thanks for posting this; it's my Musing Mondays debut:

http://pickygirlfoodfilmfiction.wordpress.com/

caite said...

wow, I am very late posting today. Darn work...

But HERE it is now!