I am reading Inspector Rebus because I find detective stories really interesting and I enjoy Ian Rankin's style of writing. I love how he builds up the suspense and his character development is really good too :)

Dramatic Journey

The inevitability of my monotonous, gradually ascending trek to work kept me hiding in my house as long as I could, however the clock sped on and the boss wouldn’t appreciate tardiness; regardless of the tempest raging ferociously outside my window. At last I set out, attempting to gather up my courage which was conveniently escaping me like water in cupped hands; this wasn’t going to be easy. I wrenched open my door and the ice cold wind whipped my face instantly, my feet slipped on the frozen pavement, my hands benumbed by the unrelenting, icy gale. My destination was a blurry haze in the distance, a kind of frozen mirage – promising warmth and dryness. The uphill climb was fraught with black ice which was treacherous underfoot and I proceeded cautiously, the frozen slush that caked the road was not something I wished to fall into.

Thinking of the welcome I would receive once I’d reached the old stone building stirred me on. I withstood the icy temperatures and the perilous conditions alone. No one would have wanted to accompany me on this journey, not in that weather, the path was an arctic, barren stretch – I was alone. The houses that bordered the road provided little protection against the blasts of ice cold air that remained throughout my entire expedition. The clouds’ deluge was ceaseless and I was not even half way; the cold and wind were chilling my bones as though I’d been locked in a freezer for hours.

The sky was a dismal, squally grey which was reflected in the windows and frozen puddles surrounding me; my feet slid precariously on each patch of frozen water. I continued in this way for some time, the ice preventing me from progressing successfully. Time passed and my energy was ebbing away. The cold was merciless. The snow was unyielding. The wind was incessant. I was on the verge of giving up when the door opened, my boss shouted into storm and her voice rode on the frosty wind, “Hurry up!” I suppose she had a point – The 30 second walk had taken me nearly ten minutes!

Florida Guide Book Analysis

A guide book has a clear, concise purpose; to provide details about a destination for tourists and travellers - in other words it's a written version of a tour guide. The extract from the Florida guide book contains all of the features associated with this type of travel literature. For instance the introduction is short and snappy, just what a reader would be looking for in a guide book. In essence the introduction sells the destination and so describes it in the best light possible, which often requires hyperbole, such as "the ultimate family destination", in order to convince the reader that, Florida in this case, is the place to go. The introduction is cleverly written in that a few facts are surrounded by lots of opinion. The author attempts to present opinion as fact which is why 'real' facts are slotted in throughout. Phrases saying the facilities in Florida "make travelling with youngsters a real pleasure"are undoubtedly opinions and clearly exaggerate and are used to attract the reader.

Another feature typical of guide books is the use of columns, which arrange the different paragraphs in a simple and approachable way; fairly similar to those in newspapers. The reason guide books often use columns is due to the fact that the reader will probably scan the pages quickly to find the relevant information whilst they are travelling; the columns lay out this information in small amounts that can be read quickly. Columns also on the whole, make the guide book seem organised, reader friendly and therefore successful. These columns are divided by lines, this adds to the well-ordered design - separating everything neatly.

The use of subtitles, though simple, is an essential feature of any guide book, and this one is no exception. Each section is subtitled in capitals and in a bigger font than the paragraphs beneath it, so that they are eye catching and clear. Subtitles are crucial for the success of a guide book as they allow the reader to find the exact information they need without reading irrelevant material before hand. Subtitles such as "Opening Times" and "Senior Citizens" are used in this guide book which, like columns, again makes the page appear clearly laid out.

The language of a guide book, aside from the opinionated and light hearted introductions, is factual for the obvious reason that a guide book is written to provide facts to its readers, "Drinking alcohol on beaches...is illegal".The style of each subtitled section is fairly formal and concise, relaying the information in the most succinct way possible so that the reader hasn't got reams to read. The way guide books retain some of their informality is by regularly addressing the reader, "you'll find...", "you will need..." and "before you leave home..." this breaks up the monotony of fact after fact. Reading factual things like "most large cities in Florida have a Convention and Visitor's Bureau" over and over could get quite dull.

A prominent feature of the guide book is the directory, positioned to the far left of the page, which consists of important telephone numbers. This stands out due to the box around it and the spaced out information. This gives the reader all the numbers they are likely to need in one place which is very helpful. This links to the purpose of any guide book, which is to supply facts to its reader.

Images are vital in making a guide book attractive to the reader. As this guide book uses photographs in the main, it could be observed that the author wished to give the opinions and facts expressed in the writing, more substance. For example, the "Etiquette" section informs us that "dress in Florida is casual", this is emphasized by the photo depicting "customers in casual dress at the bar" which its caption explains. Similarly, "a boy enjoying a ride in a dolphin stroller" proves the guide's point that "you can rent strollers". The photos are used to support the facts, this makes the guide book more reliable which is a bonus for the reader, who then believes everything the guide book says, including, perhaps, false facts. The wheelchair sign is used as an indicator for any readers looking for information on facilities for disabled people. The use of pictures, like subtitles, aids the reader in finding what they want.

A guide book comprises of numerous features which are nearly always employed. A guide book can only be successful when these features are used in a way which appeals to the reader and when it relays the information in a way that is clear and accessible. Combined, the effect of these features, in the Florida guide book, provides the reader with an enjoyable but factual excerpt that tempts and informs its peruser.