Five Pages Hard

[poliphilo]

Is there a reader anywhere whose heart soars when they see that the paragraph they've just embarked on is going to carry on for several pages? I doubt it. But does this stop ambitious writers (Pynchon for instance) from indulging themselves in these textual mini-marathons? Of course not. The long long paragraph is proof of artistic integrity and a refusal to pander to the reader's frailty. "Keep up, you horrible little people," says the writer. "No slacking. Did you think reading my books would be easy. Well, think again. If I can keep going for five pages without a break then so can you. You want the aesthetic experience only I can deliver? Well, you're going to have to prove yourselves worthy of it...."

Comments

[steepholm]

I agree with this, but might make an exception for George Eliot, who always gives you your money's worth.

[poliphilo]

I might make an exception for Conrad- but I think both Eliot and Conrad can be heavy going at times.