The Book Thief: how to write a prologue (video essay)

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

In the paperback edition of the novel, Markus Zusak talks about using different types of narrators in different drafts of the book. Do you think the story could have worked without the prologue (and its narrator), and just started with Liesel's story in Chapter 1?

[@EmperorZelos]

OH FUCK YES YOU PUBLISHED AGAIN! I AM SO HAPPY! DO THIS MORE! :D

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

@@EmperorZelos I love the enthusiasm! Thank you for your comment :D

[@EmperorZelos]

@@HowTheNovelStarts WELCOME! :D Keep at it! No more 12 month gap :P

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

@@EmperorZelos Aye aye, captain! :D I have a few things planned...

[@EmperorZelos]

@@HowTheNovelStarts Good, keep at it, and you won't have to go to the Gulags ;)

[@TravisGilbert]

This channel is mad valuable because it's basically what I did while walking through book stores

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

LOL I thought I was the only one :D

[@jameskilgour387]

Well hello there, wonder how you got here

[@cheeseecakee]

This book is so much deeper than what I thought in 7th grade, thank you

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

Like so many great books, there's more here than I first realized. I've learned to appreciate so many of these books on a deeper level, too.

[@jameskilgour387]

One of my all time favourites, book and film. The start is phenomenal but the ending kills me every time

[@rik4553]

Hey! I love your video’s! I’m really looking out for your next project. The new influx of viewers must be great, but don’t feel rushed! good luck!

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

I appreciate the kind words, thank you! I'm planning more videos for this summer/fall, and a channel update in the more immediate future to at least let people know I'm still here :)

[@jaydenyamada2916]

Influx of new viewers! Hello. I know requests are rude, so in your own time, but will you cover House of Leaves? I reread it recently and it stilp melts my brain. The compass on the cover doesn't help

[@Tandem._x]

This is very helpful!

[@1995yuda]

I wanted to stop by and thank you for blessing this wretched world with tiny drops of meaning, emotion and soul. I mean every word.

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

That means a lot, thank you! I'm speechless from this comment. :D

[@dekorampage]

I am so glad I found your Channel with a little push of Austin McConnell Please, if you can, keep doing these videos!!! This is amazing!!

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

Welcome! I'm planning more videos for this year ;)

[@sci_pain3409]

as someone who spends 10 minutes trying to find something that interests me at a book store this channel is a godsend

[@nightowl8477]

Man, this was awesome! Really need to check out this book, I remember my friend talking about WWII from Death's perspective, must have been the same!

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

Glad you liked the video! Yes, do check out the book, it's a recent classic ;)

[@sehamsuleiman5303]

A brilliant video! Would love if you do a video on these novels: 1. The Hobbit 2. Lord of the Rings 3. Les Miserables

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

Glad you liked it! I love these suggestions (have read the first two). It's definitely important to read the classics, though on the channel I've preferred books from the last 20 years or so as they are helpful for writers to understand current trends in fiction, and get them ready to submit in the current market. :)

[@sehamsuleiman5303]

@@HowTheNovelStarts understand where you come from. I finished Les Miserables recently and while it’s an extremely heavy read (both in size and depth), reading it was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it! Patiently waiting for more videos!

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

@@sehamsuleiman5303 I'll have to add it to my reading list! More videos coming!

[@petergeer3301]

Thanks for the video.

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it! More to come this year ;)

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

what are your thoughts on tolkien’s work?

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

I hint at this in a few videos, including the one on Game of Thrones (part 1 of the look on prologues). I love Tolkien, but as far as literary influences, I think modern-day writers should not try to replicate his style or approach, if the goal is to submit and get published. Not saying it will never work, but it's why I tend to focus on 21st century writers-the style has evolved. Tolkien was intentionally writing in a mythical style that was outdated even in his time (compared to Hemingway and so forth), and his approach to storytelling is somewhat academic and expository (his background), which does not really work in today's submission climate. People get wrapped up in world-building, making languages and maps, because he set such a high-standard and that feels persuasive and complete. Then they look for ways to fit all that world-building into the text, but the basic drama isn't there. I was guilty of that for a long time. Now I'm trying to instead find ways to stay in the scene without tons of exposition, and make the scene dramatic in its own right. I'm less interested in stories of grand empires and more interested in personal stories. But I still love Tolkien...

[@sanddemon96]

You should do the Outsiders or Rumblefish

[@maxanderson6216]

We all know why we’re here

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

You love to see it :D

[@Holsp]

The music is really loud

[@HowTheNovelStarts]

Good to know, will pay attention to that in future videos ;)