Burnside, John: 1955 - 2024
The Devil's Footprints, 2007 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Challenging
- Complex Sentence Structures – Burnside often uses long, multi-clause sentences with intricate punctuation, which can be harder to parse than simple, short sentences.
Advanced Vocabulary – The book includes literary and sometimes archaic words, as well as subtle nuances that aren’t common in everyday English.
Poetic and Figurative Language – There’s frequent use of metaphor, symbolism, and lyrical description, which requires readers to interpret meaning beyond the literal words.
Psychological Depth – The narrative often explores complex thoughts and emotions, requiring careful attention to understand character motivations and inner reflections.
Slow Narrative Pace – The storytelling is reflective and not action-driven, which can demand sustained focus and comprehension.
- Complex Sentence Structures – Burnside often uses long, multi-clause sentences with intricate punctuation, which can be harder to parse than simple, short sentences.
- It’s not “difficult” because of grammar alone, but because understanding the meaning, tone, and style demands higher-level reading skills.