Roger Ebert's Sky Guardian

Within the article titled Roger Ebert: The Essential Man Chris Jones is able to establish his voice early on by writing in a semi-detached fashion while carefully noting anything and everything that is going on. Jones describes the events of Ebert’s life as if he was always there helplessly watching his friend become more ill as time went on. The things that Jones writes about in his profile about Ebert aren’t about his most famous accomplishments or being a famous movie critic, those details are kept at a minimum. The accomplishments told of in the profile are everything things like Ebert being able to speak again or simply being able to leave the house. Those accomplishments may seem inconsequential to an everyday person but Jones writes about them because Ebert is not an everyman. For Jones, Ebert is a close friend whose life his must document for future generations. Jones is telling the tale of a man that did not give up when faced with a challenge and the reader is able to tell that Jones cares through his voice. Jones’ voice may seem small but it is done intentionally to make way for the loudness that is Roger Ebert. The story that Chris Jones weaves is one from the heart, a story that shows how much he cared for the man he is writing about. The reader is able to tell how much Jones cares for Ebert through his usage of sensual details such as when he describes Ebert's hands as "wrapped in skin and translucent as silk." By using a simile to describe Ebert’s hands Jones is allowing the reader to visualize how frail Ebert has become. Jones’ voice is heard throughout the entire profile even though it may seem as if he has none at all. Chris Jones writer and friend makes it known how much he cared for Roger Ebert through his use of detail and keeping himself almost entirely out of the story he has told.