Comments on: Ready, set, action …

By: Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:54:03 +0000

Diana — I think it really struck me in this one since it’s been a while since I’ve read Butcher. But it seems like Harry gets beaten up in every single chapter in this one.

Yeah, I like the characters to have a break too. I’d much rather read about Harry interacting with Murphy or Thomas than just getting the snot kicked out of him again and again. And Bob — there needs to be more Bob in this book. 😎

Jo — I haven’t read Lois, but I’ve heard lots of folks mention her books. She writes The Sharing Knife fantasy series, right? I’ll have to check her out …

Tia — I agree with you. If you don’t have a great character to start with, the best plot in the world isn’t going to help you.

By: Tia

Tia — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:47:25 +0000

I like a breather every now and then. Character development, in my opinion, is more important than plot development. We read for the character (or at least I do), and how they solve their problems.

By: Jo Holling

Jo Holling — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:16:13 +0000

I like books that are written tightly. Lois McMaster Bujold does that with her plots. It is not constant violence or action. It is that the story plot moves right along. Every scene moves the story forward either by action or (just as important) character development.

When the characters get too brutalized I want to jump into the book and help them. But there is a fine line between reading a story with some physical conflict and a story that resembles “The Perils of Pauline.” While I appreciate “Pauline” as a point of fictional history. I don’t want to read that kind of plot on a regular basis.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:12:26 +0000

I ALWAYS feel that way reading the Dresden books. Harry gets beat up on so non-stop that I get tired just reading about it. I think I prefer a little bit of a breather and chance to regroup between big action scenes when I read action-packed novels. Also, it seems like there’s a little less room for character development when all they’re doing is fight fight fight.