So I started reading the first book in the John Carter series and I gave up after a while because it seemed like the entire book was going to be in some strange travel log style and there would be zero dialog. Does the book ever turn back into some sort of normal writing style or is it all this way?
I think that style would be considered the normal for ERB.
I enjoy his style. To me it's richly detailed and delivered at a stately pace. But I will say that there have been times, in some of the books, that I found if I was not giving the book my full attention I grew impatient.
I certainly find his writing to be very good at times but I don't know if I can make it through an entire book in this style. Normally when I read something, the dialog helps break up the fat paragraphs of descriptions but this is just constant descriptions.
I'm so glad I read this. I was pleasantly surprised by John Carter and was intent on reading the books. Knowing that they're written in this style I'll steer clear. I always hated when we were assigned stuff written like that in school. It was a chore just to sit down and read a chapter.
I certainly find his writing to be very good at times but I don't know if I can make it through an entire book in this style. Normally when I read something, the dialog helps break up the fat paragraphs of descriptions but this is just constant descriptions. Once he learns the language there is dialog.
I certainly find his writing to be very good at times but I don't know if I can make it through an entire book in this style. Normally when I read something, the dialog helps break up the fat paragraphs of descriptions but this is just constant descriptions.
Well, the best part of this is that when you are ready for it, it'll be there!
Well it is all first person narrative -- and if you imagine a specific voice for the narrative it is as good as dialogue in a way! Dialogue in quotation marks, as I recall, enters about 1/3 through the book -- until then we are spoken to entirely by John Carter.
The prosaic, sober, first person style is in keeping with the spate of travel journal books that were hugely popular in the 1800's through the early 1900's. First person narratives of journeys to exotic lands and peoples -- not to forget the spirit of the enormously popular "Baedekers" guide books. I think Burroughs was quite consciously using the style and detail oriented nature of those books to place us as realistically as possible in a quite fantastic land. But, of course, that doesn't mean you to have to automatically like the way he stylizes his prose.
Dialogue in the John Carter books would not break up the florid style. Everyone makes long-winded speeches, then signals when they are done with a pretentious statement such as, "I have spoken."
I found it amusing as I imagined all the characters pausing in the middle of whatever they were doing to strike important-looking poses. Being loquacious is quite a feat on a planet with such a thin atmosphere.
So I started reading the first book in the John Carter series and I gave up after a while because it seemed like the entire book was going to be in some strange travel log style and there would be zero dialog. Does the book ever turn back into some sort of normal writing style or is it all this way?
I'm on the third book, and they've been all action, suspense and scenery description. Plus cliffhangers.
Which sounds like it does not get any more like what you want.
But I'm enjoying them as a fast, "popcorn-y" read.
