3414 - Dissecting the Novel: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (June Converse)
Course Description
Instructor: June Converse
What makes a bestseller a bestseller? Is it the plot or the characters or some mystical combination? Is there some subliminal expectation readers have that bestsellers exploit? Does it have to do with progressive escalation or our desire to escape from reality. Maybe it’s schadenfreude? In this class, we read a bestselling novel and try to find that mystical power. We look at plot and arcs and marketing. We put on the hat of author, character, reader, and publisher. It’s a book club on steroids. And, like magic, what you learn applies to all stories (TV, movies, books) and makes every experience much deeper. Readers, writers, and anyone who loves stories will enjoy this class. We take SIX weeks to study a master. We peel off the layers one by one to see the depth behind the completed work.
We will be studying Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, so please grab a copy of the book! I will be using the paperback version. DO NOT READ AHEAD!