Story and Characters Should Be Memorable

I started reading a book from my public library and as I went along (page 5, page 6) I thought, This sounds familiar. I moved on through more pages alternating from interest in the story to confusion because it seemed to ring of another book I'd read. No It wasn't the same book. I began to think, Plagiarism? This is so blatantly like that other book!

Perplexed, I turned to the front matter to see if I could sort out the conundrum. The thing was, neither the author's name nor the character names rang a bell, nor did the location--only pieces of the back story -- a terrible crash into a canal where the wife doesn't get saved until hours after the husband (in shock and with a broken collar bone) has been rescued. She is still in a coma a few years later.

Then I find the connection in fine print on one of the front pages that was still attached to the next page (sign of a new book). The character was the same as in the author's first book.

Ah, yes! I thought, glad to have the connection.

But...

I can't recall a thing about the first book except for the car crash. I don't remember the story line, or any resolution. I have vague memory of the protagonist in his wife's hospital room, but wouldn't have been able to name his profession if I hadn't picked up this second book.

Although this is probably a fluke on my part -- not being focused when I read the first book, or lacking interest in the story (so many readers--not everyone will like the same thing) --but it points out how important it is to develop fiction that is compelling through both the story and the character.

Author and Writer's Digest columnist Nancy Kress, in her book Characters, Emotions & Viewpoint states "Characters are the common denominator in fiction…without believable and interesting characters, you don't really have fiction at all…Character is the key." She points out how both plot and story depend on character.

So what does that say about this book I couldn't remember? Hmm.