When speaking about an author and his work, we may use the following words, word combinations and phrases:
1. appearance of a new trend; 2. appreciate a work of art at its full value; 3. break ground in an earlier novel for the subject matter; 4. bring smth forth in living images; 5. craft of writing; craftsmanship; 6. derived from personal experience; 7. distinguished stylist; 8. drawbacks of...; 9. driving aim, force; 10. ensnare and capture the reader's mind and emotions; 11. excel in one's art; 12. extremely keen and faithful eye for...; 13. faults of taste; 14. foundation of smb's talent lies in...; 15. fundamental characteristics (of a novel, etc); 16. handle the subject-matter magisterially; 17. have an immediate success; 18. innovations in writing; 19. inspired by...; 20. in the field of fiction; 21. lacking in imagination; 22. lead the reader on quietly; 23. light humorist; 24. magic of art; 25. novel, etc deals primarily with; 26. one of the foremost novelists (humorists, etc) of our (his) time; 27. one of the novel's, etc great virtues; 28. popularity and fame came...; 29. popularity is founded on...: 30. power of observation (ironic insight); 31. the reader is spellbound and enthralled; 32. receive general recognition; 33. receive a number of distinguished awards; 34. reveal smb's (one's) considerable talent as a writer; 35. sure instinct of a novelist, etc; 36. write fiction; 37. writer makes us see; 38. writer is successful (unsuccessful).
When we speak of a writer's style we may use the following:
1. artistically effective; 2. as if reported by a detached observer; 3. become the dominant images; 4. cap a comic moment with a final extravagant act; 5. capture the essential truth of...; 6. complex narrative; 7. detailed examination of...; 8. digress, digression; 9. go on to particulars; 10. heavy prose; 11. humorous and sardonic tone; 12. piece of technical virtuosity, 13. becomes a powerful symbol; 14. prose is clear and simple; 15. prose quickens; 16. remorseless irony; 17. report the speech of...; 18. see smth through the eyes of...; 19. simplicity (complexity) of style; 20 skill in narrative; 21. speak to one's esthetic sense; 22. style may be clear, direct, illuminated by a perfectly unaffected sincerity, sufficiently pointed to carry...; 23. well under control; 24. strive to express; 25. understatement that runs through...
When discussing the characters we may make use of the following:
1. contrast between the characters of...; 2. dispose the characters around...; 3. figure of strong outline; 4. major characters; 5. main character; 6. minor (secondary) characters; 7. vigorous, vivid character; 8. write realistically of human beings.
When characterizing the composition of a work of fiction we may use the following:
1. at the precise centre of the book, novel, story, etc; 2. central theme of...; 3. chaotic composition; 4. climatic events are packed into...; 5. delay the action; 6. episode is symbolic; 7. dramatic climax; 8. final episode; 9. flashback in time; 10. form the subject-matter of...; 11. invented scene; 12. last, etc scene shows...; 13. leading theme of...; 14. main thread of the story; 15. make a shift of scene; 16. make the most of atmosphere and suggestion; 17. novel, story, etc gains momentum; 18. on the background of...; 19. parallel plot; 20. pattern of movement; 21. plot develops towards a violently dramatic incident; 22. resolution comes quickly; 23. scene is static; 24. story is narrated by...; 25. story is simple and uncomplicated; 26. structure of conflict; 27. subject-matter of...; 28. tension springs from...