Talk:Prater Violet

Novels Mid‑importance

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References and Biographical Material

The only two references in this article refer to the same pages in the same book (as of December 21, 2016). And the first reference is for biographical material in the lead—material that should be elsewhere in the article. Isherwood's experience in screenwriting isn't essential to the novel's context, although his years spent in prewar Berlin (which he mined for his stories in Goodbye to Berlin) might be. I think that WP:LEAD would have us remove the screenwriting info and maybe insert one sentence (at most) about Isherwood's experience in Germany. I am beginning the search for sources now and will include those that I find here. --Goofyjourno (talk) 07:10, 21 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Simplification and conformity with Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels

Some of the sections in the article are inessential, especially the "Characters" section and the list of "Major Themes" (which will be made redundant if/when the "Themes" section is expanded). These inessential sections do not contribute to a concise, efficient account of the novel. Specifically regarding the "Characters" section, the Manual of Style for Novels says: "Most articles do not need this section. Instead, a finely crafted plot summary is used to introduce the characters to the reader." Moreover, for a novel of only 122 pages that deals with a very narrow historical period and with only one major historical event (the Austrian Civil War), a good plot summary with a better-referenced "Major Themes" section should suffice. --Goofyjourno (talk) 07:24, 21 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Remove "Characters" and the character chart

As I argued above, the "Characters" section is unnecessary and the article would be better off with a plot summary. The chart in the section is also misleading or wrong in several respects. More importantly, I don't think it helps a reader understand the main points. The article would be improved by replacing these elements with an effective plot summary. --Goofyjourno (talk) 07:29, 21 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]