Why does everyone say character growth is so important?

[Michelle]

Julia wrote: "To be fair, Michelle, it was a book I didn't finish. So there may have been growth and change that I didn't stick around for. For one, that book went back and forth in time, so many times.

I did c..."

I agree about the little girl and her Star War world. That was okay to me, but not captivating. Also, the flashbacks were confusing at first. I really started getting into the book about midway through. Once I got to the end, I couldn't put it down.

[Mayko]

I think character growth is important because if they remain stagnant then they run the risk of becoming predictable. Plus the writer gives him/her self the capability to present the reader with bigger and better challenges (storylines) for characters who are developing somehow.

[Mary]

There is the little question of how interesting a book is when it doesn't force a character to stretch.

And once the character must stretch, how can that not change him? Whether he develops a new skill or learns a new lesson, he will be changed.

[MadameZelda]

I really don't care if it's one book.
But if the characters continue in a series, yes, it's important.
It's like watching a crime show where the characters are the same and only the serial killers differ from episode to episode. Whereas something like Doctor Who or Dallas, you would like to see the character develop or you'd be bored to death with the series.

[Linda]

I feel character growth is pretty important, most especially in a series.

For example, I got totally bored and gave up on the Stephanie Plum series by book 9. There was a love triangle introduced. From reviews I read, it is no where near to getting resolved and has gotten painfully repetitive over time. I could only take so much of the same scenario over and over too much back and forth between the men, with the main character seeming to get worse and worse with each book. I find a character that keeps making the same blunders or does not learn or change to be boring after a while, even in lighter books like that series.

The flip side of that coin is, I don't like 180 degree, instant changes very enjoyable or plausible either. Then it feels like plot point, out of character jumping around.

[BR]

B.R. wrote: "This question made me think of Rachel Morgan in the Hollows series. I loved those books, but by the time I hit #7 or 8, I was so tired of Rachel being a dumbs*** that I haven't been motivated to pi..."

An update: Rachel does finally get a clue in the later books.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Yeah I don't like extended love triangles, those can be a major turn off

[MadameZelda]

Erin (Series Addict) wrote: "Yeah I don't like extended love triangles, those can be a major turn off"

Good to know!