Thursday, December 16, 2010

End of the Semester Hop

I just finished my last class of the semester and I can't think of a better way to celebrate then a book blog hop
Book Blogger Hop
I haven't been around lately, but since I have 6 weeks of before spring semester starts I promise to dedicate myself to being a better blogger, and of course reading more. 

This weeks hop question is a good one!
What do you consider more important in a story: the plot or the characters. 

I've been thinking a lot about this in 2010. Obviously, the ideal is to have both. However I can live without a good plot. For me characters are really important. I can read through some pretty contrived and boring things if the characters are interesting, and at least one of them is likable and or relate-able. For instance, I hated The Heights. The story itself wasn't very original, but it had it's decent points, however the characters were just intolerable. I've been having the same problem with Lolita for months. Not a bad story, but not a likable character in the bunch!  
I just finished Stardust, and I really enjoyed it, however the more I think about it the more I wish there was more to the plot. I liked the main characters and thought they were interesting, so I liked the book. This has really been a trend this year. I like the characters and I like the book (more or less).


I'm heading back home this weekend, so between the train ride and just general free time I'll be reading a lot, and posting more frequently!

Happy Holidays!


8 comments:

BLHmistress said...

HI new follower here , I am torn with this question as I make my rounds I think I have changed my answer a million times but the majority have been characters- love normal /sarcastic types. Happy Holidays.

My Follow Friday/Book Blogger Hop

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Hopping by and following through. Enjoy your semester break!

Shelleyrae
www.bookdout.wordpress.com

Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com said...

It's funny about unlikable characters. Sometimes they are the focus of the book. My old book club read The Witches of Eastwick. We all agreed that the characters were almost entirely unlikable. But it is a "big book," in the literary fiction sense. Sometimes I think "Literary Fiction" means boring book that only stuffy people get. Or, I could just be that shallow.
Old foll. (not fool although that is also up for debate!)
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
Twitter: @fangswandsfairy

Howard Sherman said...

This might be the best Book Blogger Hop question I've seen to date.

So what's the answer? Plot! Hop over to my blog and let me tell you how a good plot rescued bad characters from bad book oblivion.

Howard Sherman
http://www.howardsherman.net

pussreboots said...

I'm also on break between semesters! I prefer characters over plot. But both are important. Happy Blog Hop.

Anonymous said...

I agree with choosing character over plot. I think there is something very important about being able to relate to the characters in a book. Here's my answer.

Barb said...

Hi There!
I'm a new follower on the Friday Follows and blog hop. I agree with choosing character over plot. I can't seem to get by wishy-washy or inconsistent characters to see any other redeeeming quality to a book. Drop by my blog and say hi!

Elizabeth said...

Great answer...lots of good answers at all the blogs.

Hopping by from the blog hop.

Stop by my blog to see my answer to this week's question.

Also check out a design site I found...pretty neat home decorating ideas...it is in the right side panel on my blog.


http://silversolara.blogspot.com

Happy Holidays!!