Inspired by this thread , especially this post (slightly snipped for brevity):
Here’s one I’ve noticed lately. It’s the practice of imparting important plot information to the protagonist by means of some vaguely supernatural, poorly characterized force. … Like many entries here, when it’s done properly, it can add to an atmosphere of mystery. Stephen King does this a lot, and he often manages to do it right. However, it can just as easily be the result of lazy, lazy writing. A lot of times, it’s “I can’t be bothered to figure out a logical way for my character to learn something important, so I’ll just say that they know it ‘somehow’”.
There are some plot devices that are pretty easy to do well, as long as you’re not terrible. And then there are some plot devices that should only be touched, if ever, by a really good writer.
So, what are some mechanism that usually ruin the book for you, but occasionally someone does them very well? (And tell us the name of the gifted author who did so).
**Posting from the view of a dead person. **
The only time I’ve ever tolerated this was in in The Poisonwood Bible , and only because it was minimal.
Alice Sebold does it well enough in The Lovely Bones , I guess, what with it being a best-seller and all.
Farmer_Jane:
**Posting from the view of a dead person. **
The only time I’ve ever tolerated this was in in The Poisonwood Bible , and only because it was minimal.
I don’t remember anyone posting from the view of a dead person in The Poisonwood Bible , but I believe you. Who was the dead person?