Catherine Blyth

The writing style of this book is very conversational - but what's easy to hear often comes across strangely on the page. The rules of different conversational goals are all illustrated with interesting anecdotes, but the reader becomes confused about what the point is. [Sometimes the story illustrates the rule; sometimes it illustrates what happens when the rule is broken; sometimes it illustrates an exception to the rule. And when the rule is vague, as it often is, you just have to guess.] I must say, I am interested while reading, but do not remember anything after I've put it down - except the chapter endings, which give a typology of hard-to-converse-with types. Those are fun. The beginning, on the importance of conversation, is probably the best food for thought.… (altro)