But look how often a pretty good story with 2 dimentional
characters brings down gold? THE EXORCIST, DAVINCI CODE, and
JAWS come immediately to mind. On the other hand, a great
character study like MILDRED PIERCE is not as compelling a
read. And Cain said so himself. They had to add a murder to
make a movie out of it. Certainly, great story, great
characters is the right way to go from TOM SAWYER to HARRY
POTTER. But if you can only do one of the two, get the story
right. The dollar book bins are filled with great character
studies and lame stories.
Patrick King
--- Jack Bludis <
buildsnburns@yahoo.com> wrote:
> A reply to Patrick and William, and a comment
on
> Henry
> James:
>
> In the argument of whether Character or Story
is
> more
> important, I have been converted to the school
that
> says,
> neither works without the other, although
some
> pretty
> popular works have made it with cardboard
> characters. Good
> writing, I still contend, is not a necessary
quality
> for a
> good book, but it's nice if it's there.
>
> The idea that really bad writing can work?
I'm
> afraid it
> can. Clive Cussler tells some pretty
good,
> over-the-top,
> poorly-styled, fantastic stretches of story.
His
> characterization isn't so hot either, but he
drags
> you
> along.
>
> Now, that doesn't make Clive Cussler great, any
more
> than
> THE DA VINCI CODE is a great book.
>
> On Hemingway? I think his most underrated book is
TO
> HAVE
> AND HAVE NOT, which is far different from the
movie.
> A
> MOVABLE FEAST, struck me as an old man trying to
get
> even
> with everyone who ever wronged him.
>
> THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA, a great story, but
about
> twice as
> long as it should be.
>
> FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, look how good I can
write,
> the
> master said. (Another book twice as long as
it
> should be.)
> These are all long-held opinions.
>
> Cooper or James? I'll take the adventure of
Cooper
> over the
> introspection of James.
>
> ULYSSES might be one of my favorite books of
all
> time, and
> I do think there is a story, just like I think
the
> movie O
> BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU was a pretty good
story.
> Yep, we
> can give credit to Homer on both counts.
>
> I'm procrastinating on my WIP, now I'd better
get
> back to
> work and try not to look at mail again
until
> sometime
> Sunday evening.
>
> Jack Bludis
>
>
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