Falling In Love With Characters

Over the many years that I've been reading, I find that I'm often falling in love with a bunch of characters.  As a young girl, I enjoyed reading about Stan and Jan Berenstain's grizzly creations, the Berenstain Bears.  I loved Mama, Papa, Sister, and Brother as though they were practically an extension of my real family.

As I grew older, I admit that I started getting a little more girly with my thoughts.  When I read, and watched the movie, Anne of Green Gables, I developed a crush on Gilbert Blythe.  Throughout many mysteries, I was often torn between brother detectives Frank and Joe Hardy.  Today, I fully understand Bella's Jacob vs Edward dilemma, except that I love Jacob the best.  

I grew up identifying with and wanting to be like strong female characters.  My admiration for Anne Shirley, Nancy Drew, Jo March, Elizabeth Wakefield, Caddie Woodlawn, and many others has not faded to this day.  I have added other characters to the list since becoming an adult, such as Princess Mia Thermopolis, Kiki Lowenstein, and Alice Cullen to name a few.

Stories are nothing without the literary heroes and villians portrayed within the words.  As a writer, I want to create a character that is remembered and loved.  Feeling connected to those carrying a story is a factor that can make or break your reader's interest.  With this in mind, I'm asking myself a very important question.  Am I falling in love with the characters in my WIP?  Would others fall in love with my characters?

What are some of your favorite characters (as a child & today)?  If you are a writer, do you ask yourself those same questions as you write?  If you are not a writer (then of course you must be a reader), what makes you fall in love with the characters of your favorite stories?

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My Reading Challenge Update:

Blackout BINGO (entire sheet) Completed:  3/16/10

Automatic Prize Received With 2nd Bingo:  Window Scraper with library logo

Prizes Won:  $20 Meijer Gift Card

Total Books Read: 16/16

Challenge Ended:  March 31, 2010

Books Read (in no special order):

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

Unconventional by J.J. Hebert

Austenland: A Novel by Shannon Hale

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

The Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber

Vision In White by Nora Roberts

Real Life & Liars by Kristina Riggle

It's All About Him: Finding The Love Of My Life by Denise Jackson

Scrap Everything by Lesley Gould

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery by Joanna Campbell Slan

Cut, Crop, & Die: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery by Joanna Campbell Slan

Christmas With Anne by L.M. Montgomery

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah

Everything I Needed To Know About Being A Girl I Learned From Judy Blume by Jennifer O'Connell (& various authors)

Favorite Book(s) Read & Other Comments:  I discovered a new book series by Joanna Campbell Slan!  I wasn't able to put either book down without constantly thinking about whodunit!  I'm looking forward to May when the 3rd book in the series is released.  Go check out Paper, Scissors, Death  and Cut, Crop, & Die!

I really enjoy this Winter reading challenge.  Reading 16 books in the amount of time given was a great goal, but adding in the large number of new to me authors added to it.  All but 1 of the writers were new to me this year and gave me the opportunity to open myself up to great stories.

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Post #96 in the Count Up to 100!

My Reading Challenge

In a previous blog posting, I mentioned that I was inspired to start a scrapbooking group at my local library while taking part in a "book club" last Winter. Rebeca Seitz's Sisters, Ink series gave me the desire to gather together with friends to scrapbook and enjoy each other's company.  Currently, our small (and hopefully growing) group meets once a month at our local library.  My scrapbooking group was an unexpected and positive result of the library's Winter adult book reading challenge.  However, it was not the only thing that I gained.

With 16 squares, book categories, to fill on the "BINGO" card, I began reading books that I would not have normally picked up.  My personal goal was to complete the entire challenge within the 4 months given.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed almost every single book that I picked to fill a category square.  Branching out to read something new was fun.  Nine authors were brand new to me, and led me to become a fan of their writing.

As December 2009 was approaching, I remembered how very much I loved participating in this reading group last Winter.  When the current year's snowy reading challenge information was posted online, I was excited to start planning out what I would read this year.  I'm currently engrossed in a new game of BINGO, with some new categories.  My own personal goal this year has been enhanced.  After thoroughly enjoying "new" authors the last time, I decided to attempt reading as many novels as possible that have been written by writers who are new to me.  At this time, I've only read works by 1 of the authors amongst the novels I have chosen.  Thirteen authors are completely new to me this time.  Two of the books on my list are by the same authors, and 1 "your choice" category is currently awaiting my choice (although I have a few options I'm tossing around). 

Are you curious as to what I'm reading?  How much of my challenge I have completed?  I'll answer those 2 questions below.  How often to you pick up a book by an author you have not yet discovered?  Does your library have any book clubs or challenges that you have participated in?  What would be your favorite categories and/or top choices in the categories that my public library has given?  Please give me your recommendations for my bookless categories.

1/11/10 Reading Challenge Progress:   3/16 Complete, 1 in Progress

Category                                                       My Book Choice

International/Travel (book/author)                 ----------

                                                                      by Cecelia Ahern (Irish)

Try A "New To You" Author                        Unconventional

                                                                       by J.J. Hebert

Book On Display or Library Booklist            Austenland: a novel

                                                                      by Shannon Hale

Your Choice                                                 The Nanny Diaries

                                                                      by Emma McLaughlin/Nicola Kraus

Express/New Book                                      Nanny Returns

                                                                      by Emma McLaughlin/Nicola Kraus

Mystery/Suspense/Romance                        ----------

                                                                      by Debbie Macomber

Your Choice                                               Vision In White

                                                                     by Nora Roberts

Michigan Author/Setting                              The Life Before Her Eyes

                                                                     by Laura Kasischke

Non-Fiction                                                It's All About Him: Finding The Love of My Life

                                                                     by Denise Jackson

Your Choice                                               Scrap Everything

                                                                      by Leslie Gould

Award Winner/NY Times Bestseller            Best Friends Forever

                                                                     by Jennifer Weiner

Book You Picked for the Cover                 Real Life & Liars

                                                                     by Kristina Riggle

Your Choice                                              ----------

                                                                     by ---- ----

Classics For All Ages                                Christmas With Anne

                                                                     by L.M. Montgomery

Book/Author Starting Library Initials         Between Sisters

                                                                     by Kristin Hannah

Library Staff Pick (use list or ask)              Everything I Need to Know About being A Girl I               

                                                                 Learned From Judy Blume

                                                                       by Jennifer O' Connell (& various other authors)