Sometimes I feel like the only person I know who finds reading history fascinating. It’s so full of amazing-yet-true stories of people driven to the edge and how they reacted to it. I keep telling friends that a good history book (as opposed to some of those textbooks in school that are all lists and dates) does everything a good novel does–it grips you with real characters doing amazing things.
Am I REALLY the only person who feels this way? When is the last time you read a history book? Historical biography? You know, something that took place in the past but was REAL
My answer:
Ironically I commented on a blogging buddy’s post yesterday regarding her love of this genre and how much I respected her.  I, for one do not enjoy reading books of this period.  The dialogue is hard for me to understand and it reminds me of when I was in school and it was mandatory reading.  Maybe someday when I get caught up…lol…with my tbr bookcase….I just might try reading one from that era again and I know exactly who I will go to for advice.  And that will be Bev from My Reader’s Block 

Sometimes I feel like the only person I know who finds reading history fascinating. It’s so full of amazing-yet-true stories of people driven to the edge and how they reacted to it. I keep telling friends that a good history book (as opposed to some of those textbooks in school that are all lists and dates) does everything a good novel does–it grips you with real characters doing amazing things.
Am I REALLY the only person who feels this way? When is the last time you read a history book? Historical biography? You know, something that took place in the past but was REAL
My answer:
Ironically I commented on a blogging buddy’s post yesterday regarding her love of this genre and how much I respected her.  I, for one do not enjoy reading books of this period.  The dialogue is hard for me to understand and it reminds me of when I was in school and it was mandatory reading.  Maybe someday when I get caught up…lol…with my tbr bookcase….I just might try reading one from that era again and I know exactly who I will go to for advice.  And that will be Bev from My Reader’s Block 

My Answer:
I would say both, however, the characters have to be life like and believable first and foremost no matter what the plot is.  Especially if it is a story line of relationship dynamics.  But then if a book does have the elements of characters that one can relate to, but the plot  goes nowhere, what good are these life like characters.  I have read a couple of these books recently and even though I understood what the author was trying to convey with their characters, the books’ plot was flat and I struggled through them.  So I think they have to be of equal proportion. 

What about you?  What do you think?  Characters or plots?

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”

My Answer:
I would say both, however, the characters have to be life like and believable first and foremost no matter what the plot is.  Especially if it is a story line of relationship dynamics.  But then if a book does have the elements of characters that one can relate to, but the plot  goes nowhere, what good are these life like characters.  I have read a couple of these books recently and even though I understood what the author was trying to convey with their characters, the books’ plot was flat and I struggled through them.  So I think they have to be of equal proportion. 

What about you?  What do you think?  Characters or plots?

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”