You Like Me, Right Now, You Like Me
Remember Sally Fields's speech when she accepted her second Oscar? Somehow it got spoofed as "You like me, you REALLY like me," but the actual line is the title of this post. Poor Sally is remembered more for her speech than the role she won it for (Places in the Heart). But it's a useful leaping-off point for this entry nonetheless.
Nearly every writer has to struggle with just how much readers will like (or not) their main character. Pop on over to Amazon and read some reviews for fiction. It is amazing, particularly in women's fiction and romance, how many reviews will get downright negative because the person writing it will say, "I HATED the main character. She was such a horrible person!" And most of the time, I am sure that was not the author's intent.
Even Mafia Chic, which is, I swear to you, my most light-hearted book ever--few curse words, no sex, just sweet and funny (and optioned by Warner Brothers!)--offended one reader who thought Teddi (main character) was just a horrible person because she managed to look past her mob-family's criminality and still love her relatives. As someone who manages to look past a lot of flaws and love people anyway, I don't get the complaint, but there you go.
But make your books more complex, more morally gray, and you walk a line in the sand. Ava in The Roofer definitely does some morally questionable things. Can the reader respond to her anyway? Tom, in the same book, does some REALLY questionable things. He's an alcoholic--the kind to pee in his own bed, choke on his own vomit, throw up in the sink. He's not a "Hollywood alcoholic," a film's way of somehow portraying a drunk in a glamorized manner. But I adore Tom. Readers, however, are mixed.
Think of Hannibal. Or Patricia Highsmith's brilliant book, The Talented Mr. Ripley. There is an element of horror at these characters. But it's carefully balanced, I think, with enough wit and daring and brilliance . . . to at least have readers, if not root for the character, to keep reading. Not so vile as to stop and hurl the book across the room. They fascinate. And maybe we even like them. A little.
What of your wip? Will readers like your main character? Really like him? or her? Or are you walking some wobbly line?
Peace,
E
Nearly every writer has to struggle with just how much readers will like (or not) their main character. Pop on over to Amazon and read some reviews for fiction. It is amazing, particularly in women's fiction and romance, how many reviews will get downright negative because the person writing it will say, "I HATED the main character. She was such a horrible person!" And most of the time, I am sure that was not the author's intent.
Even Mafia Chic, which is, I swear to you, my most light-hearted book ever--few curse words, no sex, just sweet and funny (and optioned by Warner Brothers!)--offended one reader who thought Teddi (main character) was just a horrible person because she managed to look past her mob-family's criminality and still love her relatives. As someone who manages to look past a lot of flaws and love people anyway, I don't get the complaint, but there you go.
But make your books more complex, more morally gray, and you walk a line in the sand. Ava in The Roofer definitely does some morally questionable things. Can the reader respond to her anyway? Tom, in the same book, does some REALLY questionable things. He's an alcoholic--the kind to pee in his own bed, choke on his own vomit, throw up in the sink. He's not a "Hollywood alcoholic," a film's way of somehow portraying a drunk in a glamorized manner. But I adore Tom. Readers, however, are mixed.
Think of Hannibal. Or Patricia Highsmith's brilliant book, The Talented Mr. Ripley. There is an element of horror at these characters. But it's carefully balanced, I think, with enough wit and daring and brilliance . . . to at least have readers, if not root for the character, to keep reading. Not so vile as to stop and hurl the book across the room. They fascinate. And maybe we even like them. A little.
What of your wip? Will readers like your main character? Really like him? or her? Or are you walking some wobbly line?
Peace,
E
posted by Erica Orloff at 6:52 AM
12 Comments:
Loved Mr. Ripley!!!
I honestly can't recall a time when I've hurled a book due to morally gray behavior. I'm far more inclined to toss due to predictability and gagifying 'niceness'
Don't get the Teddi complaint either. The ability to love 'warts and all' is strength of character IMO. But I think I'm more interested in quirks than the average bear. Particularly the average romance reading bear, a lot of whom I find cling tightly to their rose colored glasses.
I was reading an interview with Loren D. Estleman a while back, and he says that main characters don't have to be likeable, but they DO have to be interesting.
I agree with that.
A character can be the epitome of dysfunction--not necessarily someone you'd want to be roomies with--yet still interesting and endearing enough to make readers want to turn the page.
One of my favorite books is "A Certain Age" by Tama Janowitz. The heroine is just horrible. Shallow, stupid, selfish, sleeps with her friend's husband, doesn't see beyond the latest in fashion. But there's just something about the overall BOOK that I love. Something about how totally self-absorbed this heroine is that makes us want to root for her. I can't point my finger on what exactly it is, but there you have it. OR, it could be that Janowitz just paints such a fab picture of NYC that made me ignore the horrible heroine.
lainey:
I agree. I am "thisclose" to stopping reading a book I bought outright in hardcover, dying to read it . . . and it just is leaving me cold. I like complex characters.
E
Jude:
I like that/will remember that. Interesting vs. necessarily liking them.
When I think of The Roofer, I would not want to be responsible for Tom--he's exhasting. BUT . . . I loved writing him and found him fragile and horrible at the same time.
E
karm:
I think there's some magic to being able to do that. I can think of a chick lit book in which the main character did something so shallow that I couldn't get past it. Period. I think it crossed from shallow to reprehensible in this case. So I do think there's a balance--and the BOOK, as you say, has to grab you as a whole.
E
Pop on over to Amazon and read some reviews for fiction. It is amazing, particularly in women's fiction and romance, how many reviews will get downright negative
I just found an old review on one of my books. It's titled "WORST BOOK EVER."
So there you go! All other writers may rest easy--the worst book ever has been identified. :)
Natalie:
LOL! I am sure not, because I think I might have one of those, too. ;-)
I don't mind bad reviews . . . it's when the reasons seem so emotional . . . but I suppose that's what makes the world go 'round.
E
Lainey wrote: I honestly can't recall a time when I've hurled a book due to morally gray behavior.
I'm morally gray so I love morally gray characters. I hate the insufferably self-righteous, both in books and in real life.
karm:
Amen.
E
I think that some people will think that Logan is cold and to a point they're right.
Hi L.A.:
There are a loof and cold heros and heroines . . . I think Jude is right. Making them interesting is probably the most important thing.
E
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