Kermy asked Andy Davidson:

Curious about your opinion on something I've noticed about books in general. The first few chapters I'll sample at a bookstore almost always feature great prose. By the fifth chapter when the business of storytelling really kicks in, I'll notice a significant drop in the quality of prose. So, are my expectations unrealistic? (There are exceptions of course, Cormac Mccarthy, you, others).

Andy Davidson Hmm, interesting question. Not sure. It's possible the early chapters get worked extra hard, as they're often the ones submitted as samples to agents and publishers, but I've never encountered that kind of advice/direction from an editor--"Make your opening few chapters great, don't worry about the rest"--so it may just be that the writer is inconsistent. My personal preference, of course, is for prose that does the job all the way through.

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