Have you ever started reading a book and find the descriptions of the backdrop to be too rich in the details? While in which the characters seem far too paper-thin and inauthentic?
I started a highly-recommended book last night and found myself hoping that the character described as a ren-fest pagan was not representative of the current ren-fest pagans out there. She spent far too much time “goddess” this and “goddess” that and “so mote it be”-ing in the middle of a scene about a nearby airplane disaster. It seemed more caricature than believable, almost insultingly so. She defends herself from a looter and kills him. His buddy, not knowing what any of this is about other than an opportunity to loot, threatens her in front of a cop, telling her to remember his name (which he freely offers up) because he was going to get vengeance for her killing his thug buddy.
The scenery and people are described in detail, especially about the clothes they wore. But the woman was lacking motive, although her deaf daughter she signs with (as does her friend, fluently) seems to be a possible driver. Apparently, she knows all kinds of first aid, which is why she rushes to the scene of the crashed flight (with her daughter in tow), and yet she isn’t a first-responder. And the burly, sexy firemen on-scene are all too happy to take her suggestions as “what to do”.
The first scene was not much better. It was full of rich details about the environment of the NW Coast, but the details about the people involved in a similar situation were threadbare: a rich family with a hot 20-something woman (tushy-watching and OMGs from the character are my not-so-subtle hint), a waifish wife and a chiseled-jaw husband, brother and sister tweenage twins (one is one of those tween vegans, ewww); and a protagonist pilot who brings a long-rifle to pilot a small plane (just in case, mind you) the rich family hired to get to their inaccessible Montana getaway.
While I’m going to give this book a chance to develop a little longer, my enthusiasm is a bit blunted by the story so far. It seems like it might be a slog to read if this continues for the full 550 pages.
While I am all about understanding, leveraging and subverting tropes, the first sixty pages have been almost nothing but tropes and stereotypes, with a good hefty dose of deus ex machina.
The descriptions of the backdrop are decently done, if a bit excessive. The characters and believability of the story, however, thus far are very “welp”.
Do you think there is ever a time that descriptions of scenery, no matter how well done, go a bit too far? Am I putting too much emphasis on demanding authenticity in the characters (even if the logic is only within the universe of the book)?
Weigh in below, if you are so inclined.
23 responses to “Half-penny thoughts — 16sep25”
If I give a book a try and it’s not working, I put it down. It may not even be the book, it could just be me. There’s a lot to read out there. Unless you feel there is a payoff at the end.
There is that too. I might be too picky about authenticity — in which case it is me. I don’t care so much about realism as I care about authenticity, which is why I have no issue reading a book about a witchycrafty-assassin with dragon-ish overlords running a mobster-like cartel with a telepathic reptile familiar on his shoulder, but I take issue with a bush pilot conveniently bringing along a long gun while transporting rich folks just before the technological apocalypse knocks his plane out of commission in-flight. One feels authentic, the other feels contrived. It doesn’t help when the motivations of everyone involved are rain-puddle shallow in their depth.
It may improve, but I was terribly unimpressed by the setup. As you say, there are plenty of books out there if this one doesn’t play out — I’m just glad I didn’t pay full price for this one (currently, that could change).
I’m no big fan of realism either. And, yes, the authenticity needs to be there. Good luck with this book. Hopefully it improves.
I’m prepared to give something a good go but if I’m not feeling it, I’m not going to force myself to slog through something I’m not enjoying (unless it’s a learnin’-book, in which case, sigh). I once attempted Salman Rushdie’s ‘Shame’ and was put off by the super-flowery prose. I’m still recovering lol.
🤣
You just reminded me that I’ve never got up the gumption to read Rushdie. You’re not selling me on the idea either. /Grin
Sometimes stories start wobbly, so I always try to give the author about 100 pages to change my mind. After that, I assume that it’s not going to be my kind of book and I put it down.
No need to torture myself, after all.
I’ve never enjoyed massive descriptions of scenery. The characters are the main event, for me, and since I started writing that’s been my focus. Someone I once trained with (a bit of sub-editing, very useful ever since) told me that I was brave because I didn’t give a detailed account of the treatment an end-of-life nurse gave to her patient in my debut novel; but why would that be necessary? Only to show that I’d researched it, to my mind. The nurse and her patient were the important things, so for me it was enough to say that Dora (nurse) ‘did the needful’. I trusted my character to know he profession, so the details weren’t necessary; her interaction with her patient was the important part. I’m like that in all my writing – the people are the important part. So no, in my opinion, you’re not wrong. The characters will be who they are despite the background. Time for you to find a more character-focussed book. Best of luck, my friend. 🙂
Thank you. There’s a time and place for that kind of writing, but if the characters are not up to snuff, then I don’t care about the descriptions.
Descriptions of things aren’t story and I read for story.
Yeah, I always wonder about the motivations when it comes to describing technical details. If it doesn’t add to the story, then it isn’t really necessary. Then it becomes exposition and I don’t much care for most exposition.
Have a great evening Laura 💙
You too, Michael. I’m glad we agree on this. If I want beautiful surroundings I go for a walk in the countryside. In a book I want interesting people. 😊
Exactly. Or interesting… Whatever. People-like things.
I just stop reading it. Lol.
There is that. But I am an optimist and I hope things will improve 😂
I stop reading this Clive Barker novel (Coldheart Canyon) and I am a Clive Barker fanatic. He just used so much sex in this story to the point it felt i was reading porn. I might go back to it later. Right now i am reading this huge short story book by Lovecraft. 700 pages. I am also a huge fan of Lovecraft.
Lovecraft was a genius in many ways.
If it takes you out of the story it’s too much or else done too heavy handed. So much is still just willing suspension of disbelief. If you come up for air, the story is flailing. That’s just how it is. (I’m sure I’m guilty of this too.)
I’m certain I’m guilty of my own variation of these sins, but I didn’t have an editor or a book contract and I don’t charge for the privilege of enduring my sinful behavior.
I like that. Suspension of disbelief. I’ll have to remember that subversion.
Right? Me neither. Lots of writers who have those things still miss the basics. Worse luck for them!✊
Love Rushdie, by the way. Midnight’s Children or Satanic Verses. Thanks to college prof for turning me on.
I still mean to get around to reading him, but I’m very much in the mood for literary ale and whiskey; I will have to get myself in the mood for wine in a bottle (as opposed to a box, which is a tier below my current state) before I check him out.
ohh ale and whisky you’re drifting back to Flann O’Brien territory😊
More Tarzan of the Jungle, Conan, and eldritch horrors territory 😂
😉
Like a movie.. i give it a bit of time and then I’m done, unless if captivates me!
That’s a good analogy, with a much smaller investment of my time. They have about 20-30 minutes before I hang it up if the story is terrible. Unless it is intentionally terrible. Then I tend to enjoy those.