An interesting question has been recurring between patrons and staff members this past week: what motivates people to read? Why do some readers seek out what many have dubbed as 'serious' authors, whose focus is on characters, where every sentence is so well crafted that it is near perfection? Why do others prefer more plot-driven titles, where the action grips the reader into a fast-paced, stay-up-all-night-with-a-book-on-your-knees-biting-
your-fingernails journey, just waiting to reach the riveting conclusion?
Would you rather bask in the grandeur of the language in Helen Humphreys' Afterimage, where an Irish born/English bred housemaid's influence aids in the disintegration of a couple in a now loveless marriage ("Annie imagines Tess cutting her fingers as she forced the sprigs of holly into a clumsy circle. The sharpness of the leaves sticking like the fine points of loss into her skin. Holy.") or be swept up in the bordering-on-insane lifestyle of Janet Evanovich's bounty hunter Stephanie Plum in Seven Up ("Lula launched herself at Joyce, and the two of them went down to the floor, scratching and clawing. Bob stayed firmly under the desk. Vinnie hid in his office. And Connie moseyed over, waited for her opportunity, and buzzed Joyce on the ass with the stun gun. Joyce let out a squeak and went inert.")
Personally, I'm a fan of both styles as many of us are. Sometimes we are reflective and need a soul-enriching book, featuring realistic characters with realistic flaws in realistic situations, with flowing, beautifully written, thought provoking descriptions and dialogue that make us stop and savour what we'd just read. Other times we need to escape with something 'lighter,' some quixotic and capricious title that makes us laugh out loud, and helps us transcend and forget daily life for awhile.
Is one style better or more admirable than the other? Does one take more talent to produce than the other? I don't think so; whether the author's talent is character or plot oriented, if it gets readers to immerse themselves in someone else's world, whether for minutes or hours, it's a winner.
P.
No comments:
Post a Comment