Customer Reviews

Nobel Writers on Writing

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In this extensively researched, well-written book, Draugsvold shares the reflections of the world's premier writers about writing. He provides background and analysis for each author. He includes carefully curated, representative, inspiring, incisive excerpts from the writers. I turn to this book often as a reference about the individual Nobel laureates. I turn just as often to this book for inspiration and direction for my own writing. Reading this book is like pulling up a chair next to a fire and having a long, intimate chat with wise, accomplished, talented mentors. This book would be an asset to any library -- personal or public. It is especially apt for readers and collectors who value literature beyond its notch on a periodical's best-seller list.

I received a copy of this book from the author. He was, and is, a personal friend and I had not read this book. It would be an understatement to say I loved the book. Not only did I learn a great deal about the authors highlighted by Draugsvold but did so a chapter at a time. This format provided multiple opportunities for me to start and end a story and set the book aside until another occasion. I particularly enjoyed reading the speeches of the Laureates.

Draugsvold writes clearly but has a knack for explaining his own thinking while reporting objectively on the subject. Recognizing this to be quite a balancing act, I have come to enjoy conversations with him on a wide range of subjects because of this singular quality in his thinking and writing.

The paperback edition is probably overpriced for what I think would be the best possible market: classroom use with young writers and eventual teachers and professors as they hone their art. It is a magnificent and wide ranging look at writers unarguably considered both famous and successful and provides the "layman" a very clear window into what worked for each Laureate and Draugsvolds commentary lays out a better understanding of why each was selected for the Nobel.