Carrie Pruett wrote:
> All of the characters besides the Op
> are totally static and basically flat. They don't
change and only in a few
> instances does the progress of the story reveal
anything new about them.
> There's nothing wrong or bad about this, but it is
contrary to the
> expectations of most of today's readers.
And
> But it's a matter of taste. Plot and style can be
interesting but
> ultimately I very rarely give a rip about a book if
I don't care about the
> characters.
Admittedly I'm out of step in a world where politicians are
re-elected for their skill with 30 second photo-ops and major
corporations promote their brands while selling shoddy goods
manufactured by foreign, indentured labour, but I persist in
thinking it important to judge people based upon what they do
rather than what they have to say about themselves. I
understand it is unfashionable in most schools to teach the
relative merits of these two forms of expression, especially
in "literature" courses. That's why I enjoy crime fiction,
where I find more writers who appreciate that characters are
revealed through meaningful plots, rather than in long
expositions of inner turmoil. A good plot is the test of the
characters' points of view.
When it comes to a good read, I want it all- plot, style,
characterization and any extras the author is talented enough
to provide. As a writer I know that's a tall order, but when
people like Mosely, Grafton, MacDonald, Ellroy, occasionally
Leonard, Cain, Hayter, Thompson and so many others provide
it, why settle for less?
Kerry
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