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  • Character and Archetype: How to Make Readers Fall in Love with Your Imaginary Friends

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  • By: Deren Hansen
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Tolkien's acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tale, read by Derek Jacobi. Smith of Wootton Major journeys to the Land of Faery thanks to the magical ingredients of the Great Cake of the Feast of Good Children.

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  • Farmer Giles of Ham

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Farmer Giles of Ham did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it!

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Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply? Every year, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien would write to Father Christmas, and the letters they received told wonderful stories of his adventures at the North Pole. These humorous tales are brought to life by Derek Jacobi as Father Christmas, John Moffatt as Polar Bear, and Christian Rodska as Ilbereth the Elf, complete with specially composed music.

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Publisher's Summary

We all know how to tell stories just like we all know our native language, having heard both since we were born. People, however, who study their native language discover there's much they misunderstood or simply didn't know. The same is true of story when we look at it more carefully.

With topics that include the theory of story as model, the fractal key to narrative complexity, and the art of the long form, this volume will show you the essence of stories and storytelling.

It's advanced stuff - no writing prompts or exercises here - but if you want to understand how stories are the minimum container of significance, how storytelling is like commanding an artillery battery, and why the three easy steps are (1) lather, (2) rinse, and (3) repeat, this volume is for you.

And like deep magic, once you comprehend the nature of the art, you'll be well on your way to becoming a master story weaver.

©2012 Deren Hansen (P)2016 Deren Hansen

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Tolkien is a red herring

Would you try another book from Deren Hansen and/or Deren Hansen?

Hansen seems to now a lot about writing. There's no indication he has any particular expertise or insight into Tolkien.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

If your interest is in how to write, this work may be fine. If your interest is in J.R.R. Tolkien, and what made his writing unique, don't bother with this work. Hansen's inclusion of Tolkien material seemed incidental only - a few paragraphs in the middle which took some examples from Tolkien's books to make points about writing in general. You are left with the impression that he could just as easily have titled the book How to Write Like Ernest Hemingway or Louis L'amour or Danielle Steel by revising those few examples on one page. The rest of the work would remain exactly the same. And that's ok... unless your interest is in Tolkien.

Any additional comments?

Again, as a manual on how to write, this is work fine - it just isn't a work about J.R.R. Tolkien. Since that was my interest, it was a complete disappointment.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Unclear method

Wasn’t something that I could embrace
Might be best for someone else’s learn from
Thanks