lies of locke lamora - inner dialog

[Tamahome]

I actually hate too much inner dialog in a book, since I have to deal with my own all day. Maybe he could have used the characters' actions and dialog to clue us in to their motivations more. But I haven't read it.

[[deleted user]]

I love inner dialog or stream of consciousness. It one of the possible things a novel can do well that other media can't. An author can have a chapter of a character going over option is his head, but other media like movies require external dialog or action.

It's a peeve I have with some modern writing. If the story needs to have a character thinking something and doing nothing, then that's the way it should be written--no action or dialog required.

[Tamahome]

Except thought bubbles in comics (and motion comics).

Now this I like, check out Spiderwoman motion comic #1: http://marvel.com/motion_comics/

Somehow I think a lot of inner dialog in a book kills the drama. I think of books as full sensorama indie films with one creator.

[Luke]

Have you seen the movie Zombieland? That has a kind of inner dialogue on screen as the protagonist approaches dangerous situations. It's really good fun.

[Tamahome]

I'll check out Zombieland when it's on a cable channel I have. Right now it seems Starz has the exclusive, ugh.

[[deleted user]]

For all that it matters, the cartoon version of Speed Racer had short one or two lines inner thoughts, but doesn't mean the technique is effective for sustained use in a visual medium. Contra to that, The Naked and the Dead has page after page of inner dialogues and I think they are the best parts of an other wise average novel.