13 Ways of Looking at the Novel

"13 Ways of Looking at the Novel" by Jane Smiley was very informative to me as an avid reader. It provided in-depth information on how to read a novel more closely, in addition to bringing my attention to various literary items in books that I had read but missed. The first half of the book opens your eyes to the development of a novel; including plot, point of view, and character development. However, sometimes Ms. Smiley when a little overboard in her analysis of a novel's structure. One of the main reasons I give this book four-stars instead of five-stars is that Ms. Smiley tended to repeat various items regarding certain novels, which you can ascertain are some of her favorites. The second half of the book, which is a comprehensive summary of 101 novels she read, is exceptional and is worth the price of the book. This section has prompted me to read or re-read some of the books, even though she tends to tell you want the book's plot in her summary. Moreover, her extensive vocabulary has provided an impetus for me to add these lively words to my vocabulary. Ms. Smiley's descriptions make you want to grab the book and read it any way. If you have ever wanted to write a book and need some guidance on the process, this is the book. In addition, if you are a reader and want to know more about how a book is written and the characteristics and symmetry of books, this is the book. I hope that Ms. Smiley does another book of this type in the future.

Contrary to the opinion expressed by the previous reviewer, I found the first section of the book, a detailed and personable analysis of the structure and development of the novel as a literary form over time, to be informative, provocative and amusing, while the second section, a compilation of far too brief and schematic reviews of 101 novels, seemed trite and unhelpful (in fact, the comments and quotations about those novels that Ms. Smiley intersperses in the first section to illustrate her arguments are often more stimulating and insightful than the specific reviews). As a result, I would recommend this book highly to anyone keen on becoming a writer or learning more about the inner workings of the novel, but not to those who are looking simply for reading lists or book-club suggestions. Ps. The title refers to the beautiful poem by Wallace Stevens, "Thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird."

A great tour of the novel landscape, with Smiley's typical insight and deft use of language. And a nice list of novels everyone should read with thumbnail summaries.

Acclaimed novelist Jane Smiley has written a loving, intelligent analysis of the form, function, and reading experience of the novel that will appeal to teachers, readers, and writers. She examines aspects of the novel from different perspectives and illustrates her points with examples, from Alcott's Little Women to Munro's Lives of Girls and Women, from Proust's In Search of Lost Time to Mitford's The Pursuit of Love, from Richardson's Pamela to Nabokov's Lolita, from Austen's Persuasion to McEwan's Atonement, from Thackeray's Vanity Fair to Egan's Look at Me-- a hundred novels in all. Smiley begins her 568 page elegy begin with the basics: What is a Novel? Who is a Novelist? These seemingly simple questions receive intricate answers, as Smiley delves into theories put forth by writers such as Virginia Woolf and Henry James, and into the works of fiction themselves. Academics and students of literature will find themselves engrossed in the author's meaty discussions of the history of the novel, its psychology, its use of morality, its role as a historical document, and the art of it. Perhaps the most accessible chapters, however, are also the most personal. Smiley addresses the reader as though a writing peer in her two chapters, "A Novel of Your Own I" and "A Novel of Your Own II," 45 pages of writing advice and conversation. Even more intimate is her revealing look into the writing of her novel Good Faith. In this chapter, she gives the reader a rare glimpse into the creative process. Avid readers will be especially delighted by Smiley's "mini-essay(s)" of the hundred novels she selected as a reading exercise, which she uses as her conclusion. She states that these novels are meant to be representative, not comprehensive, since it is impossible to construct a top 100 list without omitting fine literary works. Readers who, say, were put off by the academic nature of A.S. Byatt's Possession, or by the unlikable characters of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, or by the comic distance created by Zadie Smith in White Teeth will find new reasons to appreciate those works, and all the others included here. 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel is not an easy read since Smiley approaches her topic not only as a writer but as an intellectual. Her analysis is both sensible and brilliant--a delight for serious readers and students. -- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

Today I had the privilege of hearing an author I greatly admire, Jane Smiley, read excerpts from her book as well as wonderful asides about her experiences teaching, being a scholar, and writing. She is such a hoot, and as entertaining to hear live as to read. She reminded us of how the novel has evolved through the ages and how well written novels can encourage us to suspend our disbelief to find out what happens next, even if we think what happens next is a total crock. In her Literature classes, The Metamorphoses is often on the syllabus. There is always one student who cannot accept the premise that the protagonist has become an insect, and therefore cannot enjoy or appreciate the book. This does not discourage our Jane. No. She feels better as a writer remembering that, "Nobody is that good. Not even Kafka." This was her step father's saying. And it is true, of course. She reminded us that early novels were often morality tales. As in the Norse sagas, which Smiley winningly argues have all the themes to later appear in actual novels, there is usually a man who does not fit into his society. This antagonizes the society and forces a confrontation which changes the world as that society knew it. Cool. Early novels are not about normal people with no anguish or passion or problems. The inner lives of humans didn't figure into the themes of novels until more recent times. Novels have done exactly what the Church and the Establishment once feared. They have caused women and men to think differently and outside the box of their little worlds or economic stratas. They encouraged people to marry for love. They encouraged people to think well of difference in others, or at the very least , give people credit for character and not caste. And novels have given many of us who treasure them comfort and consolation and perspective in life's difficult times, whether a personal crises or a global one of the proportions of September 11, 2001. Smiley amused us all when she told us that well into Proust's Remembrance of Things Past told so matter of factly one can miss the connection he shares with De Sade, she put the book aside for a week and read a Sue Grafton thriller. This was enjoyable escapism and reminded her how good it would be to return to the joys of reading Proust. Proust was an early inspiration for Smiley to speak in the deceptively natural, non threatening conversational voice she uses in her novels. Jane is not a snob. She told us that as a girl she loved the Bobbsy Twins and Nancy Drew. This was in answer to a teacher's question about how to encourage reading of "great" literature. Smiley told us. "Have books in your home. Read to your children or not, but have books in your home. And try a little reverse psychology. Forbid them to read in bed. And then when you know they are under the covers with a flash light, run to the room every half hour and insist that they stop that nonsense and go to sleep." Perha