As good a writer as Megan is, she may be an even better interviewer. I've read several she's conducted and she has a way of cutting through to the good stuff in a limited amount of time.
One quibble, and it may be semantic. All three talk about unlikable characters, and how some people say they won't read a book with no one to like. Is it really that people have to like the character, or empathize with him or her? Using Tony Soprano as an example, by my third time through the series I had no delusion about liking Tony; he's a sociopathic bastard, and a whiner to boot. Still, I found myself feeling empathy for him at times. ("He's going to have to kill Richie for this." "Big Pussy has to go.")
I think empathy is much important to the reader-character relationship than likability.
Good point, Dana. Despite Walt White being the biggest badass in the world, the writers make us see how it evolved so we feel some empathy for him from time to time.
From THE RUMPUSLisa Lutz, Kelly Braffet and Megan Abbott
Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteAs good a writer as Megan is, she may be an even better interviewer. I've read several she's conducted and she has a way of cutting through to the good stuff in a limited amount of time.
ReplyDeleteOne quibble, and it may be semantic. All three talk about unlikable characters, and how some people say they won't read a book with no one to like. Is it really that people have to like the character, or empathize with him or her? Using Tony Soprano as an example, by my third time through the series I had no delusion about liking Tony; he's a sociopathic bastard, and a whiner to boot. Still, I found myself feeling empathy for him at times. ("He's going to have to kill Richie for this." "Big Pussy has to go.")
I think empathy is much important to the reader-character relationship than likability.
Good point, Dana. Despite Walt White being the biggest badass in the world, the writers make us see how it evolved so we feel some empathy for him from time to time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this one, Patti.
ReplyDelete