Comments on: Do you ever read just to people watch?

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 09:42:48 +0000

In reply to readerwitch. There's plenty about...

By: nsfordwriter

nsfordwriter — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 20:30:04 +0000

In reply to readerwitch. I think it's really the screen adaptations and derivations of CB's work which seem romantic but the books themselves aren't really.

By: readerwitch

readerwitch — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:29:33 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth. Thanks for letting me know! I like good plots also, of course. I wonder if a good plot is even possible without fully developed characters? I can't think of any story right now that would have a good, logical, fulfilling storyline but "cardboard" characters in it.

By: readerwitch

readerwitch — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:19:59 +0000

In reply to Simon. It's sometimes even more fun. :) and definitely safer if we are talking about some villains or just very disturbed/disturbing personalities.

By: readerwitch

readerwitch — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:14:32 +0000

In reply to Bart Casey. Hi Bart! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Ulysses has been on my list for a while now but the truth is I've never read more than a few pages. This last section you mentioned sounds like something I heard about before and really wanted to try but couldn't remember what book it was from. Thank you! I'll have a look at your book too, although I don't know at them moment when exactly.

By: readerwitch

readerwitch — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:10:18 +0000

In reply to nsfordwriter. Hi there! :) Indeed it has been a while. Thank you! I looked the book up, I think I'll try it. I had a feeling Charlotte Bronte might be too romantic for me, but it's my perception from a long time ago so maybe it has changed.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 21:33:28 +0000

I know what you mean, people are fascinating creatures and reading about them in literature can be as fun as in real life.

By: nsfordwriter

nsfordwriter — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 20:19:16 +0000

Hi again 🙂 it’s been a while.
Great post – I like to have believable characters too and I agree du Maurier is good at that. If you want to read a classic I always recommend Villette by Charlotte Bronte to everyone. The characters in that are so distinctive and interesting.

By: Bart Casey

Bart Casey — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 13:02:16 +0000

Thanks for your post about “real” characters. I recently re-read Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and felt remarkably inside the lead character’s head. I think Woolf was writing stream of consciousness in reaction to Ulysses by Joyce, to do it her own way, but I must also say everyone should read the last section of Ulysses where we are literally inside the head of Molly, without punctuation. Yes, yes, yes. I recently tried writing fiction with a book called The Vavasour Macbeth. I tried to make my characters real, but think I fell short in places. If you get a chance to read that, I would appreciate any comments and suggestions for improvement of possible sequels.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 12:29:39 +0000

A thing about Mary Beth Keane is that her stories are just as you described in your post. While her characters are (mostly) flawed in some unmistakably real way, they are so human in nature that one can see past the fact that her stories lack a linear plot (if any plot). Her stories are about the characters, their interactions…their often careful and diligent relationships. So far I have read ASK AGAIN, YES and FEVER, the latter being my favorite of the two. While I tend to gravitate more towards a plot with my deeply developed characters, I’ve decided she is not an author for me; but, I have no trouble recommending her to others as her writing is exquisite and her characters of physical flesh. If you haven’t given her a chance, maybe you should, and I would be interested to know how you felt.