I've been thinking a lot about my characters lately. Specifically, whether or not my characters come to life on the page; whether they are real. If you've ever read a book by Christopher Moore, you'll get a fine example of characters who are multi-dimensional and very real. (I highly recommend the A LOVE STORY series...hilarious!) So in thinking about my characters, I realized that there is something that really, really bugs me about a lot of the YA books I read.
I have no problem believing that a character has just sprouted wings and is flying across the sky, or that a character has used his or her mental powers to read minds, but the moment a teenager in a book makes a hot chai latte or prepares a quiche, I'm all, "nu-huh."
It takes me completely out of the story, and leaves me sort of rolling my eyes. It's not that I don't think any teenager has ever made a quiche before, or spent all day preparing a delicious lasagna dish, but most teenagers (and myself) would pop some pizza rolls in the microwave and grab a coke, right?
This bothers me so much that when it happens in an otherwise fabulous book, I will obsess over it slightly and when talking about the book, will never fail to mention it. I'm sure there are things in my book that had readers rolling their eyes as well, which is one of the reasons I've really been trying to work on making my characters as realistic as possible; staying true to each character.
Another thing that really bugs me...insta-love. I cannot believe that two people are in love unless I am falling in love with them during the story. If they meet one day and are making wedding plans the next, I'm just not buying it.
It made me really curious, though - what are your pet peeves in a book? What really irritates you and has the potential to ruin a book for you? Leave me some comments and let's discuss!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Book Giveaway: Fifty Shades of Grey
It's been way too long since I've written a post - no excuse for that! So, to make it up to you, I've decided to do a book giveaway! One person will have the chance to win a paperback copy of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY - and the entry is super easy. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what book you're reading right now and what you think of it!
The winner will be chosen at random May 27, 2012 at 8pm. I'm gonna have to ask that you are 18 or older to enter, simply because I don't want my younger readers' moms and dads to gather at my house with various weapons ready to beat me! ;) But we'll do another giveaway soon for everyone. Thanks!! Here's the Goodreads description of the book:
When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.
The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.
Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?
Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.
Pretty cool, right! Enter now. ;) Make sure you leave an email address so I can contact the winner! :)
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