Please post the title, author, and page # of your book.
How does the author of your book make the characters believable? Be specific and explain thoroughly.
53 comments:
amoore6
said...
Im reading crossed By Ally Condie,and im on page 215. One thing that makes the characters believable is their emotions. the author is very descriptive throughout the book on the characters emotions and it make you feel what they feel, also the scenery makes it very believable because i know if i was in those situations, i would have the same emotions and difficulties with the terrain.
I am the book Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose. I am currently on page 34.
The characters in this book are probably the most believable characters I have ever read about, mostly because this entire book is based on the "East Company" of the USA army during World War Two. The main characteristic is the way these soldiers in the book act accordingly to the army training. They have people they like. They have people they hate. They have people that they like to compliment or people they really enjoy to curse at. They have actually fears of the war and even the training unlike the unrealistic stories of soldiers who are so brave they are not afraid of anything. Also the situations are very real. The divisions of the army itself are very competitive towards each other, sometimes even the USA army tries to match up to other armies, like Japan, and their achievements. For example, the 506th Regiment of the book marches their soldiers for miles and days on end in order to replace Japan's news of marching for miles without stopping. The company even has disputes among themselves, which makes it more than a war with other countries.
I'm reading he Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard and I'm on page 109.
Something that makes the characters believable is their insecurities and their flaws. They don't seem made up because of these things because everyone has them. It takes it from a fantasy character to someone you could meet in real life. Like the main character Emma gets nervous when pretending to be Sutton and struggles with stress like we all do. Its interesting to add flaws and insecurities to the characters because they could be ANYTHING. Have all sorts of powers and even be invincible, but authors sometimes want their characters to be believable, so they add that.
The author does an amazing job of making the characters believable because of all of the emotions she describes for the character. Because emotions add depth to a person, like they are real. That's what makes them believable. Also when the readers can relate to the emotions or they could try to put themselves in the characters position and feel for the character, makes the characters more real. However, the best emotion shows when an important event is occurring to the character, whether it’s for a positive or negative reason.
I am currently re-reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I am 97% done!
The author makes the characters in the book believable by their emotions and way of talking. While in the Hunger Games arena some of the tributes make alliances and when you are reading their conversations you hear some of the dialects. Some of the tributes talk poised and well educated while others have a dialect that is similar to a southern accent. Mean you are also learning that some of the tributes have anger issues and are ill-tempered like Cato from district 2.
I am reading Caching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I am on page 225. Suzanne Collins makes the characters believable by making them relatable to me and others I know. Despite the fact that I live an incredibly different life than these characters I can still relate to their emotions and their way of thinking. What makes the characters even more realistic is that Collins shows their flaws, she exposes the blemishes that we all have but don’t like to talk about. In the last chapter I read Katnisse was ashamed by her selfishness because she was glad that it was Peeta in the chariot next to her rather than Haymitch even though it meant Peeta was in danger.
I am currently reading "Pretty Litlle Liars: Twisted" by Sara Shepard, and I am on page 191. The author makes the characters believable because we share similar traits, even though their traits are more extensive than mine. Aria and I are both artistic, Spencer and I both have a passion for achieving preferable grades in school, Emily and I are both shy and love to swim, and Hanna and I are both insecure. Aria's artistic ability surpasses mine, such as how she can draw and knit exceedingly well while my drawing capability is modrate at best, and I cannot knit whatsoever. Spencer and I attempt to do well in school, but Spencer is Vice President, earns strait A's, and participates in various after school activities and clubs. Both Emily and I are shy, but she is more so than I am because she does not express her feelings as much as I do, and she loves to swim like me, but she is actually on a team and has been competing for years. Hanna and I share the trait of insecurity, but she actualy had an eating disorder because of it, and I have not. This proves that the author makes the charcters believable by giving them each traits that are relatable.
Bridget, I agree with you on why the characters are believable, even though I have not read the book. Also, I enjoy when the author exposes character's blemishes, and books would not be amusing if they did not include this.
I am reading the Iron King by Julie Kagawa and I finished the book today. The book is about the main character, Meghan Chase, a faery hybrid, as part human, shows herself as a very believable damsel in a world of supernatural beings. Since the faeryworld has very powerful being, where Meghan is just a shunned illegitimate child of a faery king, she is very human like and acts with all the naivety in the world. She falls for every trick a mischievous or malicious faery throws at her when she first came to the Nevernever, the faeryworld. Later she becomes better at avoiding such trickery, but only a little bit. This makes her a very believable character, she is not shown as an absolute being by coming to a foreign otherworldly dangerous wonderland and immediately knowing all the rules, how to fend for herself and acting like a princess should, which Meghan didn't know she was one until in the middle of the book. She acts just like a human would if one was to land in a magical forest full of fairies and gets scared when goblins threaten her life and gets hurt when vicious fairies attack her.
Bridget, I agree. The blemishes and the weakness of the characters are really the factor that makes them seem real to me. If they didn't have any fault in their character, the story just wouldn't be as fun.
I just finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The author makes the characters believable by including lots of the character thoughts and opinions. Even though it might be hard to relate to the character's situation or personality, I can relate to their thoughts because we are often thinking the same thing. Like real people, they have many flaws and make mistakes. The author is also very good at describing their actions and emotions. She makes you feel what the character is feeling, and the things they do and say are realistic enough to believe.
Imperfect Justice by Jeff Ashton Just finished the whole book. The characters are very real because the book is a true story, so the characters have real depth which makes the characters relatively real. Jeff Ashton makes sure that the characters are shown just how they really are in real life. Casey Anthony is perceived as an irresponsible liar, which proved throughout the book how the characters relate to the real life situation.
I'm reading The House on Honeysuckle Lane by Carole Gift Page, and am on page 35. This book is about Annie Read who is 26 years old, and it takes place in 1946. Annie is a writer and decides to go back to her hometown after many years. Already the character seems real because of how personal and thoughtful the author is in writing. However, the author then begins the next chapter as a flashback. So even though there is a lot of switching between the past and the present in the book, the author does a great job of keeping the thoughtfulness and great aspect of reality with the characters.
The book that I am currently reading is Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith and am on page 186. The author describes the characters with detail which makes the characters believable. He makes them think and be like real people are. Everyone has their secrets which alot of characters do. They have human characteristics and overall the author makes these characters believable. In the book the author thoroughly describe each character to their personality, what they look like and even what they are afraid of.
Jaci~ which book number is that out of the series? Is that one of the last ones? It sounds really interesting and I agree with you on how authors give their characters relatable traits.
i am reading Mocking Jay by Susan Collins and i am on page 17. From page one the main character Katniss is back in the ruins of her old district. Collins almost puts everything in her own perspective while writing because i feel like i can see and feel everything Katniss is. She writes in such detail and emotion and paints a very specific picture for the reader so you feel like you are right there in the middle of all the action that is happening during the course of the story.
PBasting6- I really enjoyed that book. Sara Shepard is one of my favorite authors, i started that book trilogy after i finished Pretty Little Liars because it was the same author and they were SUPER.
I am reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rawlings and I am on page 261.
J.K. Rawlings makes characters believable because you would think that in a world of magic, people would have no problems because magic could solve them all, but she does a good job of displaying how even witches and wizards have fears, problems, and real emotions. Harry and his friends often get in fights, and I think that makes it a lot more believable because some books make it out like the characters have wonderful best friends and they never have problems or disagreements and it's them against the world! But Rawlings makes it clear throughout the book that Harry Ron and Hermione are not that way because they all get in lots of arguments that normal friends do and it just makes it seem more realistic because everybody gets in fights. You can also really feel what Harry is feeling and the way Rawlings writes sort of makes you see how Harry seems fearless and brave on the outside but really he is a normal person who does get really scared and confused sometimes.
ETappy6- I've read all of the Hunger Games books and I totally agree. Collins does a really good job making you feel like you are Katniss. In the first book you sort of get that anxiety and fear of being in the games and you realize, oh wait, I live in a normal world, not the Hunger Games! I think Mokingjay was the same way. You could really see and feel what Katniss was going through.
I just finished the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins over Spring Break.
What makes the characters so believable is the way Collins' writes the book. She makes you feel the emotion that Katniss is feeling, and it totally wraps you up and makes you feel like you are in the situations that Katniss is in. Also, even though Panem is a futuristic country with harsh rules and laws, I see it as a real place that could exist. The fact that the setting is so believable also helps the characters fit into their own environment, which enforces the mood of the book.
KMckaig- I haven't read the Harry Potter books, but I can totally see where you are coming from. Through the movies, I can tell that magic doesn't solve all of Harry's problems, and I agree with you.
I am reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and I am on page 77. So far, the author has done an incredible job with making the characters believable. Hirsch displays through the characters' actions how nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, just like people in our world. For example, Stephen, the main character, and his dad were hiding to prevent all possible trouble, but his dad decided to sneakily free slaves and nearly got him and his son killed. It was a major mistake on his part. Another reason the characters seem realistic is because of how the characters face tough decisions, as do people in real life. For example, Stephen must decide whether a group of people he meets is trustworthy, because it could end up being a life or death decision, literally. Lastly, in the world we live in, many people look up to their grandparents or parents as role models and strive to have the great qualities that they do. This is the case for Stephen and his relationship with his grandfather. After his grandfather died, Stephen always thought about how his grandpa would have handled a situation or how he would have viewed Stephen's choices, in order to help him during hardships in life and to make him a better person.
Karoline- J.K. Rawlings really does an excellent job making the characters realistic in the Harry Potter series. I agree with you on how she makes the relationships between characters more conflicted than in other books. The disagreements show that even though people are best friends, they still can disagree on things.
I'm reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks and I am on page 132. I think that the author makes the characters believable because he touches on all aspects of their thoughts, personalities, and feelings. The characters he creates are very dynamic. For example, Logan, the main character, is very strong and independent and determine, but reader's also see a side of him that is shy, conservative, and humble. I think this definitely helps to make the characters more believable. Also, Beth, the lady that Logan is searching for, is believable because she has her guard up whens she firsts meets Logan and doesn't just run into his arms. I think the author made the characters believable by keeping them practical.
I am reading The Ovechkin project by Damien Cox and Gare joyce. In my book the characters are very believable. This is mostly true because the book is a biography and everything in a biography is true. Ovechkin also seems to be very believable because even though he is one of the greatest hockey players in the world. Things still happen in his life that happen to normal people. For example his brother that got him started in hockey died in a car crash when Alex Ovechkin was 10.
I just finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I think that she does a really great job of making the characters seem realistic, mostly Katniss, the main character. For one, she tries her hardest to make Katniss imperfect. We see things through Katniss' eyes and we also "feel" what she is feeling. A lot of times she thinks that she is not capable of performing the tasks of the Mockingjay. She is not very confident, she does not think too highly of herself, and is always worried about something. I think that it makes her much more realistic because in the end, she is not all that different from one of us.
Lena~ I just finished the third book in the series and I agree that the author does a really great job of making the characters believable. I also liked the second book the best!
The book that I finished reading was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The author of the book makes the characters believable in many ways. For the main character, Katniss, she includes how she is very scared, as anyone would be, about going into the Hunger Game for the second time in a row against the past inners from each district. Suzanne also includes a love triangle, where Katniss has to be in love with Peeta, the other main character, but she really loves Gale, the friend she has had for years. Peeta is a believable character because he tries to do what any boy in love would do, and that is put his life in the hands of death for the girl he loves. Gale loves Katniss, I think, and he is always there for her.
I am reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and I am on page 51. There are many cases in which the main character is believable due to the author's words. In a sense, the author mimics the emotions of the reader and bestows them upon the character. What I mean by that is while I was reading the book, there were many occasions where the main character, Santiago, came in contact with others and had conversations with them. Whenever I had felt a response to the conversation, Santiago would also have the same response. This made him quite lifelike when you know the actions of the main character relate to what is real, not scripted or forced. Not only did Santiago feel real emotions, he also has the characteristic of being too trustworthy. Many people, until they have been taught, tend to trust everyone they meet and most likely that backfires on you. Santiago left his Shepard home of Andalusia, which is in Spain, to explore his world and to lead himself to the Egyptian pyramids, where he hoped to find a wonderful treasure. He begins his journey in Tangier where he is sitting in a bar. A man comes up to him and speaks spanish which was very surprising to him since most people there spoke arabic. The man promised to help Santiago get to the pyramids and took his money into the market. They were looking to buy camels for the journey when they got separated. Santiago lost all of his money and had nothing more than a book he had traded earlier that morning and his jacket. This tells me he makes mistakes like any other teenager and in that way seems to be more believable because he is imperfect. Another example is when runs into an old man in the market back in his home town. Santiago was reading a book and this man came up to him. He began to ask him if he could have a sip of his wine. Santiago said of course and he then expected the man to go away since he was irritating him. The old man started asking him what he was reading and what he was doing. It really began to get on the nerves of Santiago so he continued to answer the man's questions. Santiago asked the man where he was from and he responded with Salem, which is a city identified with Jerusalem. He ended up being the King of Salem! Santiago first thought the old man was annoyed, aggravating, and was asking too close of personal information. Later on, this man helps Santiago with his trip and he often helps him when he is alone and desperate for guidance. This makes him believable because like anyone else who sees an old man, they are going to judge them without getting to know them first. Knowing Santiago overcame his prejudice made him very realistic as well.
Leah ~ I like the way that you include how the characters are dynamic and that is what makes them believable. You have a very good point. Great job.
Lena ~ I think the number one way the author makes the characters believable are through the emotions and relating it to the reader. You did a great job of explaining that.
I am reading Maze Runner by James Dashner. I am on page 90
The author makes the characters believable because he gives them such common emotions and characteristics. He includes imagery of what they do so you can picture yourself in the person's shoes. You can picture being stuck in a metal elevator, not having your memory and suddenly popping into this world that children have built own civilization. You can imagine trying to fit in. that is why they are believeable
Spark5 ~ why do they curse at people that they like?
I am currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and I am on page 20.
The author makes the characters believable by using slang words and writing how the words would sound if you were to say them out loud. I also felt that incorporating the way things were done during the time period, the early 60s really made the characters believable. The author describes what the women wore which was attire of the 60s. Also the way the author shows the relationship between whites and blacks. The author includes a group of white women talking about how their maids carry diseases and they don’t want to have to share a bathroom with them. She adds in how the women are rude to their maids and view them at a lower level just like during the 60s when blacks and whites didn’t have a good relationship with each other.
I am reading Alex Rider Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz and i am on page 18. I haven't read much but it seems Alex Rider is no different really from a normal kid except for being spy. He is a smart kid but not a muscle man. He right now still has a normal life and the way he acts is not superhuman. For example he gets trapped in a car and is almost crushed to death but gets out by luck and not the supernatural skills you see other spies use like James Bond.
I am currently reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and am on page 102. The author makes the characters of believable because he describes in depth the types of injuries they get just like a normal person would. Like when Stephen Quinn the main character punches a wall from anne, he has a flashback moment of the incident. The author describes "four half moon slashes" on his hand and talks about the dried blood on the wall. The author also makes the characters believable because the setting is what a current country would look like if it was just devastated by a war...There is nothing that is modern really.
Karoline, that is a good point. J.K. Rawlings is very good at adding a little bit everything to her books. (Past, present, and future) stuff.I should read that series.
I am reading the Lost Hero by Rick Riordan I am on page 113.
In my book, the way the author describes and makes the characters believable by first diving right into the story line and describing the appearance of the characters. Then each of the chapters, is from a different character's perspective. So when it goes from different characters they talk about their past and what goes on in their life. this way you become connected to the characters separately and at different times.
Sung Min, I heard that book was really interesting, tell me about it.
I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. She makes the characters very believable because she has them experience real situations and they feel very strong emotions. For example Peeta has such strong feelings toward Katniss.You can almost feel the same way for him and it makes you feel like he is a real person in the world. Also she is very descriptive in describing their feelings and actions. They act and talk like real people would and you can almost see them walking with each other and talking.
I just finished reading the Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis and am not far enough into my next book to answer this question. Throughout the book I realized the author, C.S. Lewis, must have had a hard time making the characters believable because the story was completely fiction. I felt it was hard for her because of how the story was based off of a majestic world, found in a closet that had magical creatures. The author although was still able to somewhat make the characters believable thorough constant dialog, and expressing the feelings of the characters in a detailed way. The author is able to do this by incorporating emotions that real people would experience in different situations, for example on page 99 where it says "LOOK AT WHAT?" SAID EDMUND." This shows that Edmund was told to look at something and could not find it so he got frustrated and yelled "LOOK AT WHAT?" which was an incident that happens constantly in life.
Alex- I completely agree. The emotions of the character do help determine how believable the characters are in the story. How is the book? I have never heard of it before.
I am reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and I am on page 101. The author makes the characters believable by having the characters define themselves through their words and actions. The actions and thoughts that the characters experience are very similar to real people. In addition, the author goes into a lot of depth regarding the characters' thoughts and feelings, which helps make them realistic.
I finally started reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I am on page 42.
One thing that makes the characters believeable is the way they act depending on their past. Katniss's dad was blown up by a mine when she was only ten. This makes her extremely careful when she was out in the forest and this was one of the reasons why she offered to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games. She cares about her family, especially her little sister Prim, and she does wants them to be as happy and comfortable as they can considering how they come from a slum type area. Katniss is fully aware that she hates where she's from because of the background of the place and her personal history, so she manages to care for the people she loves that lives there, and isn't afraid of almost anything.
Dylan~ I agree, thoughts and actions do create who people are and their motives, in real life or in a book, which is why the characters come alive. I can't wait to finish Hunger Games so I can start Mockingjay.
53 comments:
Im reading crossed By Ally Condie,and im on page 215. One thing that makes the characters believable is their emotions. the author is very descriptive throughout the book on the characters emotions and it make you feel what they feel, also the scenery makes it very believable because i know if i was in those situations, i would have the same emotions and difficulties with the terrain.
I am the book Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose. I am currently on page 34.
The characters in this book are probably the most believable characters I have ever read about, mostly because this entire book is based on the "East Company" of the USA army during World War Two. The main characteristic is the way these soldiers in the book act accordingly to the army training. They have people they like. They have people they hate. They have people that they like to compliment or people they really enjoy to curse at. They have actually fears of the war and even the training unlike the unrealistic stories of soldiers who are so brave they are not afraid of anything. Also the situations are very real. The divisions of the army itself are very competitive towards each other, sometimes even the USA army tries to match up to other armies, like Japan, and their achievements. For example, the 506th Regiment of the book marches their soldiers for miles and days on end in order to replace Japan's news of marching for miles without stopping. The company even has disputes among themselves, which makes it more than a war with other countries.
Alex-
What is Crossed about? I have never heard of that book in my life. Is it popular?
Sungmin- wow that sounds like an intense book! is it good?
I'm reading he Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard and I'm on page 109.
Something that makes the characters believable is their insecurities and their flaws. They don't seem made up because of these things because everyone has them. It takes it from a fantasy character to someone you could meet in real life. Like the main character Emma gets nervous when pretending to be Sutton and struggles with stress like we all do. Its interesting to add flaws and insecurities to the characters because they could be ANYTHING. Have all sorts of powers and even be invincible, but authors sometimes want their characters to be believable, so they add that.
I just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins!
The author does an amazing job of making the characters believable because of all of the emotions she describes for the character. Because emotions add depth to a person, like they are real. That's what makes them believable. Also when the readers can relate to the emotions or they could try to put themselves in the characters position and feel for the character, makes the characters more real. However, the best emotion shows when an important event is occurring to the character, whether it’s for a positive or negative reason.
Alex
That's what I was thinking! How emotion is very key.
I am currently re-reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I am 97% done!
The author makes the characters in the book believable by their emotions and way of talking. While in the Hunger Games arena some of the tributes make alliances and when you are reading their conversations you hear some of the dialects. Some of the tributes talk poised and well educated while others have a dialect that is similar to a southern accent. Mean you are also learning that some of the tributes have anger issues and are ill-tempered like Cato from district 2.
Lena~
I love that book!! I'm going to read it again after I finish The Hunger Games. Are you going to read Mocking Jay next?
I am reading Caching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I am on page 225.
Suzanne Collins makes the characters believable by making them relatable to me and others I know. Despite the fact that I live an incredibly different life than these characters I can still relate to their emotions and their way of thinking. What makes the characters even more realistic is that Collins shows their flaws, she exposes the blemishes that we all have but don’t like to talk about. In the last chapter I read Katnisse was ashamed by her selfishness because she was glad that it was Peeta in the chariot next to her rather than Haymitch even though it meant Peeta was in danger.
I am currently reading "Pretty Litlle Liars: Twisted" by Sara Shepard, and I am on page 191.
The author makes the characters believable because we share similar traits, even though their traits are more extensive than mine. Aria and I are both artistic, Spencer and I both have a passion for achieving preferable grades in school, Emily and I are both shy and love to swim, and Hanna and I are both insecure. Aria's artistic ability surpasses mine, such as how she can draw and knit exceedingly well while my drawing capability is modrate at best, and I cannot knit whatsoever. Spencer and I attempt to do well in school, but Spencer is Vice President, earns strait A's, and participates in various after school activities and clubs. Both Emily and I are shy, but she is more so than I am because she does not express her feelings as much as I do, and she loves to swim like me, but she is actually on a team and has been competing for years. Hanna and I share the trait of insecurity, but she actualy had an eating disorder because of it, and I have not. This proves that the author makes the charcters believable by giving them each traits that are relatable.
Bridget,
I agree with you on why the characters are believable, even though I have not read the book. Also, I enjoy when the author exposes character's blemishes, and books would not be amusing if they did not include this.
Paige
you have read alot of books by Sara Shepard, do you like her because of her writing style or story ideas?
I am reading the Iron King by Julie Kagawa and I finished the book today.
The book is about the main character, Meghan Chase, a faery hybrid, as part human, shows herself as a very believable damsel in a world of supernatural beings. Since the faeryworld has very powerful being, where Meghan is just a shunned illegitimate child of a faery king, she is very human like and acts with all the naivety in the world. She falls for every trick a mischievous or malicious faery throws at her when she first came to the Nevernever, the faeryworld. Later she becomes better at avoiding such trickery, but only a little bit. This makes her a very believable character, she is not shown as an absolute being by coming to a foreign otherworldly dangerous wonderland and immediately knowing all the rules, how to fend for herself and acting like a princess should, which Meghan didn't know she was one until in the middle of the book. She acts just like a human would if one was to land in a magical forest full of fairies and gets scared when goblins threaten her life and gets hurt when vicious fairies attack her.
Bridget,
I agree. The blemishes and the weakness of the characters are really the factor that makes them seem real to me. If they didn't have any fault in their character, the story just wouldn't be as fun.
I just finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
The author makes the characters believable by including lots of the character thoughts and opinions. Even though it might be hard to relate to the character's situation or personality, I can relate to their thoughts because we are often thinking the same thing. Like real people, they have many flaws and make mistakes. The author is also very good at describing their actions and emotions. She makes you feel what the character is feeling, and the things they do and say are realistic enough to believe.
Alex,
I read the first book in that series. I have to read Crossed!
Imperfect Justice by Jeff Ashton Just finished the whole book. The characters are very real because the book is a true story, so the characters have real depth which makes the characters relatively real. Jeff Ashton makes sure that the characters are shown just how they really are in real life. Casey Anthony is perceived as an irresponsible liar, which proved throughout the book how the characters relate to the real life situation.
Joy, Thats a really great book! Im so glad you finished it, I thought the characters were realistic too!
I'm reading The House on Honeysuckle Lane by Carole Gift Page, and am on page 35. This book is about Annie Read who is 26 years old, and it takes place in 1946. Annie is a writer and decides to go back to her hometown after many years. Already the character seems real because of how personal and thoughtful the author is in writing. However, the author then begins the next chapter as a flashback. So even though there is a lot of switching between the past and the present in the book, the author does a great job of keeping the thoughtfulness and great aspect of reality with the characters.
Monica~
I agree and think that watching the characters from Katniss' point of view allows you to view things more personally.
The book that I am currently reading is Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith and am on page 186. The author describes the characters with detail which makes the characters believable. He makes them think and be like real people are. Everyone has their secrets which alot of characters do. They have human characteristics and overall the author makes these characters believable. In the book the author thoroughly describe each character to their personality, what they look like and even what they are afraid of.
Jaci~ which book number is that out of the series? Is that one of the last ones? It sounds really interesting and I agree with you on how authors give their characters relatable traits.
i am reading Mocking Jay by Susan Collins and i am on page 17. From page one the main character Katniss is back in the ruins of her old district. Collins almost puts everything in her own perspective while writing because i feel like i can see and feel everything Katniss is. She writes in such detail and emotion and paints a very specific picture for the reader so you feel like you are right there in the middle of all the action that is happening during the course of the story.
PBasting6- I really enjoyed that book. Sara Shepard is one of my favorite authors, i started that book trilogy after i finished Pretty Little Liars because it was the same author and they were SUPER.
I am reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rawlings and I am on page 261.
J.K. Rawlings makes characters believable because you would think that in a world of magic, people would have no problems because magic could solve them all, but she does a good job of displaying how even witches and wizards have fears, problems, and real emotions. Harry and his friends often get in fights, and I think that makes it a lot more believable because some books make it out like the characters have wonderful best friends and they never have problems or disagreements and it's them against the world! But Rawlings makes it clear throughout the book that Harry Ron and Hermione are not that way because they all get in lots of arguments that normal friends do and it just makes it seem more realistic because everybody gets in fights. You can also really feel what Harry is feeling and the way Rawlings writes sort of makes you see how Harry seems fearless and brave on the outside but really he is a normal person who does get really scared and confused sometimes.
ETappy6- I've read all of the Hunger Games books and I totally agree. Collins does a really good job making you feel like you are Katniss. In the first book you sort of get that anxiety and fear of being in the games and you realize, oh wait, I live in a normal world, not the Hunger Games! I think Mokingjay was the same way. You could really see and feel what Katniss was going through.
I just finished the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins over Spring Break.
What makes the characters so believable is the way Collins' writes the book. She makes you feel the emotion that Katniss is feeling, and it totally wraps you up and makes you feel like you are in the situations that Katniss is in. Also, even though Panem is a futuristic country with harsh rules and laws, I see it as a real place that could exist. The fact that the setting is so believable also helps the characters fit into their own environment, which enforces the mood of the book.
KMckaig- I haven't read the Harry Potter books, but I can totally see where you are coming from. Through the movies, I can tell that magic doesn't solve all of Harry's problems, and I agree with you.
I am reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and I am on page 77.
So far, the author has done an incredible job with making the characters believable. Hirsch displays through the characters' actions how nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, just like people in our world. For example, Stephen, the main character, and his dad were hiding to prevent all possible trouble, but his dad decided to sneakily free slaves and nearly got him and his son killed. It was a major mistake on his part. Another reason the characters seem realistic is because of how the characters face tough decisions, as do people in real life. For example, Stephen must decide whether a group of people he meets is trustworthy, because it could end up being a life or death decision, literally. Lastly, in the world we live in, many people look up to their grandparents or parents as role models and strive to have the great qualities that they do. This is the case for Stephen and his relationship with his grandfather. After his grandfather died, Stephen always thought about how his grandpa would have handled a situation or how he would have viewed Stephen's choices, in order to help him during hardships in life and to make him a better person.
Karoline- J.K. Rawlings really does an excellent job making the characters realistic in the Harry Potter series. I agree with you on how she makes the relationships between characters more conflicted than in other books. The disagreements show that even though people are best friends, they still can disagree on things.
I'm reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks and I am on page 132.
I think that the author makes the characters believable because he touches on all aspects of their thoughts, personalities, and feelings. The characters he creates are very dynamic. For example, Logan, the main character, is very strong and independent and determine, but reader's also see a side of him that is shy, conservative, and humble. I think this definitely helps to make the characters more believable. Also, Beth, the lady that Logan is searching for, is believable because she has her guard up whens she firsts meets Logan and doesn't just run into his arms. I think the author made the characters believable by keeping them practical.
Jaci: I agree that authors make characters believable by making it seem that they are just like us, even through the crazy things they experience!
I am reading The Ovechkin project by Damien Cox and Gare joyce. In my book the characters are very believable. This is mostly true because the book is a biography and everything in a biography is true. Ovechkin also seems to be very believable because even though he is one of the greatest hockey players in the world. Things still happen in his life that happen to normal people. For example his brother that got him started in hockey died in a car crash when Alex Ovechkin was 10.
I just finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I think that she does a really great job of making the characters seem realistic, mostly Katniss, the main character. For one, she tries her hardest to make Katniss imperfect. We see things through Katniss' eyes and we also "feel" what she is feeling. A lot of times she thinks that she is not capable of performing the tasks of the Mockingjay. She is not very confident, she does not think too highly of herself, and is always worried about something. I think that it makes her much more realistic because in the end, she is not all that different from one of us.
Lena~
I just finished the third book in the series and I agree that the author does a really great job of making the characters believable. I also liked the second book the best!
KMcKaig6 I agree in the sense that the characters in Harry Potter are created to be very real
The book that I finished reading was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The author of the book makes the characters believable in many ways. For the main character, Katniss, she includes how she is very scared, as anyone would be, about going into the Hunger Game for the second time in a row against the past inners from each district. Suzanne also includes a love triangle, where Katniss has to be in love with Peeta, the other main character, but she really loves Gale, the friend she has had for years. Peeta is a believable character because he tries to do what any boy in love would do, and that is put his life in the hands of death for the girl he loves. Gale loves Katniss, I think, and he is always there for her.
Kate~ I just got Mockingjay and a I’m starting it today. IM SO EXCITED FOR IT!!
I am reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and I am on page 51.
There are many cases in which the main character is believable due to the author's words. In a sense, the author mimics the emotions of the reader and bestows them upon the character. What I mean by that is while I was reading the book, there were many occasions where the main character, Santiago, came in contact with others and had conversations with them. Whenever I had felt a response to the conversation, Santiago would also have the same response. This made him quite lifelike when you know the actions of the main character relate to what is real, not scripted or forced. Not only did Santiago feel real emotions, he also has the characteristic of being too trustworthy. Many people, until they have been taught, tend to trust everyone they meet and most likely that backfires on you. Santiago left his Shepard home of Andalusia, which is in Spain, to explore his world and to lead himself to the Egyptian pyramids, where he hoped to find a wonderful treasure. He begins his journey in Tangier where he is sitting in a bar. A man comes up to him and speaks spanish which was very surprising to him since most people there spoke arabic. The man promised to help Santiago get to the pyramids and took his money into the market. They were looking to buy camels for the journey when they got separated. Santiago lost all of his money and had nothing more than a book he had traded earlier that morning and his jacket. This tells me he makes mistakes like any other teenager and in that way seems to be more believable because he is imperfect. Another example is when runs into an old man in the market back in his home town. Santiago was reading a book and this man came up to him. He began to ask him if he could have a sip of his wine. Santiago said of course and he then expected the man to go away since he was irritating him. The old man started asking him what he was reading and what he was doing. It really began to get on the nerves of Santiago so he continued to answer the man's questions. Santiago asked the man where he was from and he responded with Salem, which is a city identified with Jerusalem. He ended up being the King of Salem! Santiago first thought the old man was annoyed, aggravating, and was asking too close of personal information. Later on, this man helps Santiago with his trip and he often helps him when he is alone and desperate for guidance. This makes him believable because like anyone else who sees an old man, they are going to judge them without getting to know them first. Knowing Santiago overcame his prejudice made him very realistic as well.
Leah ~ I like the way that you include how the characters are dynamic and that is what makes them believable. You have a very good point. Great job.
Lena ~ I think the number one way the author makes the characters believable are through the emotions and relating it to the reader. You did a great job of explaining that.
I am reading Maze Runner by James Dashner. I am on page 90
The author makes the characters believable because he gives them such common emotions and characteristics. He includes imagery of what they do so you can picture yourself in the person's shoes. You can picture being stuck in a metal elevator, not having your memory and suddenly popping into this world that children have built own civilization. You can imagine trying to fit in. that is why they are believeable
Spark5 ~ why do they curse at people that they like?
I am currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and I am on page 20.
The author makes the characters believable by using slang words and writing how the words would sound if you were to say them out loud. I also felt that incorporating the way things were done during the time period, the early 60s really made the characters believable. The author describes what the women wore which was attire of the 60s. Also the way the author shows the relationship between whites and blacks. The author includes a group of white women talking about how their maids carry diseases and they don’t want to have to share a bathroom with them. She adds in how the women are rude to their maids and view them at a lower level just like during the 60s when blacks and whites didn’t have a good relationship with each other.
Leah- I can't wait to read that book. The movie looks like it's going to be really good.
I am reading Alex Rider Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz and i am on page 18. I haven't read much but it seems Alex Rider is no different really from a normal kid except for being spy. He is a smart kid but not a muscle man. He right now still has a normal life and the way he acts is not superhuman. For example he gets trapped in a car and is almost crushed to death but gets out by luck and not the supernatural skills you see other spies use like James Bond.
Sungmin Band of Brothers is a great book but at times there's so much happening its hard to wrap your mind around it.
I am currently reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and am on page 102. The author makes the characters of believable because he describes in depth the types of injuries they get just like a normal person would. Like when Stephen Quinn the main character punches a wall from anne, he has a flashback moment of the incident. The author describes "four half moon slashes" on his hand and talks about the dried blood on the wall. The author also makes the characters believable because the setting is what a current country would look like if it was just devastated by a war...There is nothing that is modern really.
anger*
Karoline, that is a good point. J.K. Rawlings is very good at adding a little bit everything to her books. (Past, present, and future) stuff.I should read that series.
I am reading the Lost Hero by Rick Riordan I am on page 113.
In my book, the way the author describes and makes the characters believable by first diving right into the story line and describing the appearance of the characters. Then each of the chapters, is from a different character's perspective. So when it goes from different characters they talk about their past and what goes on in their life. this way you become connected to the characters separately and at different times.
Sung Min, I heard that book was really interesting, tell me about it.
I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. She makes the characters very believable because she has them experience real situations and they feel very strong emotions. For example Peeta
has such strong feelings toward Katniss.You can almost feel the same way for him and it makes you feel like he is a real person in the world. Also she is very descriptive in describing their feelings and actions. They act and talk like real people would and you can almost see them walking with each other and talking.
Lena~ I would love to borrow Catching Fire because i just finished The Hunger Games! Did you like Catching Fire more?
I just finished reading the Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis and am not far enough into my next book to answer this question. Throughout the book I realized the author, C.S. Lewis, must have had a hard time making the characters believable because the story was completely fiction. I felt it was hard for her because of how the story was based off of a majestic world, found in a closet that had magical creatures. The author although was still able to somewhat make the characters believable thorough constant dialog, and expressing the feelings of the characters in a detailed way. The author is able to do this by incorporating emotions that real people would experience in different situations, for example on page 99 where it says "LOOK AT WHAT?" SAID EDMUND." This shows that Edmund was told to look at something and could not find it so he got frustrated and yelled "LOOK AT WHAT?" which was an incident that happens constantly in life.
Alex- I completely agree. The emotions of the character do help determine how believable the characters are in the story. How is the book? I have never heard of it before.
I am reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and I am on page 101. The author makes the characters believable by having the characters define themselves through their words and actions. The actions and thoughts that the characters experience are very similar to real people. In addition, the author goes into a lot of depth regarding the characters' thoughts and feelings, which helps make them realistic.
Andrew, when I read that book, those same things popped into my head that made me think of how realistic the characters were. Good work!
I finally started reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I am on page 42.
One thing that makes the characters believeable is the way they act depending on their past. Katniss's dad was blown up by a mine when she was only ten. This makes her extremely careful when she was out in the forest and this was one of the reasons why she offered to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games. She cares about her family, especially her little sister Prim, and she does wants them to be as happy and comfortable as they can considering how they come from a slum type area. Katniss is fully aware that she hates where she's from because of the background of the place and her personal history, so she manages to care for the people she loves that lives there, and isn't afraid of almost anything.
Dylan~
I agree, thoughts and actions do create who people are and their motives, in real life or in a book, which is why the characters come alive. I can't wait to finish Hunger Games so I can start Mockingjay.
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