Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "recalling-favourite-characters"
Rooting For Characters
A successful work of fiction has me rooting for its characters throughout the book. I have got to care about what happens to them or be eager to see some deserving character get their long overdue comeuppance. Either works!
So to root for characters then I have to be able to get behind them and to understand at least something of what makes them tick. I don’t have to agree with all they do or say but I must be able to see why they are the way they are.
Be honest now. When someone asks you about your favourite books, you will recall the author (most of the time anyway), the title (most of the time), but, most importantly of it all, it will be the characters which linger longest in the mind.
Just say Pride and Prejudice to me and I immediately think of Elizabeth Bennet. (Okay I may have certain images of a certain actor emerging from the lake thanks to a BBC adaptation but I know I’m not alone in that one!).
The best characters in any books are the ones we understand. Sometimes they’re the characters we would like to be. After all Sam Gamgee is honourable and brave and so, so loyal in The Lord of the Rings, all excellent qualities to aspire to, yes?
I honestly feel characters make or break a story.
So to root for characters then I have to be able to get behind them and to understand at least something of what makes them tick. I don’t have to agree with all they do or say but I must be able to see why they are the way they are.
Be honest now. When someone asks you about your favourite books, you will recall the author (most of the time anyway), the title (most of the time), but, most importantly of it all, it will be the characters which linger longest in the mind.
Just say Pride and Prejudice to me and I immediately think of Elizabeth Bennet. (Okay I may have certain images of a certain actor emerging from the lake thanks to a BBC adaptation but I know I’m not alone in that one!).
The best characters in any books are the ones we understand. Sometimes they’re the characters we would like to be. After all Sam Gamgee is honourable and brave and so, so loyal in The Lord of the Rings, all excellent qualities to aspire to, yes?
I honestly feel characters make or break a story.
