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Page One Review - Bark of the Bog Owl Has Bite

Started by goodwordediting · 9 months ago

Welcome, Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy fans! Once again, it’s time for another One Page Review, my audacious attempt to judge an entire book based on just one page.

First, I want to thank Becky at a Christian World View of Fiction for tirelessly organizing this co ... Continue reading »

4 comments

  • Rebecca LuElla Miller

    1 year ago

    What a great one-pager, Mark. Makes me want you to give me that kind of edit! ;-)

    You really have highlighted some key components to Jonathan's writing, stuff I hadn't analyzed. Yes, the comfortable, light tone is part of why the book works so well. It's especially perfect for a juvenile/YA fantasy. One reviewer—Deena, I think—described The Bark of the Bog Owl as the Bible meets the Shire.

    Becky
    reply
  • Susan

    1 year ago

    My daughter is a 5th graded (1st year) teacher in a charter school in a rough inner city neighborhood.

    When I read your review, my first thought was, maybe I could do a read-a-loud to her students with this book! It would have adventure and fun voices and still get across the truth of scripture - and most of all, what fun to read aloud again and see kids sit on the edge of their seats!

    It made me think back to the years when mine were small and I had the great joy of reading fun books aloud to them. So, for me, your ability to evoke the memory makes the book worth looking up!
    reply
  • Marcus

    1 year ago

    Becky, thank you so much for what you do for the entire CSFF community. I have learned so much from you.

    Susan, I have to admit, I am more excited about Barn Owl than any other book we've done in CSFF yet. Primarily because I want to read it to my daughter. (Other books were just a little too advanced or serious or whatever.)
    reply
  • Robert Treskillard

    1 year ago

    Thanks for this post.

    I was surprised that you really did what you said you were going to do -- judge it by the first page only. I fully expected you to go on and finish that short letter since the punchline and deepest humor is really at the end of it in the postscript on the second page.

    But you didn't! You stuck to your guns and kept the review to the first page only. This really makes me look at my own work -- the first page in particular -- with new eyes. As much as I would WANT any editor or agent to read my entire prologue (only 700 words), if they only read the first page, I may be in trouble. My clincher is at the end of the short prologue, but it's not on the first page. What to do???!!!???

    Thanks for the eye-opener!
    reply

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