16 December 2010

Book Blogger Hop: Plot or Character? Character or Plot?

 Book Blogger Hop

This week's hop question, sponsored by Crazy for Books, is a difficult one for me to answer...

What do you consider the most [sic] important in a story:
the plot or the characters?  

Though I generally don't care for dithering or wishy-washy responses, I'm afraid my answer is both.  Good plotting and good character development are both essential for me to love a book.  I may devour a book that is nothing but plot (think: The Da Vinci Code) and enjoy myself while I'm reading it, but as soon I put it down, I find it utterly forgettable.  On the other hand, emphasis on character or craft to the exclusion of plot makes for a dull reading experience for me (think of this year's Pulitzer Prize winner, Tinkers, whose prose was exquisite but otherwise left much else to be desired). I suppose if I had to say one element were more important, most of the time I'd give the edge to good characters, well developed. 

What about you?

10 comments:

  1. I have to agree with you completely here. I don't think it should be all or nothing.

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  2. Hi! Thanks for stopping by The Enchanted Book and following. I'm here to do the same and tell you I love the [sic] in your title. Shame on the English teacher in me not to see that earlier.

    Thanks for the compliment on my blog's design.

    Have a great hop!

    Selena
    http://theenchantedbook.blogspot.com/

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  3. Blog-hopping by to return the visit and follow. Plot-centric genre fiction has that effect on me--if I read a mystery or a thriller, it's fun while I'm reading it, but I never think of it once I'm finished. Strong characters will always stick out in my memory.

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  4. New follower here, well said definitely couldn't say it better myself. Hope you have a happy holiday.

    My Follow Friday/Book Blogger Hop

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  5. Im a plot girl :) Im a old follower www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com

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  6. I thought about answering both too but the more I thought about it, I realized I did prefer one over the other. I prefer characters over plot. But both are important. Happy Blog Hop.

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  7. This might be the best Book Blogger Hop question I've seen to date.

    So what's the answer? Plot! Hop over to my blog and let me tell you how a good plot rescued bad characters from bad book oblivion.

    Howard Sherman
    http://www.howardsherman.net

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  8. Hi There!
    I like your answers! I've found you through the blog hop. I'm your newest follower and am looking forward to what you have to say next! Drop by my blog and say hi!

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  9. i like your answer :) stopping by from the blog, awesome reference to Da Vinci Code, i agree, all plot not much substance :p hope you get a chance to stop by my blog sometime, and have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. I love to look at blog designs.

    Hopping by from the blog hop.

    Stop by my blog to see my answer to this week's question.

    Also check out a design site I found...pretty neat home decorating ideas...it is in the right side panel on my blog.


    http://silversolara.blogspot.com

    Happy Holidays!!

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Please, sir, may I have some more? (Comments, that is!)