slelswick's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't finish reading this book because I couldn't bear the esoteric style of Roy Peter Clark.
annebennett1957's review against another edition
5.0
I love this kind of book which combines writing (or reading) tips with great literature examples. I will buy a copy for my library and make sure every English teacher knows it is ready for them to checkout!
vspinazola's review against another edition
Only read the first few chapters, and am going to return to the library. I think this would be a great book to own, so you could read it right before you read one of the classics he analyzes. I happened to be re-reading Lolita, which is one of the first texts he covers, and I did find that reading that chapter helped my understanding of that book.
phronk's review against another edition
4.0
A guide to overthinking (in a good way) every sentence you read and write. My writing will probably improve after reading this, though my personal preference is simple and direct writing that doesn’t require another book to explain.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this better than H.Foster’s HTRLLAP in many ways, but really they complement one another well. I liked that Foster organizes chapters thematically, but I despise the spoilers throughout it. This one had excerpts that really does a thorough job with close reading skills and practices. I also like that this one not only helps you as a reader, but also gives tips for aspiring writers. Great book to get me excited for AP LIT 2020-2021!
not_mike's review
Hardcover. X-ray reading is close reading. If you didn't major in English at the undergrad level (this reviewer) or didn't go to undergrad (a good choice), this book will help you look closer at the classics. Clark blends current culture (referencing Twitter, Breaking Bad, and Harry Potter to name a few), in describing certain techniques and their relation to classics of literature.
Informative.
Informative.
shortthoughts's review
4.0
This is a great book in a lot of ways. It's easy for us to tell when we like some piece of writing and when we don't, but it's not always easy for us to tell why. Clark helps us look at a piece of writing and dissect it for examination. He calls it "X-ray reading." Throughout the book he gives examples from mostly well-known literary works. There were a few things I could have done without and it would've been a five star book for me.