Characters welcome?

Well - I have to concur that the characters compel me to finish a story far more than any plot ever will. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate a well told story, and will enjoy the clever twists an author can infuse: Sandra Brown's "Envy" anyone? But the characters keep me until the end - whatever it may be. I am gloriously involved with the "...In Death" series that J.D. Robb so brilliantly pens. Some of the plots are less intense than others, but I have come to look at the characters as old and comfortable friends. I genuinely care for Eve and Roarke and have come to care equally for the series regulars. Even the coroner, Morris, got his own story and, heartbreaking though it was, we were given a here-to-fore- unseen glimpse into the person behind the spiffy clothes and the great hair. While the plot lasts only as long as the book, the characters live on. (Dare I bring up Gone With The Wind, Kate? We all want to know what happened to Rhett and Scarlett. Do we really care about the restoration post Civil War? nah!)

The Plot's The Thing (oh, wait...)

Over dinner last night, an intriguing discussion came up, leading to a further intriguing discussion that will take place... Here.

While talking about the wonderful (non-trashy) book The Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie, I was noticing that a lot of people who had read it had a lot of trouble finishing it, myself included. I liked the book, would go so far as to say that I loved the book, and will definitely read its inevitable sequels.

But I still had to force myself to sit down and finish it.

So I've decided that it has everything to do with characters versus plot: when you love both, it's easy to sit down and read the book, no problems, no questions, no hesitation. When one of those elements is askew, things get a little more difficult. In Sweetness, I adored the characters, but didn't care one way or the other about the plot and its mysterious resolution.

I have a feeling this particular scenario is symptomatic of series: you come to know and love the characters, and eventually you can get tired of the plot. Or vice-versa.

A specific example of this in Romancelandia? Every Stephanie Laurens novel I have ever tried to read. For the record, I have picked up probably 10 of her books over the past five years and have only managed to finish two: Captain Jack's Woman (a personal favorite) and The Promise in a Kiss (though to be honest, I now cannot tell you what that one is really about). I always like the characters and don't mind the plot, and never stop reading the books on purpose-- there is no deliberate "This book sucks, I'm going to read something else."

At some point I just stop reading, and literally cannot compel myself to finish.

So here's the question: when only one thing can be good (plot or characters) which is the MOST IMPORTANT one to get the book reading finished? For me, it's got to be the characters every time. If I don't care about them fully and completely, there is no possible way for me to finish the book. While I may have liked Laurens' characters well enough, they didn't compel me past what I considered to be pretty bland plots. On the other hand, Flavia De Luce and the remarkable characters around her were the only things that got me through to the end of Sweetness.

... discussing

Kate will say that every book I read is like the first time. I am constantly purchasing books I already own because I don't remember the plot or the main characters names. So my choice may be rather skewed.

I have to say, that I agree with Kate in that many of my current "favorite" authors have developed writing styles that improve with time (exception: Jude Deveraux - what's up with her lately? And have I already asked that?)

So, for the book I would like to experience "a-new" all over again, I have to harken back a long time to a favorite read, re-read, re-re-read. M.M. Kaye's Shadow of The Moon. The intensity of the history detailed in the Indian uprising and the intelligence of the hero (whose name, I DO remember, is Alex) make it more than just a romance novel. And the end of the book still clutches my heart.

The book is no longer in print and the copy I own was borrowed from my local amazing library and subsequently lost, so I paid for my negligence. I have since found it and it assumes a place of honor on the bookshelf in my living room.

I'd lend you my copy to read, but it's kind of a treasure!

Discussion Time!

Over at the better, smarter, funnier website, they have incited a discussion about Books You Would Like to Rediscover. You know, the ones that were so good you wish there could be some sort of strategic, Sydney-Bristow-like precision memory erasing so that you could pick it up and be thrilled, amused, heart-broken, and overheated all over again, in the way only a first-reading can accomplish.

So that got me thinking, what would my first choice for that be? To be sure, every Kresley Cole EVER with the exception of maybe two. I still remember the first time I picked up her first books. I have no idea what made me do it (Amazon rec, author quote on the book...?), but I knew by the time I had finished Captain of All Pleasures (no snickering!) that I had discovered a new "favorite author." A lot of writers take a while to hit their stride (Hi, Linda Howard and Sandra Brown. What's going on?), but once they get there, they nail it (pun... yep, pun intended). Kresley Cole had it down on the first go, which speaks volumes about the quality of her work since and in the future.

Oh look, I've digressed! ALL of that aside, when I talk about a book I wish I could un-remember for the joy of reading it *again for the first time*, Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood is the only correct answer.

As a heroine, Jade rocks my world, what with all the lying and the stealing and the incredible ability to fool anyone she has ever come across, with the sole exception of the Marquess of Cainewood (or so he would really, really like to think). The story progesses merrily along, and you think you know "the answer" because everyone in the whole book is so sure of it themselves-- Jade's brother Nathan is the notorious Pirate Pagan who killed Caine's brother (although there is definitely A Misunderstanding there) and Caine has to decide how he's going to keep Jade even after he kills her brother.

And then Uncle Harry shows up.

Look, I'm not going to get into the glorious 100+ page sequence in which Nathan strolls into Cainewood to find Caine threatening his sister, in which Sterns hides the silver under the bed, in which Harry carries Caine's stepmother out of the house with the sure knowledge that "Caine would want me to have her!" but it needs to be said that nothing can make me smile harder, laugh louder, or jump up and down in my seat quite like Guardian Angel. And that's after at least 10 readings.

I remember distinctly the moment that scene reached its pivotal moment... because a neighbor came over to insist that I come swimming. I went to the pool, but never got in. There was no way I was putting that book down.

So Wendy... you're up ;)

Gently finding my way back

Okay, so there appears to be some time in my days that wasn't available to me as recently as a week ago. I will take advantage of it. I'm in "Comfort Food" mode and reading Jude Deveraux's Sweet Liar. I need to remark on the fact that in the past few years I have given up on her books. I just can't seem to understand what or why she's writing. But I digress. Sweet Liar takes us back to her wonderful Taggerts and Montgomerys. As I have not finished the book (this time around) yet, I can only remark on my observations so far. It still holds up! Sam and Michael still appeal, and the story has meat. The heroine, Samantha, starts off wishy washy enough, but soon Michael (did I mention he's a Taggert?) brings out some very charming qualities and I am delighted by her spree in the bookstore - because who wouldn't like to be told that whatever books they could pick out in x number of minutes would be theirs to keep? The whole concept of the reenactment of a massacre is a bit overdone, but it gets us more familiar with other characters (who will eventually get their own books) and sets up the end of the story nicely. I'll let you know when I finish, and maybe I'll have time to read something a little meatier next time.

Which Came First- The Plot or the Prophecy?

A small note before I get started: I just discovered Kindle for iPod Touch, and it is the most dangerous thing I have ever encountered in my entire life. Ebola and Lady Liberty on whiskey included. First of all, the app is free, so all you need is an iPod Touch, which happens to be at least twice as functional as a Kindle anyway (Kindle: Books. iPod Touch: Music, Videos. Twice as functional). So all of my favorite books, you know, of the trashy romantic variety, are available for less than $10 and sometimes for less than $5. Plus there's the whole delivered-wirelessly-in-the-blink-of-an-eye thing. Lo and behold, Ms. Jones has fallen into lust with an inanimate object.

So this Kindle thing rocks, because I can buy books that I don't want to physically own (but want to read anyway) at a fraction of the cost. And I don't have to waste valuable bookstore time trying to remember the title of That Book I Told Myself I Would Not Forget.

Which brings me to The Nightwalkers series and its first book, Jacob (I'm really not reviewing the book or my problem with the fact that the title is a name. Not going there). In theory this is one of my favorite kinds of romance with my favorite kind of conflict. Jacob is a Demon (supernatural/magic: check), whose sole job it is to be The Enforcer, demonkind's own sheriff counteracting Violence Against Humans (male in natural protector/military role: check). Part of his job? To make sure that there is no demon/human sexing of any kind. You see it coming, don't you? One night he encounters a human female (heroine as excellent intellectual librarian: check) and falls madly into lust/love/pheromone/gene induced obsession (forbidden love: check check check). The writing is so-so (read better, read way worse), the sex is OK (read waaaaaay better. Actually, wrote better), and the strictures of the world created by the author are slightly unclear, but since there are at least 3 characters who will obviously have books of their own, we'll get there eventually.

And now we come to the source of this little post and the title thereof: Which came first, the plot or the prophecy? Jacob and His Woman, Isabella (I kid you not) are the subject of a prophecy about The Enforcers how their kids will start a new generation, etc. etc. etc. Here's the prophecy:

The Demon. The Druid. And all will be returned to the state in which it all began. Purity restored... An Enforcer will be born and reach maturity as magic once more threatens the time, as the peace of the Demon yaws toward insanity. The Enforcer will be born to hunt the Transformed, will have the power to destroy, to walk unscented... This Enforcer's thoughts will be sealed except to Kin and Mate, will walk the Demon path in body and soul, though never born to it.

Now, let's review: They meet and then she magically kills one of the Transformed when she is attacked. Jacob has just spent the past 78165 Kindle pages (they're really small on the iPod!) talking about how "Bella" (grrrrrr) is so pure, absorbs scents, and how they keep getting more and more mentally connected until they are... practically telepathic? But only with each other. Gee whiz, I wonder who the prophecy is about!

Call me crazy (go ahead... I'll wait) but to me a prophecy should not be written almost word-for-word to the characters and situation. Like, there should be enough ambiguity that it is at least possible that someone had misinterpretted something, somewhere along the line. I get it; if it's a prophecy then it's "going" to come true, and there will be people who fit it perfectly. But with the exact wording? Really?

I'd like to bring forth my friend J.R. Ward who at least hears what I'm saying. Two things: In Lover Eternal, V has a premonition that has something to do with Rhage and His Woman. I don't quite recall the context, but it has something to do with a virgin. Rhage's Woman (I mean, Mary) is not a virgin, so Rhage gets confused. Turns out Mary's mother named her after... All together now!... The Virgin Mary. Also, Lover Revealed has Butch and some scary Other recruit vying for position as the Ultimate Weapon of or against The Omega. Both of them are the same age, have the same(-ish) backgrounds, physical markings, etc. and the prophecy is ambiguous enough that it really could be either of them. Really. Except (SPOILER ALERT:) it's really Butch.

What have we learned today? Prophecies are great. And so are oracles. But for the love of Delphi, make it interesting, make it count, and don't make us think you just re-read your book to write them.

THE HERO- Discussion Post

I imagine this will be an ongoing thematic discussion here at Novel Idea, because the ideal of the perfect hero is completely changeable depending on mood, situation, and... mood and situation. I can't speak for every romance reader ever (though I will pretend I can), but which author you're reading, who the book is about (characters) and the plot (CIA dude? Rakish pirate?) can all determine what you are looking for in a particular hero at any given time.

Wendy Pan kindly loaned me two of Erin McCarthy's latest, Hard and Fast and Flat-Out Sexy (stop snickering!) and it occurred to me that the heroes of these books (it's a series, too!) are nothing to write home (or blog) about, but they are solid, dependable, sexy men dripping with testosterone. In fact, McCarthy seems to go out of her way to make the point that men in any field other than racing (her male characters' chief occupation) are losers who can't find their way around female anatomy. But I digress.

The point is that if you're looking for anything but an uber alpha-male (of which there are varying degrees, by the way), you're in for a world of disappointment. I contend that the only real variation is the female herself, and the way she acts and interacts with the hero. Discuss.

Anyway, time for The Novel Idea's first Top Ten List! My top 10 heroes ever, in order, because I can.

9. John Medina (All the Queen's Men, Linda Howard)- Falls so hard for the woman he can't have that when he's finally in the same room with her, he can't help but ask her to put herself in all kinds of unnecessary danger. Then when they're in the thick of it, he can't help but rip her clothes off anyway. Manipulative? Sure. But anytime a book ends with the girl joining the guy in the field (as spy, vampire hunter, etc .) and not at home waiting around is OK by me.

8. Jack Travis (Smooth Talking Stranger, Lisa Kleypas)- OK, so he's new (the book only came out in March) but the evolution of the alpha-hero to the point that he recognizes he's a bit of a psycho? In fact, I think the passage goes something like:

"There are about ten things I want to say to you right now, and at least nine of them make me sound like a complete psycho."

"What's the tenth thing?"

"Nope. That pretty much makes me sound like a psycho, too."

Gives all of us neo-feminists the satisfaction of knowing he recognizes the way possessive men sound, but let's us know he's feeling it anyway.

(And let's not forget the parking garage. Ever.)

7. The Marquess of Cainwood (Guardian Angel, Julie Garwood)- An old-school romance hero of yore, Caine takes the news that his beloved is a pirate with aplomb (and then beats the crap out of her brother.) Extra points for always coming to get her no matter how many times she runs away, and for passing out when the baby is born. And for putting up with Sterns.

6. Harrison MacDonald (For the Roses, Julie Garwood)- Two Julie Garwood characters in a row, I know, I apologize. But Harrison does the classic "lie to the heroine about who he is and why he's there," and we still love him more than words can express. Why? Because he beats up the Clayborne brothers like he's a member of the family, produces the best murder defense this side of Johnny Cochran, and he's a frakking Scottish Cowboy. I don't think I need to add anything else.

5. Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)- Those of you who read this post from its inception know that I was initially leaving Angel off the list because he appears on TV, not in romance novels. Justification for adding him now? Ready, steady, go: On Amazon, the Buffy graphic novels for "Season 8" appear on the "Romance Bestsellers" list. So there. I'm breaking my own rules, but if Stephenie Meyer can do it in her bestselling series, I can do it in this tiny post that no more than 10 people will read. Anyway, Angel. All tormented and angsty, all brooding, soul-and-not-sex-having Angel. Loves her more than his life, leaves her before he ruins hers, and still manages to pop over from his spin-off series when it matters most. Plus him trying to "save" Joyce from Spike is one of the funniest scenes of the series.

4. Zane Mackenzie (Mackenzie's Pleasure, Linda Howard)- In a world populated by Mackenzies, it's difficult to make a choice between them, but for me it's got to be Zane. Every. Time. He is a bit of a retreat from the more evolved hero (he drags her off in the night to elope, and she doesn't seem to do... anything), but there's something about a Navy Seal and showing up at your door to announce that you're getting married that gets me every time. Perhaps it could be argued that Zane would be a better hero if he had been given a better heroine? I'm just saying.

3. Conrad Wroth (Dark Needs At Night's Edge, Kresley Cole)- Heinous title aside, Conrad Wroth is one of my favorite heroes from the Immortals After Dark series, and among the crowd that includes Cadeon Woede, Lachlain MacRieve, and, well, the rest of the Wroth Brothers, that's saying something. Maybe it's my own personal weakness for tormented heroes, but Conrad's bloodlust and insanity is off the hook. No matter how far he comes with the help of the lovely Néomi, he's always dangling on the precipice of losing his mind. The fact that even at the end of the book he is not completely recovered speaks volumes for him as a character and Cole as a writer, for not insisting that everything end perfectly in a neat little bow. Plus there is that shower scene. Hot. Damn.

2. Derek Craven (Dreaming of You, Lisa Keypas)- Derek Craven, up-by-the-bootstraps, from-the-gutter gaming club owner in Regency London, falls for a bookish researcher who is stalking his club to talk to his whores about the World's Oldest Profession. He saves her from assault after she saves his life, and then he proceeds to do everything in his power to get the hell away from her, knowing that her life would be better without him in it. Finally capitulating after she is assaulted again (yes, she gets a bit old, but she's perfect for him), they wed and live happily ever after, with Derek still realistically living on the edge of what he used to be.

1. Derek Sutherland (Captain of All Pleasure, Kresley Cole)- OK so Derek is the go-to name for tormented heroes. We get it. Another Cole hero, another frakked up gentleman. Derek Sutherland is married, an alcoholic, reprobate, deadbeat. And then he encounters the magic hoo-hoo and all is well. But all kidding aside, Derek is perfect in his torment-- he loves her to the point of insanity, can't eat, can't sleep, can't think when they're not together, and then completely turns his life around when they are. Love. Him.

This was actually a stunningly painful list to put together, mostly because for every memorable alpha-hottie there are ten "who the frak is this guy and why is he such a" freaks. And all the guys in between. So it's my Top 9. Which you should be grateful to have anyway.