LJ Idol Week 8: My True North

[i_love_freddie]

When I pick up a good book, I enjoy reading about characters who are real. Characters that I can relate to on something of a personal level. In the end, there is good and bad in all of us; we can all be selfish, unkind, unfair, jealous or cruel, and equally we can all be kind, compassionate, fair, generous

Comments

[ragnarok_08]

This was so good!!

[adoptedwriter]

Interesting!

[chocolate_frapp]

I think some people can't tell the difference between an explanation and an excuse.

[karmasoup]

For me, whether or not I can take joy in any literary or film work is entirely dependent upon whether I find any redeeming qualities in the characters. Redeeming doesn't have to mean good, it just means there is at least something I can like about them, despite any or all of their other less worthwhile characteristics. If I can't get into the characters, I can't get into the story. Sometimes, I'll follow a storyline that has very few redeeming characters, but I'll follow it for the sake of one or two of them who are, as their actions and storylines are impacted by the others. Occasionally, I find myself letting go of a series once the last remaining redeeming characters are gone. I can appreciate character drive work - I believe it's the only way stories can be compelling. Otherwise, they just fall flatly into trite platitudes whose purpose is not to make the patron think, but to simply stroke his ego. Good for you for coming at it from the best angle.

[trepkos]

All these characters sound fascinating!