Recommended reading is back this week with the complete Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Actually no, but I must say I was tempted. Instead it’s a book about stories.
Recommended Reading #15: The Seven Basic Plots
The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories is a non-fiction book about storytelling. Wait, don’t leave. It’s far more interesting than it sounds. It’s written by the splendidly named Christopher Booker, and highlights how every single story - from children’s fairytale to Fair City to Hollywood Blockbuster - is a construct of one of seven basic plots.
The subtitle of the book is somewhat misleading as it only provides some insight over 736 pages as to why we actually tell or read stories. The author has read countless stories of all genres, and these are referenced throughout. The most interesting aspect of the book is how he can connect an ancient folktale to an episode of Happy Days, and make you see the parallels.
The writing is easy to understand, even for someone without a PhD in Literature. Although he mentions obscure texts as well as mainstream ones, you won’t have to have read them all yourself, as they are explained within. Afterwards, I found myself wanting to read many of the novels he had mentioned.
I won’t list all seven plots, as I could not do justice to the way they are outlined in the book. However, I will say that after reading this you may even appreciate the nuances in Fair City a bit more. Or else you’ll be outraged at the lack of a resolution at the end of every episode. But that’s how television keeps viewers hooked, and how novels get the reader holding on until that very last page.
If you want to preview the book for yourself, I found it on Google Books here. I do recommend you buy it though, as it wouldn’t be all that easy reading seven-hundred-plus pages online.
Book News
Little-known European author wins Nobel Prize for Literature
Herta Mueller a former Romanian exile won the Nobel Prize for Literature last week. You may not have heard about it, as some Whitehousian was hogging the Nobel spotlight. At the moment, Mueller isn’t widely available in English translation, but on the back of this, there are sure to be many rushjobs released by Christmas.
New Hilary Mantel short story
Booker Prize winner (it’s all about the winning today), Hilary Mantel has written a new short story ‘The Heart Fails Without Warning’ for the Guardian newspaper, and it can be read freely online. Read it in full here. Then if you like it, you can go and read the tome that is Wolf Hall.
It’s also one of the most intelligent books I’ve ever had the privilege to read on the subject. I think I’ve read it three or four times since I’ve gotten it. Makes so much sense, doesn’t it? He’s got a real skill for making it simple. That book got me back into reading.
That was quick!
His writing is excellent. You’d think with a book this size you’d get bored, but you never do. It’s hugely entertaining. And he starts off so well with the Jaws comparison.
My favourite was Chapter 4 on The Quest. Probably my favourite type of story anyhow… That or Voyage and Return…
I liked the constant use of “Dark Figures” instead of baddies or bad guys. The whole idea of the Dark Figure is really interesting.
I also liked Voyage and Return due to the fact it all seems to stem from the Odyssey. (Well, kind of)
Thanks Ronan, will have to pick that book up, might be a good aid in writing stories or books which I’ve done, the writing, not the publishing
Yeah, I found it helped some of my short stories, especially with the climax part. It’s extremely informative, and I’d say many writers have put it to good use.
Have yet to read this, but I do have ‘Story’ by Robert McKee, ‘Myth and the Movies’ by Stuart Voytilla, and some of Joseph Campbell’s work - so sounds very similar. And all have helped me in my own writing (and short film-making)!
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