I've never read Rooney. You didn't exactly make me want to tap my way to buy one of her books! :-)

I had high reading comprehension scores in grade school (12th grade reading level in first grade) and read all kinds of classics as a kid, but I have never retained what I read for very long.

I consider it a bit of a handicap, but it's always been so. For example, a couple years ago I read Great Expectations again. I barely remember Pip's exploits even though it hasn't been all that long since I read it.

So I guess I don't need to worry about this too much, but it seems like great advice. I do think good writing style seeps into our writing no matter what, but that's a different topic, obviously.

I read Slaughterhouse, but again, many of the details are gone. I do remember being annoyed by all the "So it goes" reps. That's actually the one thing I do remember well.

If I was going to mimic a writer intentionally, I'd have to go with Dr. Seuss. For obvious reasons. :-)