Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "understanding-characters"
What Makes a Book Special for You?
It’s always good to start with a leading question, isn’t it?
Okay then, maybe starting with two of them is then!
Seriously, what does make a book special for you?
For me, it is always about the characters. I have to want to know them and come to love or loathe them as the case may be but they’ve got to intrigue me enough to make me want to read their stories.
I’ve got to understand their needs and motivations, though I don’t necessarily have to like or agree with them.
And if at the end of the story, I feel sorry that I am “leaving” the characters behind, that is a good sign.
Those characters really have got to me - the way they should do.
The characters don’t have to be human. I can understand the rabbits in Watership Down. Their needs, their quest is an understandable one.
But there absolutely has to be something I can latch on to about whoever leads the story. It is their journey I’m following after all.
Okay then, maybe starting with two of them is then!
Seriously, what does make a book special for you?
For me, it is always about the characters. I have to want to know them and come to love or loathe them as the case may be but they’ve got to intrigue me enough to make me want to read their stories.
I’ve got to understand their needs and motivations, though I don’t necessarily have to like or agree with them.
And if at the end of the story, I feel sorry that I am “leaving” the characters behind, that is a good sign.
Those characters really have got to me - the way they should do.
The characters don’t have to be human. I can understand the rabbits in Watership Down. Their needs, their quest is an understandable one.
But there absolutely has to be something I can latch on to about whoever leads the story. It is their journey I’m following after all.
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.
