The Sound on the Page

June 1, 2004
In this fascinating study, author, columnist, and English professor Yagoda (Will Rogers; About Town) examines style-that elusive but all-important element of excellence in writing. Or is it? To answer that question, Yagoda asks the following: How is it that we recognize an author? And how does any author develop his or her singular voice? While Yagoda does not go so far as to suggest abandoning William Strunk and E.B. White's classic The Elements of Style as a guide to proper grammar and style, he does suggest that taking the personal element out of literary writing is next to impossible and that individual style is the defining ingredient of outstanding literature. Yagoda further analyzes the paradox of subvocalization, the illusion of transparency, and the existence of gender differences. But the real jewels of the book are the interviews from outstanding voices of our time, such as Dave Barry (Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, 1986), Andrei Codrescu (NPR's All Things Considered), Anna Quindlen (Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, 1992), and award-winning novelist John Updike. Overall, this entertaining and instructive book should be part of any writing collection.-Ann Schade, Powers Memorial Lib., Palmyra, WI

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