Comments on: The Plot Thinnens

By: Harvey

Harvey — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:44:48 +0000

Absolutely right I think David, the writing is the key. Incidentally I once had a pint with Dan Rhodes and can confirm he’s a lovely bloke.

By: David H

David H — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:40:49 +0000

I think that “stuff happening” doesn’t necessarily have to mean plot events. Good writing is the key — if you want to know what’s on the next page, you’ll keep reading, whether it’s an action scene, or a description of a landscape, or whatever.

The “plot-light” book that really sticks in my mind is Gold by Dan Rhodes. A summary of the plot wouldn’t be much more than: woman goes on holiday to Wales in January, spends her time mostly walking and occasionally in the pub, and paints a rock gold. But there’s so much going on underneath that, and it’s great.

By: Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:20:18 +0000

Like you I’m a fan of big plots and books where lots of things happen, but occasionally I find a very quiet book that some how manages to capture my imagination. How to Paint Man by Sarah Hall was one of my favourite books of 2009 and Beside the Sea by V Olmi will probably be my favourite of 2010. Both have very little plot, but the strength of the emotion meant that I loved them.

I’m really hoping that Tinkers is just as good!