Comments on: Falling Out of Like http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Imelda http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-16047 Imelda Fri, 23 Mar 2007 02:21:12 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-16047 And now that I've gone back and read the other comments, I need to add something else. It seems to me that what I actually require is a well-drawn character. People need reasons for what they do and the way they are. The same behaviour can be irritating or moving, depending on how well you know what is behind it. Of course there will always be characters who just don't work for us, no matter how well they are drawn, but generally, I think it is a craft issue - ditch those stereotypes and give us real people! Imelda And now that I’ve gone back and read the other comments, I need to add something else.

It seems to me that what I actually require is a well-drawn character. People need reasons for what they do and the way they are. The same behaviour can be irritating or moving, depending on how well you know what is behind it. Of course there will always be characters who just don’t work for us, no matter how well they are drawn, but generally, I think it is a craft issue – ditch those stereotypes and give us real people!

Imelda

]]> By: Imelda http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-16045 Imelda Fri, 23 Mar 2007 02:15:43 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-16045 Yes, absolutely, I have to like the leading characters. They don't have to be good, but they do have to be sympathetic. Take the classic case in point of Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter is a homicidal maniac - yet, he was also sympathetic. So much so, that I woke in a cold sweat at 3 in the morning after watching the movie in a panic because I had come to sympathise with a dead-set nutcase. What did that say about me? (I should say here that I have not read the book. I wasn't game after the 3am experience. I thought it might confirm that I neede to be locked up. Possibly this reaction was partly the brilliance of Anthony Hopkins, but it must have been the writer as well.) Now, if that writer can make a cannibal sympathetic, surely it is okay to ask as much from the writers of feel-good escapism? I think so. If the girl ain't someone I would want as a friend, why would I spend my precious time reading her story. Give me flawed, but heart of gold every time. IMHO! Imelda Yes, absolutely, I have to like the leading characters. They don’t have to be good, but they do have to be sympathetic. Take the classic case in point of Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter is a homicidal maniac – yet, he was also sympathetic. So much so, that I woke in a cold sweat at 3 in the morning after watching the movie in a panic because I had come to sympathise with a dead-set nutcase. What did that say about me?

(I should say here that I have not read the book. I wasn’t game after the 3am experience. I thought it might confirm that I neede to be locked up. Possibly this reaction was partly the brilliance of Anthony Hopkins, but it must have been the writer as well.)

Now, if that writer can make a cannibal sympathetic, surely it is okay to ask as much from the writers of feel-good escapism? I think so. If the girl ain’t someone I would want as a friend, why would I spend my precious time reading her story. Give me flawed, but heart of gold every time.

IMHO! Imelda

]]> By: Maureen http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-16035 Maureen Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:35:58 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-16035 I have always put a book down if I don't like the people in it.They have to be a bit realistic to be interesting.I have to like them or I don't read any further. I have always put a book down if I don’t like the people in it.They have to be a bit realistic to be interesting.I have to like them or I don’t read any further.

]]> By: Vikki Blake http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-16003 Vikki Blake Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:08:12 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-16003 It's great to hear everyone else's opinion on this - thanks so much to all the commenters for taking the time to contribute to this. :) V xx It’s great to hear everyone else’s opinion on this – thanks so much to all the commenters for taking the time to contribute to this. :)

V xx

]]> By: Bronwyn http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15974 Bronwyn Thu, 22 Mar 2007 06:48:38 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15974 I don't mind a heroine doing something a bit stupid *if* it's in character - if she's young and naive, or very stressed, or totally thrown out of their depth by some event. But supposedly intelligent heroines who have climbed the corporate ladder and have professional jobs but who behave *repeatedly* like nitwits - that makes a book a wall-banger for me. I don’t mind a heroine doing something a bit stupid *if* it’s in character – if she’s young and naive, or very stressed, or totally thrown out of their depth by some event. But supposedly intelligent heroines who have climbed the corporate ladder and have professional jobs but who behave *repeatedly* like nitwits – that makes a book a wall-banger for me.

]]> By: Edie Ramer http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15972 Edie Ramer Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:01:28 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15972 I have a hard time reading if I don't like the hero or heroine. Even if she's bitchy, she can still do something heroic or be generous. Anything to make her heroine material. I have a hard time reading if I don’t like the hero or heroine. Even if she’s bitchy, she can still do something heroic or be generous. Anything to make her heroine material.

]]> By: Roslyn http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15971 Roslyn Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:13:16 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15971 I don't necessarily have to relate to her, or even like her, but she has to be interesting. One author always writes these amazing alpha males who go out and conquer the world and she pairs them with these insipid, clingy little things. I always find myself thinking that's a set up for domestic violence. The heroine also can't be annoying. One book I recently wallbanged because by the third chapter I was literally ready to rip her throat out. I think some people get confused and think flawed and obnoxious are the same thing. It didn't help that the book was written in first person. First person DOES NOT WORK with this type of heroine. I don’t necessarily have to relate to her, or even like her, but she has to be interesting. One author always writes these amazing alpha males who go out and conquer the world and she pairs them with these insipid, clingy little things. I always find myself thinking that’s a set up for domestic violence.

The heroine also can’t be annoying. One book I recently wallbanged because by the third chapter I was literally ready to rip her throat out. I think some people get confused and think flawed and obnoxious are the same thing. It didn’t help that the book was written in first person. First person DOES NOT WORK with this type of heroine.

]]> By: Barbara B. http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15970 Barbara B. Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:27:22 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15970 Thanks for all the explanations about relating to characters. No, I don't have to relate to the characters to enjoy the story. I just have to be interested in them and as Robin said, understand them. I also like the example Robin gave of subjective and objective readers. I'm definitely an objective reader. I've loved some characters but I've never identified with one. Thanks for all the explanations about relating to characters. No, I don’t have to relate to the characters to enjoy the story. I just have to be interested in them and as Robin said, understand them. I also like the example Robin gave of subjective and objective readers. I’m definitely an objective reader. I’ve loved some characters but I’ve never identified with one.

]]> By: Mary http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15969 Mary Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:48:32 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15969 I don't have to like a heroine to enjoy a book, but I do have to understand where she is coming from. If there isn't sufficient information to explain why she is the way she is, then I won't enjoy the story. As for the question of what it means to relate to a character - I think it is a matter of believing the character is acting in a realistic manner given his/her personality and experiences. If a heroine is TSTL, I can't relate to her as I'm thinking no real person would ever make such ridiculous choices. If a heroine makes decisions that I feel a real person might make (even if it wouldn't be the decision I personally would make) then she is someone I feel I can relate to. I don’t have to like a heroine to enjoy a book, but I do have to understand where she is coming from. If there isn’t sufficient information to explain why she is the way she is, then I won’t enjoy the story.

As for the question of what it means to relate to a character – I think it is a matter of believing the character is acting in a realistic manner given his/her personality and experiences. If a heroine is TSTL, I can’t relate to her as I’m thinking no real person would ever make such ridiculous choices. If a heroine makes decisions that I feel a real person might make (even if it wouldn’t be the decision I personally would make) then she is someone I feel I can relate to.

]]> By: Kimber An http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/comment-page-1/#comment-15968 Kimber An Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:40:19 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/03/21/falling-out-of-like/#comment-15968 :smile:No kidding. My husband calls me 'Brat' and he really does mean it affectionately!:lol: :smile: No kidding. My husband calls me ‘Brat’ and he really does mean it affectionately!:lol:

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