Voice--The Red Scarf--page 2

I've enclosed an Amazon.com review of The Red Scarf, because the reviewer mentions that my style of writing is reminiscent of Mark Twain's. I think The Red Scarf is similar to the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn works, not because I tried to copy his style, but because of the voice and characters of the boys. In 1944, the setting of The Red Scarf, that's the way southern, country boys spoke and reacted. When I was trying to get the voice of Richard, the paperboy, just right, I reviewed several books including Huckleberry Finn, A Painted House, and Catcher in the Rye. Honestly, in Huckleberry Finn, the dialogue was so steeped in the country sound of the era, I found it hard to read. In A Painted House, an eight year old boy tells the story--set in the 1950s--rural northeast Arkansas. His voice was correct and measured--an English teachers dream--not what I had in mind. In Catcher in the Rye, the author has, as far as I'm concerned, perfectly captured the voice of the young man. That's what I wanted to do as a writer. Later, after my novel was published, I had a friend make a short comment. "......As I read, I felt as if a young boy was telling me the story." That made me believe I had the voice right.





I appreiciate good reivews like the one below--I couldn't help but share it with the readers of my blog.



Joe E. White (Friendswood, TX) - See all my reviews The author has written an excellent Christmas story with a most unusual ending. The style of writing is reminiscent of Mark Twain and captures the readers attention from page one to the surprise ending. The novel recounts the struggles and adventures of two young boys who are best friends in rural South Arkansas during the mid-forties. Despite all obstacles with which the boys are faced, they do have a very Merry Christmas. This novel is excellent reading and I recommend it to all.