The real world and how we relate to books.

[Jon]

I have just finished up the Nine rules trilogy and noticed something strange, I had no idea what Ralston actually looked like.
I could tell you what he sounds like or the smells I associate with him, but I have no mental image of him.
Before my eyesight started to fail I remember reading a book and having a crystal clear mental image of the characters.
It got me to thinking, how much of our perception of the real world, is reflected in how we consume books?
Is it ever possible to "escape" into a fantasy if, even subconsciously, we're bringing the day to day with us?

[Eva]

I'm not sure... While I typically imagine each character as themselves, and only "cast" with real world people after I've finished if the situation is presented (such as the thread in these forums, or I hear the book will be turned into a movie). With Ralston I actually imagined him very similar to how I imagine Barrons from Karen Marie Moning's Darkfever series. Maybe because they remind me of a similar sort, or perhaps I just read their descriptions poorly. I'm not sure. Even then, if pressed for a real world version of them, I'd look towards Popeye's Bluto (only, you know, hot and not quite as much a creeper).

Listening to audio books is harder, possibly because I don't do it all that often and it takes some getting into, but I still do.

Strictly speaking, the real world has to be of some influence. If I said I read Jaqueline Carey and didn't imagine La Serenissima as Venice I'd be a liar. Because I've been there and I know that's the place she's invoking. I can't divorce myself completely, but if I did, it would be a pity because the author isn't expecting me to. Anybody who creates a fantasy world overlaying a map of the real world doesn't expect that. Or they're really, really lazy map makers.

That said, for characters, I never, ever think "Oh man, a brunette with a quirky smile! That's just like that girl who works down at Starbucks!" When I'm in a book, I'm there. I've "escaped" (though I prefer the term "visit" since escape makes it sound so... anti-real world). I don't worry about the dogs, I don't think about dinner, and I don't wonder if I'm mis-remembering Venice's filthy water. I just am, and it's wonderful.

Not having the same experience as you, though, I couldn't tell you if that would change me. But I always see faces, and builds, which is more than I can say of dreams.

My two cents. ^_^

[Justine]

it depends on the writing style. some of it makes my imagination work more than others. And well described smell is a powerful tool, because it directly connects to our memories which we then mix with our imagination.

For me, thou', I sometimes prefer to ignore some of the precepts of the author's fictional world. In case of Desperate Dutchesses: I would've very much liked Jemma to be a dark brunette. Looking almost like a Persian princess. That's how she'll show up in my head.