I've always read novels as a way to glimpse at experiences which greatly differ from my own life. Not necessarily as "escapism", but more as looking at life through a different lens. Science-fiction and fantasy feel like windows to unknown worlds which the authors reveal through the power of language, but, to me, this is true for all fiction.
I work at a publishing house, and I've been really surprised at how common it has become for readers to dislike some of our books because they couldn't "identify" with the characters. And I don't mean minority representation (as a queer/black/latino/immigrant in France, representation in literature is a very important matter to me). I'm thinking about the character's psychology.
Personally, I really enjoy books with characters I don't identify with, who do things I wouldn't do. I enjoy anti heroes or simply despicable main characters. I don't think writing these kind of characters means justifying their actions, it's an interesting way of exploring every aspect of the human experience, the good and the ugly.
Is this important for you when you read a novel? Do you need the (main) character(s) to share aspects of your personality or of your own life experiences to enjoy the book?
by BastetNeko
10 Comments
Nah I’m with you on this one. Some of my favorite reads have been characters I couldn’t stand as people but found fascinating to follow. Like reading about a toxic relationship from the inside or watching someone make terrible decisions – it’s weirdly compelling even when you’re internally screaming at them
I think people sometimes confuse “relatable” with “good storytelling” but they’re totally different things
No, I want interesting, well-drawn characters, but I don’t need to like all of them or find them relatable.
I have never understood “relating to a character” as a selling point, but people mention it constantly.
At most I understand not hating a character. It’s pretty hard to read a lot of pages with a character I hate.
Personally, I don’t need to identify with a character at all. I care more about whether they’re interesting and complex as characters, and how their own life experiences have shaped them.
That said, it’s always a little added bonus when I share traits with a character, especially if it’s done well. But it isn’t a requirement for me to enjoy a book.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way with a character…I don’t see myself as them in anyway.. BUT I also don’t read fantasy/romance so maybe that has something to do with it? I read more non fiction/thriller/suspense
Not at all.
Yes. For example, I identified with Geralt the Witcher in “The Last Wish,” and it turned me into a huge fan of the entire series.
I don’t need to identify or relate for sure, but I have had certain characters where I didn’t care about them anymore or want to be in their head.
Nope. My experience and enjoyment has nothing to do with seeing myself in characters. It’s the narrative as a whole and the cast as a collective, and how they’re woven into the tapestry that is the story. That’s what’s most important for me.
It’s not important to me and I usually don’t.
However when there are characters I do connect to like that, they become my comfort characters (whether it be a book or movie or show).
It’s usually just one or two parts of them I strongly connect to.