Wednesday, August 19, 2009

What happened to the character... and other stuff

I just read a book where the three main characters disappear half way through the novel and you get thrown into the life of a character that had only briefly been mentioned up to that point. I have to say I skimmed the rest of the novel because I did not care about that character. I wanted to know more about the three characters I had grown to like and have an emotional attachment to. The book ended without you ever knowing anything about the beginning characters.

Now I realize you don't have to tidy things up in a nice bow at the end of the novel, but I felt a little betrayed by the author. This book is considered literary fiction, but even literary fiction needs to have a beginning, middle and end. Or am I crazy.

Sorry that was my rant for the day.

Now on to something positive. Brit over at Dream the Dream (love that blog title by the way), nominated me for a Kreative Blogger Award.

Thanks so much. I just got back from holidays so my mind is fried. I'll try to nominate 7 other bloggers on another post.

As for the 7 interesting facts about me:

1. I started playing soccer when I was 30.
2. One summer I climbed 5 mountains in one month.
3. I signed up to run 5 miles in November and am now regretting it.
4. I could eat toast with peanut butter and honey at every meal.
5. I had never broken a bone in my life, until I broke my wrist this summer, playing soccer.
6. I'm afraid of water and heights.
7. I prefer Macs

12 comments:

Brit said...

That's irritating, to just have the three main characters disappear like that. I've heard of trick beginnings, where you think the book will be about one character and then you realize (in the beginning) that it is really going to be about another character.

In my WIP, I began with two characters, they met up with another character and then I left with the third character. He was so much more interesting, I ended up axing the first two and just worked with my third. He's now my protag.

I hate you feel betrayed.

Thanks.

Susan R. Mills said...

Congrats on your award! I am also afraid of heights and water.

Patti said...

Brit: It's funny how characters speak to you. In my current WIP, this family was only going to be barely mentioned but I see them so vividly I'm making their part bigger.

Susan: It sucks to not be so comfortable around water when your husband loves kayaking.

Anonymous said...

I was eating lunch outside yesterday and a bunch of guys started up a pick-up game of soccer. I was so close to asking if I could play.

Two things stopped me. #1, I had only sandals. #2 it was nearly 90 degrees outside and I had to return to class in an hour, not time for a shower. *sigh*

Jessie Oliveros said...

Well, literary fiction or not, it doesn't give a license to confuse. So, I agree. No disappearing characters should be allowed, especially ones you love. I get mad at books sometimes, too. I feel kind of like I do after watching a bad movie-what a waste of part of my life. Only, with you book you have already invested so much more time than a movie.

And peanut butter and honey toast? Sounds like something my son would like. Of course I like fruit snacks and mac and cheese.

Patti said...

Paul: You should bring your runners next time, but on the other hand playing soccer in 90 degrees would be horrific. Usually up here in Canada were worried about playing in too cold of weather that's why we go indoors starting in October.

Jessie: It was a totally bizarre book but an author that is well respected and has written other books that I've loved. I was baffled. I thought I'd missed something. Fruit snacks are awesome. I'm glad my kids still like them.

Heidi Willis said...

That totally stinks about the book. What a rip-off!

One of the things that struck me most that Dave said in his interview was that every time a reader reads a name in a book, his mind automatically stops to wonder if he needs to remember it.

It's at that point, when you give someone a name in a book, you give them power and license to the reader to form an emotional connection.

How do books like that get published, I wonder.

congrats on the award, btw. I am so glad I found this blog!

JKB said...

That is really frustrating. I read another writer that perhaps read this same book? Her rant wasn't as ... without cusswords. :-)

Toast with honey and peanut butter. OMG that sounds lovely!

Patti said...

Heidi: I read that in Dave's interview and thought that was particularly interesting. The author of the book is really well respected so it kind of surprised me.

JKB: I was trying to keep it PG. I absolutely love peanut butter, in fact I could give up chocolate before peanut butter.

Dara said...

That's one of those books that would earn a toss across the room.

Anyway, you and I share a fear of water. I am also terrified of the water and people don't understand why I don't like swimming :P

Patti said...

Dara: I'm okay as long as I can touch.

Anonymous said...

hmmm. makes you wonder, doesnèt it?