Hi, readers– Â Not along ago I was seated next to another woman fiction writer at a book-signing. Â Since no one was looking at our books (sigh) we had a lot of time to talk. Â This woman writes happy-ending books with delightful, admirable characters. Â I write books with more ambiguous endings and complicated characters who may behave badly. I’ve heard the complaint that my characters are “too real.”
The more we talked, the more I realized that the writer next to me had a rough life with many problems and disappointments. Â I began to admire her for making (writing) a fantasy world that she could enjoy more than her own. Â In contrast, I have a good and easy life. Â If you look at the photos I’ve posted, they are almost nauseatingly happy. Â And that’s my real life! Â It’s not that my family and I Â haven’t had hard times–we have–but overall we are very, very lucky. Â How strange then I would concentrate in writing on my own characters’ problems and flaws. Â (My thought is: Â fiction would be boring without those things.)
Which leads me to the question: Â why do you read? Â To be entertained and/or comforted, or to be challenged emotionally or mentally? Â My favorite books are challenging ones, I’ve realized, but many of my favorite movies are comforting. Â Of course it’s a silly question, in a way–a work can be both entertaining and thought-provoking–but it does point, I think, Â at something real. Â Have there been times in your life you’ve only wanted to be exposed to something “light”? Â (I’ve felt like that.)
Thanks for reading, and I’m eager to hear any comments. Â Marti
0 COMMENTS
Margo J
14 years ago“why do you read? To be entertained and/or comforted, or to be challenged emotionally or mentally?”
At this point in my life, I read to be entertained/comforted. As a grad student, all I seem to do is challenge myself mentally all day, and when I want to relax it is to escape. Maybe if I had a job that wasn’t as stressful (although I don’t know what that would be!) I might read to be challenged.
Brenda
14 years agoHi Marti,
When I was 10 years old, I discovered books. I was shy and books were my world. I’m now adicted. I read to escape. I can’t tell you if your book has strong character development or great story lines. I just want to be entertained. Brenda