Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader. Here you can share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
What is it with modern, aspirational writers and their punctuation? Or rather, lack thereof? I have read several recent novels, where the author abandoned quotation marks, Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss being one of them. Presumably, it does give a different flow of the text, but mostly it just annoys me and makes it difficult to distinguish between, when the character is thinking or speaking aloud. Sometimes it is even unclear, which character is speaking.
This little quirk is of course nothing compared to Ducks, Newburyport, which is a 1000+ pages novel written in one sentence.
I am all for playing with the language, but proof that alternative punctuation adds to the artistic value has been thin on the ground so far. Leaving out quotation marks did nothing for me, but perhaps the floating style of Girl, Woman, Other will win me over? The blurb and reviews have persuaded me to at least give it a try.
From Goodreads
Teeming with life and crackling with energy β a love song to modern Britain and black womanhood. Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years. Joyfully polyphonic and vibrantly contemporary, this is a gloriously new kind of history, a novel of our times: celebratory, ever-dynamic and utterly irresistible.
What is your view on alternative punctuation? Do you have any recommendations, where it really adds to the story? And critically, since I love audiobooks, do I miss out by listening instead of reading?
Gosh, punctuation exists for a reason! It would make me so mad haha!
Haha, I know what you mean! It is kinda strange.
I really appreciate your observations. I too have difficulty with the grammatical license some authors take. It usually takes me longer to get into theses story because I’m searching for some type of rhythm.
Good to hear, I’m not the only one! Exactly, it does take a little while getting used to, but I guess after reading a while, you don’t notice it too much anymore. Thanks for stopping by!
So, with Girl, Woman, Other, you’ll find that every new line is a new sentence for the vast majority of the book. You get used to it very quickly. You’re brain will just start reading each new indentation as the start of a new sentence. I hope I’m explaining this well. I read it like a normal book after the first page, and not having full stops didn’t distract me at all.
You explain it very well, I think I understand exactly what you mean! And yes, it was definitely my hope that the style would be something my brain would get used to quickly. I don’t think I’ve seen any reviews, where the reader had issues with the style. I look forward to reading this π
I already hate it when someone doesn’t use punctuation or capitals in an sms text message… I definitely wouldn’t like it in a novel.
Haha, you may not be impressed with my text messages then! I try to make an effort, but don’t always get punctuation or capitals right, because I write so quickly. In a novel, it is a bit strange though.
Stick with it! I found the style of this novel very immersive and easier to follow after being initially distracted. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Thanks for the advice! I will keep going and I am actually quite looking forward to read this. Good to hear that you enjoyed it! π
I can listen to audiobooks of no punctuation books but can’t read them. Ugh.
Stay Safe and Stay Inside
My Friday quotes are from LONESOME DOVE
Yeah, you are right, one doesn’t notice the punctuation in an audiobook. But I wonder if I am missing out? If the punctuation (or lack thereof) is meant to have a significance? Anyway, normally I prefer audiobooks, in any case.
Nice mini-review! This is the first time I’ve seen the Book Beginnings Fridays meme, but it’s a really cool idea! I think you should stick with Girl, Woman, Other. While the writing style can be jarring at first, the book becomes immersive and features some wonderfully developed characters!! I hope you end up enjoying this book!
I quite like Book Beginnings on Friday (there is a different one called First Line Friday). It gives you a chance to briefly discuss a book, you have recently started on. Thanks, I definitely look forward to reading this one! π
Iβm about halfway through Girl, Woman, Other and am loving it so far! The style is certainly unique but worth sticking with. I like it because it makes me feel like Iβm inside the charactersβ heads! X x x
Good to hear! I am fairly sure, I’ll get used to the style and it’s interesting that it actually has an impact on your reading experience. I look forward to reading your review! π
Thank you, Iβm looking forward to hearing what you think of the book as well! π X x x
π
I haven’t run across many books with alternative punctuation. I think it’s because of the type of books I read. I have read a handful though and they worked for me–but then, they weren’t anything too out there. Have a good weekend. Stay safe and well.
I suppose it does depend on the type of books, not every genre would suit this kind of experimentation. Glad you enjoyed the ones you came across with alternative punctuation. Thanks, have a lovely Sunday and stay safe as well!
I usually HATE alternative punctuation because I feel they add nothing to the story (especially a lack of quotation marks, or quotes in italicsβauthor, WHY are you trying to be hipster???) but in the case of GWO, it just worked. I felt that after the initial shock, my brain got used to the rhythm of the sentences and I can imagine them being read in one long breath, and sometimes the line breaks help to add emphasis. I hope you keep at it; it’s fantastic.
Now you are making me really excited about getting my teeth into this – that is exactly what I was hoping – that the rhythm in some sense enhanced the reading experience as opposed to just being a bit annoying. If that is the case, I can definitely see a point with alternative punctuation!
The lack of punctuation is a thing that you encounter a lot lately. I cannot say that it bothers me, even though sometimes it does make the text a bit harder to understand.
Yes, you are probably right. I can’t say that I’m against lack of punctuation as a rule: If it actually contributes to the story, I am perfectly fine with it, but I haven’t really experienced that yet. Perhaps, Girl, Woman, Other will be the one that does the trick! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I like the sound of the book, but the punctuation thing would drive me crazy. I tried reading A Frolic of His Own and couldn’t hack it because of the lack of quotation marks and am still scarred by the effort.
I agree, lack of quotation marks makes reading the text more difficult. And I still don’t see the point of leaving those out. I hope, that the style of Girl, Woman, Other will be easier to get used to.
You’re braver than me! Those few lines are more than enough to let me know that this would drive me crazy. I fear I always assume (and often rightly) that when authors resort to quirky punctuation and grammar, it’s because they know in their hearts they don’t have much to say. The fact that it won the Booker ought to make me think I’m wrong in this case, but somehow it doesn’t… π Good luck! I hope it’s a million times better than it appears… π
Haha, I don’t feel particularly brave! And you should have seen my face, when I opened the book and saw the first page. π² Also, I don’t necessarily see a Booker Prize as a recommendation, quite often it has turned out that my criteria for what constitutes a good story differs from the committees who decide on book prizes. Anyway, I am still hopeful about this one, I’ve seen so many positive reviews. And nobody has mentioned they had an issue with the punctuation. π
I’ve seen lots of glowing reviews of it too, so I hope you love it once you get tuned into the style… π
I am sure, it will be fine. If not, I can use the opportunity to add another layer to my rant about “the mystery of alternative punctuation” when I write the review. π
Eek, the structure! I hope. You end up enjoying this one, Stargazer! I bought it and really hope to enjoy it too!
Haha, I know! Thanks, I hope we will both end up enjoying it!
I just noticed that weird punctuation in my sentence! Sometimes my phone doesnβt keep up with the speed of my typing and does weird things. Thatβs too funny when I was talking about structure! π
Yup, I do the same, when I write on my phone, but you are right – that was exceedingly apt given the topic of the discussion! π
Absolutely agree. When people start experimenting in format and punctuation, things are much more harder to appreciate. I probably only tolerate it more in poetry or something… Otherwise, it really does kill the flow!
Yes absolutely, poetry is different. Perhaps the style of Girl, Woman, Other will feel a bit like reading poetry? I will give it a chance! π
I have just finished Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’ where she doesn’t use speech marks, and I just ordered ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ not realising the lack of punctuation there! It definitely makes you work harder to realise who’s saying what and when! Hope it’s worth it
Ah, I will check out your review of Normal People. The floating style of Girl, Woman, Other didn’t bother me too much and occasionally it added something to the writing and provided a different reading experience. I definitely enjoyed it and hope you will as well! π
I haven’t read any of these styles of books
It was rather unusual. If you consider giving it a go, I would recommend downloading an extract first if you have an e-reader. You will relatively quickly figure out, if you can get on with this writing style.