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Title: This book needs another few trips through the word processor
Review: I was drawn to the book because of the theme of an older woman returning to her hometown. But I was quickly disappointed, despite that. Lott is a talented writer, but this book needed a few more trips through his word processor. Did he not think it might be a good idea to delete some of the endless repetition?One writing teacher says we need to "kill our darlings"--scenes, phrases, sentences that may be artful but that detract from the story.I saw a suggestion that anyone who like A Song I Knew by Heart might will like The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. I don't think there is any comparison between Lott and Elizabeth Berg. Berg writes with spare simplicity and her stories shines like cut diamonds.The person who would benefit from reading Elizabeth Berg is Brett Lott.
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