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by tptacek 5672 days ago
Krakauer can get really, really shrill --- I mean, really shrill --- but he hasn't written a book I've found that I didn't enjoy at least a little.
1 comments

What does "shrill" mean in the context of writing?
Polemic, passionate in a one-note way, pleading, to an extent that sacrifices the narrative. Two great examples from Krakauer: _Under The Banner Of Heaven_, which veers into a straight-up litigation against the Mormon faith†, and _Where Men Win Glory_, whose latter third is practically tear-stained.

Note: I'm not saying either of those books are bad; I liked them. I loved _Into The Wild_.

I'm not one.