I’ve been watching a BBC series on dvd almost every weekend. Mid-way through the series, one of the main characters died very tragically. I was angry! Could not believe it. After the anger passed, I felt like I was actually mourning the character.
I know, it’s a movie, not real, just a story. But somehow the family life of the series had become part of my emotions and I still miss this guy. He was an integral part of the story. An elderly man who was a bit of a crank and definitely eccentric. Yet still likable. I know I’ll have to get used to him being gone, but I’ll miss him : ) Obviously good writing.
So…how do we make our characters likable?
Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and thought about the characters long after?
Or actually mourned a character?
Cynthia,
I don’t want to give away too much, in case there are folks who haven’t read the series, but Terri Blackstock’s RESTORATION SERIES has a character die in the last book, and I mourned her death for a long time. It’s crazy!
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Comment by Larry W. Timm — May 5, 2013
Larry,
I loved that series! So I know what you mean…and yes, it’s crazy but I’ve done the same thing. Amazing what an effect we can have on people with our writing. I need to go back over books that have made the characters so real for me, figure it out and hope to someday make my own characters…live on!
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Comment by admin — May 5, 2013
Hi Cynthia,
While I haven’t read a book lately where a character died, I have mourned in a book from tragic happenings.
The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I had to force myself to put the book aside at 4am and sleep. At the black moment of that story I bawled my eyes out. Cried and cried. Even 2-3 chapters later I was still crying and thinking back to what happened. Such a good story. I could really identify with the young mum in that story, so the emotional connection was definitely there for me.
And just recently I read Kiss of Fire, and then the 2nd book, Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington. I mourned for what the hero gave up to love the heroine in that story. Really demonstrated true, sacrificial, healthy love to me. I sniffled my way through at least 3 chapters. The structure of the story lets me know that she will die, and how he reacts and so I cried for that, for their love and all that will be gained and lost. Such a good story. 🙂
Great post, thanks for sharing!
Lucy
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Comment by Lucy Morgan-Jones — May 5, 2013
Lucy,
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who cries through a whole book reading. I know there have been some stories where I’ve done the same thing, just wept. Those are the ones that never get “sorted away” when I’m trying to filter through my home library. I hold on to them because they had such a profound effect on me. I think we should always let the author know when a story is that powerful to us. I’m sure it would mean a lot to them, whatever their level of popularity. I don’t always remember to do this, but this discussion reminded me! Thanks for stopping by and sharing. And keep that tissue box handy for the next book : )
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Comment by admin — May 5, 2013