My Imaginary Friends by Deb Eileen

Pick one favorite literary character? Are you kidding me? How do you choose a single favorite?

One of the things I like best about books is the ability to lose yourself in the story, in the lives of fictional characters. I find this fascinating that we can care so much over someone who doesn’t exist. I’ve cried- and I don’t mean a small sniffle- I mean the full on weep – over people I know are made up. I’ve wanted to write the author and beg them for a do over. Or for one more book-just one more so I can catch up on their new adventures.

There are books that I re-read because I want a chance to stop in and see how my imaginary friends are doing. This is also why I have such a hard time getting rid of books- how can you just chuck out a friend?

Which captures you most- characters or plot?

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10 Replies to “My Imaginary Friends by Deb Eileen”

  1. Hmmm, I think I want to have my cake and eat it too.

    I like fast moving enthralling plots with some funnies thrown in. However, if I don’t feel close to the characters, I don’t love the story, so…I guess if I had to choose, I’d go with plot. Weird hu?

    All my favorite authors have both…the characters that haunt me long after the book is over and a plot I cannot tear my eyes away from, even to use the bathroom.

  2. I’m all about characters. I mean, yeah, they have to do something, but what pulls me in is HOW the ydo whatever it is they do. WHY. And I totally think of the best characters as real. I remember when I heard that John MacDonald had died, my first reaction was, “I bet Travis McGee feels bad.” Followed quickly by, “Uh, Judy, he’s fictional.” Then there’s the fact that I spent a decade trying to find Atticus Finch. And when I did, I married him.

    Hmm, perhaps I could really use some intensive psychotherapy.

  3. Hi Debs-

    I’ve just started my own blog–(Not Afraid of the “F” Word) and hope it’s okay that I’ve put in a link to this one.

    Stop by and let me know what you think.

    Judy

  4. I am one of those “the plot drives the character” rather than the other way around. Without plot, characters aren’t forced to push themselves or come up with ways out of sticky situations. Plot shows me who the characters really are … that being said, when I write I always come up with my characters first, but then I let the plot define who they ultimately become (think of an episode of LOST …)

  5. Larramie, one of the things that interests me is how popular DaVinci Code became. That is a book that is all plot- the characters hardly change at all. Brown did a great job with pacing and plot. The book pulls you right along. Some people hated it saying the characters were flat the dialog lousy- yet it became a huge bestseller. It wasn’t my favorite book- but I did enjoy the read. I doubt it will last and be a favorite years from now- but I still find it an interesting case study.

  6. Sigh…how could I forget, Eileen, except that it’s been three years since I met Robert Langley and who? LOL Also — on the the subject of characters in The DaVinci Code — my curious mind still wonders which Brown wrote that book?

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