tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post4746508154470682258..comments2023-04-12T06:15:02.968-04:00Comments on Fantasy Debut: Character Development NovelsTia Nevitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-50046536813715893892008-03-29T08:52:00.000-04:002008-03-29T08:52:00.000-04:00I read Anansi Boys, and because I enjoyed it so mu...I read Anansi Boys, and because I enjoyed it so much, then I read American Gods! I think American Gods went on a bit too long, but I still enjoyed it.<BR/>My sister also loves Clan of the Cave Bears and has suggested that I read it for years! <BR/>Maybe I'll get it from that cool place that allows you to check out books for free for 2 weeks :-)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866730185060307014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-58285028278509757612008-03-29T04:37:00.000-04:002008-03-29T04:37:00.000-04:00Hi Tia:I've read this post for the past three days...Hi Tia:<BR/><BR/>I've read this post for the past three days and didn't comment. Sorry about that. Thanks for mentioning Wind Follower.<BR/><BR/>Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys is a really good one to read, I hear. I too haven't read him but everyone thinks he's a genius so maybe I should pick it up.<BR/><BR/>Bildungsroman. Ah love the word. I think one of the best of these is supposedly Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain. I have yet to read it. I swear I have got to get back to reading fiction. Have turned into a non-fiction reader in the past years.<BR/><BR/>Have a great weekend. <BR/>-CCarole McDonnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15443401088634718848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-58688291307984358172008-03-28T16:29:00.000-04:002008-03-28T16:29:00.000-04:00A good reason why I loved [Sheepfarmers' Daughter]...<I>A good reason why I loved [Sheepfarmers' Daughter] might be that I am from a military background and I loved the Basic Training scenes.</I><BR/><BR/>That's because Elizabeth Moon is also from a military background - surprise! - she was a Marine. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Neil Gaiman - I've read 2 of his books so far. Well, I tried to get through American Gods, but I couldn't stand it. Some god wanting to bed down everything that comes his way and way too many product placements for me.<BR/><BR/>You might want to try Neverwhere. It's set in the London Underground (the Tubes), and it hooked me from the get-go.Nancy Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06214579721075450777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-52211005355015036912008-03-28T16:02:00.000-04:002008-03-28T16:02:00.000-04:00I hadn't read any until recently, either. Although...I hadn't read any until recently, either. Although American Gods is the one that won all the awards, I do prefer, Neverwhere. That's quite sweet, and funny. Stardust is brilliant, also. And written in a kind of old-fashioned Victorian style, that one.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps unusually for me, I tend to prefer his novels that are more like that. I hesitate to say it, but those works of his are more beautiful IMO.<BR/><BR/>With regards to your article on the sense of wonder, he's an author who always makes me wonder when I read his books. Characterisations are brilliant. Yep, Stardust would be my recommended starting place.Chris, The Book Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00063580097665443750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-8335837194311071902008-03-28T15:42:00.000-04:002008-03-28T15:42:00.000-04:00Neil Gaiman intrigues me because he's written so m...Neil Gaiman intrigues me because he's written so many different types of novels. I hesitate to say it, but I have not read any of his novels yet. I was kind of away from fantasy for a while, when my daughter was younger, and I only read books that my friends foisted onto me. Which is how I started reading mysteries.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I have yet to check out any of these newer authors that everyone has mentioned.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-86572660560608458492008-03-28T14:18:00.000-04:002008-03-28T14:18:00.000-04:00Yeah, you'll love Robin Hobb. She's still one of m...Yeah, you'll love Robin Hobb. She's still one of my favourites for character development over a long period of time.<BR/><BR/>By the way, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (a sort of homage to The Jungle Book, but with a human boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard), is one I think you'll like when it comes out.<BR/><BR/>Apart from the fact that Gaiman is brilliant, his main character, Bod ("Nobody") we see in chapter 1 at 18 months, and then each chapter is like a period of 8 months or so later. At chapter 4, we see Bod at 8 years old. In the final chapter he's 16.<BR/><BR/>I've just finished listening to Gaiman read chapter 4 (on you tube) and it is amazing. I won't feel the slightest bit ashamed of reading this children's book.<BR/><BR/>*End unnecessary pimpage!* ;)<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>~ChrisChris, The Book Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00063580097665443750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-15564723346936708372008-03-28T14:01:00.000-04:002008-03-28T14:01:00.000-04:00Katie, I loved it. I read it many times in my teen...Katie, I loved it. I read it many times in my teens and 20s, and I think I would still enjoy rereading it today. Hmm . . . I don't think I currently have a copy.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-41108374620231385172008-03-28T08:04:00.000-04:002008-03-28T08:04:00.000-04:00The book I'm revising now might be called a charac...The book I'm revising now might be called a character development novel. The other character that the book follows the relationship between isn't the antagonist, though. Anyway, an interesting post. I've never read Clan of the Cave Bear. It's been on my list, but now that I know more about it, I'll definitely have to check it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-22493770861681880092008-03-27T19:22:00.000-04:002008-03-27T19:22:00.000-04:00Sherwood Smith, especially her more recent Inda, i...Sherwood Smith, especially her more recent <I>Inda</I>, is also very good at character development.<BR/><BR/>Some of Charles de Lint's Newford books tie in well together, and having a familiar character pop in is like when you spot someone you know in a crowd. Although for him it's more of a mosaic of character development since there are so many.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-29049779676102498652008-03-27T13:01:00.000-04:002008-03-27T13:01:00.000-04:00You need to read Jacqueline Carey or Robin Hobb if...You need to read Jacqueline Carey or Robin Hobb if you haven't already. Masters of character development...Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16739272158939133499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-65871670078454581482008-03-27T10:41:00.000-04:002008-03-27T10:41:00.000-04:00Lisa, maybe you're right. For some reason, I thoug...Lisa, maybe you're right. For some reason, I thought of her when I wrote this.<BR/><BR/>Kate, I HAVE read it over and over . . . although it has been several years since my last rereading.<BR/><BR/>Dark Wolf, it probably would, but unfortunately I never finished that novel. Other works by Dickens? Yes. That one? no.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-43786996569668276332008-03-27T09:40:00.000-04:002008-03-27T09:40:00.000-04:00I love characters that are well build. It gives me...I love characters that are well build. It gives me a greater sense of involvement in the novel.<BR/>And if I recall exactly from the classics I think that David Copperfield also match your character article.Mihai A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08534691063946241019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-83896850636003555802008-03-27T06:25:00.000-04:002008-03-27T06:25:00.000-04:00I loved Clan of the Cave Bear! The depth of emotio...I loved Clan of the Cave Bear! The depth of emotion and character development is incredible - as well as the full descriptions and detail of the world around Ayla. <BR/>Definitely worth reading over and over again!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08175749565666787151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-42076253809622816662008-03-27T05:21:00.000-04:002008-03-27T05:21:00.000-04:00But Aunt Reed was out of the picture and Jane didn...But Aunt Reed was out of the picture and Jane didn't seem to 'think'about her much (if any) when she wasn't living with.<BR/>Maybe it was on low, simmering on the back burner? :-)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866730185060307014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-56675363650603905652008-03-27T04:35:00.000-04:002008-03-27T04:35:00.000-04:00I was thinking long-term book-length conflicts, an...I was thinking long-term book-length conflicts, and Aunt Reed held onto her hate no matter what Jane did. She tried to make some things right before she died, but wasn't having any part of a true reconciliation.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195356832263192713.post-17810579824218136992008-03-26T21:22:00.000-04:002008-03-26T21:22:00.000-04:00I think Jane Eyre was between her and Ed. I don't ...I think Jane Eyre was between her and Ed. I don't recall her having much of a conflict with her Aunt Reed. Jane was a forgiving soul and didn't hold a grudge. I felt the biggest conflict was within herself.<BR/>I LOVED the work by the Bronte sisters!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866730185060307014noreply@blogger.com