I will whisper a couple tried-and-true patterns that American readers always seem to embrace. Let’s call these “Tropes for Dopes,” shall we? The first is that the classic American bestseller tends to depict three main characters. One character follows orders, is shy and agreeable, a general all-round good girl or boy. The second character is largely the opposite: a rebel who bullies and breaks the rules, always brashly hogging the spotlight. And the third is quiet, thoughtful, and acts as the narrator, relating the story to the reader. The passive character commits suicide in some way. The
...more
