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The Pleasure of What Happens Next
Sep. 24th, 2014 11:34 pmApr 2014
The Night Watch - Sarah Waters - Virago, 2006
* * *
I cannot think of a truly satisfying reverse chronology novel, though I am pretty sure that one can be written. One requirement is that the chronological ending must be clear and definite, but not immediately comprehensible. The characters must be compelling, so that the reader really wants to understand why the chronological ending happened in the way that it did. And the initial events the trigger the whole story must be dramatic, so as to form a satisfying climax to the book. Waters gets two of these right - it's just a shame about the third.
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The Night Watch - Sarah Waters - Virago, 2006
* * *
I cannot think of a truly satisfying reverse chronology novel, though I am pretty sure that one can be written. One requirement is that the chronological ending must be clear and definite, but not immediately comprehensible. The characters must be compelling, so that the reader really wants to understand why the chronological ending happened in the way that it did. And the initial events the trigger the whole story must be dramatic, so as to form a satisfying climax to the book. Waters gets two of these right - it's just a shame about the third.
( Read more... )