The Language of Fiction: a writer’s stylebook

Brian Shawver
Sep 3, 2013

I confess a bias. Brian, the author, is my nephew. This is his third publication following two novels, a baseball story entitled The Cuban Prospect and the introspective Aftermath. This latest offering is a book about grammar, but it doesn't read like a textbook. His theme is that a thorough grasp of grammar frees the writer to concentrate on the creative aspects of storytelling and improves the quality of writing. Brian uses multiple examples of grammar from passages of the great writers, and not surprisingly, throws in plenty of humor along the way. The index helps in finding pages about dangling participles, etc. This book is like having a long conversation about a subject you want to avoid, but Brian makes it enjoyable.

Reviewed by Library Staff