I mean writers where the words disappear and the meaning and imagery is just beamed into your head. I used to think simple writing would do this best by not attracting attention to itself, but then I read McCarthy, whose writing is very idiosyncratic, but after a few pages it felt like I was just getting images and meanings beamed into me and the words no longer existed. I totally get his style now, and few writers come close to that effect. It’s just so smooth and effortless one you cross the barrier.

Also, somewhat unrelated because this is academic writing, but I felt the same reading Foucault. At first, his writing was extremely dense and convoluted to me, but after getting into it, the words just went away and made way for concepts that imo could not have been conveyed in any other way than the style he chose. It really felt like being linked to a unique perspective.

What are some examples you have?

  • Ruadhan2300@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    All the good ones.

    Not kidding, that’s basically my first metric for a good author.

    If I can’t get into this state of mind then I’ll often put the book down.