Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Booking Through Thursday--Tell Me a Story!


If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?

Or, um, is it just me?


No, it's not "just you"! Although I often describe myself as a character-driven reader, those characters in the books I read certainly wouldn't be worth much if nothing ever happened to them, would they? I have to admit that one reason why I've never seen the movie My Dinner With Andre is that I heard it was about two men having dinner in a restaurant and doing nothing but talking. To this day it doesn't sound like a film I want to waste my time on. Why? Because it sounds as if nothing ever happens to them! Characters, to me, are the most important part of a book, but they need something to strive for, something to escape, something to make them grow and develop and seem real. If there's no plot...no story...no what happens next...then even the most exquisitely drawn characters in the world may as well sit in a restaurant and stare at each other across the table.


17 comments:

  1. We agree. I wonder if this prompt will bring any opposing opinions.

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  2. I hope so. How boring it would be with no dissenters! LOL

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  3. My Coffee with Niles" was the 24th and final episode from the first season of American sitcom Frasier. It is purely set in a single location, the Café Nervosa coffee bar and based on the film you mention and was very funny. Actually the film sounds interesting and eavesdropping is fun when you are out( or is that just me?) But agree wouldn't work in a book

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  4. I agree with you! Characters need things to happen to them, but they have to be interesting enough to make us care...

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  5. I don't know that there is anyone out there who'll say "Oh no, stories don't matter." But then again, someone buy text books and non-fiction, and that's not really "story-driven" writing. :-)

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  6. You said what I wanted to say in a very concise and accurate paragraph! My sentiments exactly!

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  7. All I can say is I like stream of consciousness stuff too!

    :D


    Booking through stories

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  8. I love a good story, but "what happens next" is rarely my reason for reading. When it comes down to it, I want it all to be good, and I'm not willing to sacrifice plot for characters, or vice-versa.

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  9. Disserter in the house!!!!

    I personally could care less what happens next in a novel without character developement, thematic references, and good descriptions. Those sort of books get a W rating on my blog. It stands for Waste of paper and ink. Come check out my post.

    Enough dissention for you? LOL!

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  10. I'm too much of a fence walker to disagree...so I'm with you. The story has to be the hook, but I love the characters too.

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  11. I agree about the characters too. If the characters are bland it almost brings down the story.

    ~ Popin

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  12. Sorry. No dissent here. While interesting, deep, well-developed characters are extremely important to me, the story has to be engaging or I won't care very much. When you start a new book or a new series, the characters are a blank slate to you anyway. Most of my favorite books don't even start off with a physical description of the main characters -- you have to suck me into the story long enough to care to find out who the characters are. In my favorite series, (the Amelia Peabody mystery series by Elizabeth Peters, aka Barbara Michaels) the story in the 14th book (of 18) did not engage me, and I found myself looking forward to finishing the book, rather than wishing it could go on forever, as I usually do. I've known these characters for over 20 years (more than 1/2 my life), but I didn't enjoy the storyline, so the book is pretty low on my list to recommend.

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  13. You have me curious about the movie. Feel this urge just to see it if anything happens I mean you think something got to happen or a really interesting conversation. So curious now.

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  14. John: Now that I think of it, I once had a meal in a restaurant with my best friend that would've made a good episode in a sit-com. But something had happened to me first in order for the entire meal to be hilarious!

    Koolaid: There are actually non-fiction writers out there who have the knack for characterization and plot while still staying absolutely true to the facts. Nathaniel Philbrick, Caroline Alexander and Joan Druett are three that immediately come to mind.

    rjsbooklady: "What happens next" is rarely my own reason for reading. I have to admit a keen interest in character and setting. But action or plot certainly adds an extra fillip of enjoyment.

    Bluestocking: I enjoy the dissension even though I agree with you whole-heartedly. I never read for plot. Characters come first followed by other elements. A good plot just adds some tasty spice.

    Bikerpup: Did you know that, for several years, Barbara Michaels wrote the most-stolen books in US public libraries? My mind is a sponge for trivia....

    Shannon: I know what you mean. Ever since I posted this last night it's been in the back of my mind to see if Netflix has the DVD!

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  15. I agree - I need to have interesting characters who have interesting lives with stories to tell to make a good book that keeps me turning pages.

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  16. I liked your answer. Interesting post.

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