Charlotte's comments

Charlotte's comments from the Goodreads Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors group.

Note: Charlotte is no longer a member of this group.

I will echo...well said, Gary! As a reader, if a lot of attention is being paid to something, a part of my brain is cataloging it as being somehow important to the story. If it turns out not to be important, than it is exactly what Gary said - clutter. Clutter can be frustrating to a reader.

To Marc, I would say that EVERY reader visualizes the characters from the author's descriptions. That is part of the magic of reading...being able to visualize what is happening; to "be" there. Of course, if you're wondering how many people actually visualize the characters the same way as the author does, then I would say that different people visualize things differently, and differences of opinion may arise. But I don't think that matters.

As a reader (but not a writer) of fantasy books, I appreciate details that are pertinent to the story; I don't appreciate details that are nothing more than filler. Occasionally I will read something that is described in detail, then the story moves on, and I am left thinking, "What did that have to do with anything?" I don't think the reader necessarily needs to "see" everything the characters see; only what helps to move the story along or is somehow important.

I also appreciate details that make me feel like I am there, experiencing things right along with the characters, rather than feeling like I am reading about what the characters are experiencing.

I knew that Robert Jordan was dead, because I knew that Brandon Sanderson, one of my favorite new sci-fi/fantasy authors, has been asked to finish the 12th book in the Wheel of Time series.

My first favorites in this genre were Asimov's Foundation series and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. My newest favorite is Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, and I am anxiously awaiting the publication of the third book, due out this fall!