Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

There's a series on one of the channels (a pay channel, I think) called The Plot Against America. It involves Lindberg running against FDR way back when. The story is based on a novel by Philip Roth.
Some of my family was watching the first episode of the series, and I joined in. Not bad. I decided to read the book itself. So far, not good.
I've only gotten so far as the first chapter, which mostly seems to be an information dump with paragraphs a million words each and boring descriptions of the land, the house, the town, the family - but nothing happening. In the first episode of the series, stuff happens.
If you wish to look, I believe the free sample on Amazon contains most of what I've read so far.
Though I have published nothing myself, it seems to me that Roth's writing is exactly what authors on SOL warn against - it seems to be tell don't show; it seems to be an information dump, very little or no dialogue. If Philip Roth does everything wrong, why do his books sell? Or is it me misreading Roth or misunderstanding the point of authors on SOL?

First, I don't think a comparison with video mediums (TV, movies) and books is fair.

With a visual medium, the viewer can see the scenery at the same time as the action.

With a book either the narrator takes the time to describe it, or it doesn't exist.

In my opinion a book that is all action and dialog devoid of any context of setting or scenery would be every bit as flat and uninteresting as the "information dump with paragraphs a million words each and boring descriptions of the land, the house, the town, the family - but nothing happening".

it seems to me that Roth's writing is exactly what authors on SOL warn against - it seems to be tell don't show; it seems to be an information dump, very little or no dialogue.

Or is it me misreading Roth or misunderstanding the point of authors on SOL?

I think it's a little of both. "Show don't tell" applies to things you can't directly see, character emotions for example, it does not apply to scenery. How do you "show" a tree in a written story other than to describe what it looks like?

A landscape painting rendered in words is not a story, but a story is not complete without scenery.

There needs to be balance and what you describe is unbalanced, a landscape painting reduced to words.

As to why his books sell if they are like that? There is an audience for almost anything you can imagine. A market even for the verbal landscape painting.

I took a look at what's available on Amazon. You are not misscharacterizing it to call it an info dump.

However, keep in mind it's both historical fiction and an alternate history specifically involving politics, and it occurs in a pivotal historical moment.

With such a story it is necessary to solidly establish the time and place and the mood of the general public at the start of the story, especially for readers not old enough to have lived through the real history themselves.

I don't read a lot of those kinds of stories, but for those who do, a bit of info dump may be expected and considered necessary.

my opinion only...the big thing with zane grey was his description...you could put yourself right in the scene...

The Plot Against America was published in 2004. By that time Roth would have to include lots of details, based on the (well justified) concern that a lot of readers would think Lindberg was the guy who invented smelly cheese.