TM: An extrovert trying to write an introvert character.

[Dazerla]

Okay one of the problems I've had with this book is that Q, at least from my perspective, is one of the most unbelievable characters that I've ever read. I don't dislike the book because of it's realism, but because to me the characters in the book are unbelievable.

However I just finished reading

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

And realized one of my big problems with Q he's portrayed as an intervert but doesn't display any of the characters of one. I think this is because Lev Grossman assumes that those who are on the fringes are not there because they want to be but because of some other force I their lives. And therefore makes some erroneous assumptions when writing Q. Who is described initially as the typical bookish type, in other words somewhere on the intervert scale.

1. Those who spend a lot of time in their heads are not happy. I know that a lot of people who are on the exterverted scale assume this but it's not true. A lot of intervert are, according to Quiet, more sensitive to stimulation and therefore prefer the company of small groups to large ones, a good book to a party and so on. The fact that Q and his friends, particularly Alice, prefer isolation *doesnot* make them depressed just a different personality type.

2. The second is Q's inability to self refer. It should be pretty obvious that anyone who prefers their own thoughts and the company of a small bunch of close friends would necassarily need to have some level of ability to self-referal. Yet Q has none nor do any of his friends, except Alice later into the book. In fact, they appear to need some kind of stimulation to enjoy life, this is actually an indication of someone being on the exterverted scale not the intervert one.

3. Q is unable to learn from his mistakes. Interverts according to Quiet tend to be more risk averse than extervets. This isn't to say we can't make some spectacularly bad ones, but when we do, and Q did, we tend to take a step back look at what we did and figure out how not to do it again. Yet Q doesn't do this. He streams right ahead, to the new situation. Again, this is more of an extroverted trait than an interverted trait.

What do I think my main problem with the Magicians actually was? Q wasn't presented consistently. And that to me and probably a number of other people made him unbelievable.


Opinions? Am I way off on this or on to something?

[Ainsley]

It never occurred to me when reading this book that Q was an introvert. While Q's unhappiness and his lack of a sense of belonging, may have kept him from relating well to those around him, he did seek people out, he wanted a friendship with Elliot, he wanted his advanced study group to work together etc.. I dunno know.. he seemed like an extrovert to me.

Did the author really intend for him to be an introvert?

[Dazerla]

Cenadra wrote: "It never occurred to me when reading this book that Q was an introvert. While Q's unhappiness and his lack of a sense of belonging, may have kept him from relating well to those around him, he did..."

I'm not sure, not sure if th author even knows. It was just something that occurred to me, as perhaps an explaination of why Q felt so false to me.. He's described as someone who is bookish doesn't carve outward attention too much. And then it's like he switches types.

As for wanting friendships, of course he did, Interverts don't not want friendships. We're not anti-social we simply prefer it on a more one on one situation and not in large groups. Again we're sensitive to stimulation not just people.

I could be wrong but I thought I would suggest perhaps a reason Q has been coming off to some of this group as false. He seems to be coming from both directions at the same time. And that is quite jarring in a character.

Again could be wrong just an idea.

[Esther]

There are many inconsistencies in the book and Quentin's character is just one of them.

[AndrewP]

You could be onto something. A couple of times the idea crossed my mind that Q was just a bipolar kid who needed to be on meds and grow up.

[Anne]

One of the problems here could be that the book is written from Q's point of view but it is still a third person narrative.

Maybe it would have been easier to be consistent if the book had been written in a first person view.

The reason I'm saying that is that it somehow feels easier to distance yourself from the main character if you can get away with not explaining everything. With a first person view there's a greater need to really explore what the person is thinking or what their motivations are. With third person when in doubt you can just ignore it.

(Of course you can ignore it either way, but it might be more obvious to the author themselves when they realize that a proper explanation for a character's motivation is needed.)

Not sure if that makes sense, it's more of a feeling I have.