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Bird by Bird
by Anne Lamott

Paperback: 239 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.66 x 8.04 x 5.23 Publisher: Anchor; ISBN: 0385480016; (October 1995)

My goodness!  At Amazon.com reviewers have been having a heyday with Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird."  Who would have guessed that one slim little volume about writing could cause so much controversy?

This National Bestseller does not promise a complete course in advanced writing.  The subtitle says "SOME Instructions on Writing and LIFE."  What you see is what you get. 

"Bird by Bird" is a perfect introduction to writing for beginning writers just as, I suspect, LaMott's courses in writing are.  More advanced writers could get out their Hi-liters and pay attention not so much to WHAT she says but HOW she says it.  It also wouldn't hurt to look at her self deprecating humor (I don't see where these readers are seeing all that self-absorption stuff--I truly don't!) and her honesty.  

Could some of this be professional jealousy?

This is a book that gives what it promises and more!  And yes, some of the advice is similar to guidelines that have been given by others.  Writers' books are  sort of a genre of their own--in the vein of King's and others.  You know, A little memoir, a little humor, a little advice.  How much new can be said about how to write anyway?

Writers or wanna be writers should find this a nice, savory little book to be read a little at a time, "bird by bird."  I find it extremely hard to criticize an author of this caliber, but if you want to, join the frenzy at Amazon.com.
 

Copyright Carolyn Howard-Johnson © 2002 All Rights Reserved.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Author of This is the Place, an award-winning story about a young journalist who writes her way through repression into redemption For a FREE First Chapter send to: carolynhowardjohnson@sendfree.com or get a FREE Cooking by the Book.

(Carolyn Howard-Johnson's novel, "This is the Place," was just given NUW's Award of Excellence, and the author was named Author of the Month by Authors' Cove. The novel was also honored by her publisher for exceptional sales. Receive a FREE sample by sending mail to: carolynhowardjohnson@sendfree.com)

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