/lit/ - Literature

In the past, authors didn't care as much about style as we do nowadays; according to some critics, Balzac did not care at all about the form and focused on the content instead (not saying you can't do both, though), for instance.

I always assumed style was not an option for any sort of writing, but I've heard some critics claim that putting style on top of everything else was akin to mannerism: "You have nothing to say? Say it well!"

Jules Vernes is well-known as a "bad writer" in terms of style; some would say the same about Tolkien, but their stories endure and are appreciated.

What do you think? Have you ever read a book with a horrible style and still enjoyed it? Do you stop reading a book if the style annoys you? What stylistic devices annoy you? Do we live in an era of superficial stylism over good stories with depths and content? What auhors manage to do both? What authors' style are impossible to separate from their stories?

Discuss.

>T;DR: is style overrated?

Dear /lit/,

I would like you to show me what you consider good and bad writing. I don't mean the title of a book or an abstract definition; I mean an actual piece of excellent writing and one of terrible writing. This should be the length of an average paragraph, and if you can greentext (afterwards) the exact part which is the good/bad bit, all the better.

I'm very curious as to what will come up.

ITT: you provide examples of stylistic mistakes to avoid.