That’s funny that it turned out to be 365! Weird timing for the exercise, huh?
I think this is a great idea. I believe I’ll start a document like this NOW while I haven’t used many names to prevent having to do it later!
You know, I hardly ever remember characters’ names in books unless they just stand out in a huge way for some reason. It frustrates me to no end when I’ve just finished a book and need to, but can’t remember the main character’s name–even when I loved the story! Sometimes it even happens while I’m in the middle of the book. I had to think hard to remember the characters’ names in the book I’m reading right now. (Anita Shreve/Pilot’s Wife … and I remember now.)
Should I be concerned? LOL
I don’t think it’s the author’s fault, but it’s interesting. Perhaps it’s even a good sign that the point of view was deep enough I got completely lost in the character’s head.
I just noticed you have a Penny in Cypress Point. I have a Penny in my WIP, and that’s not a very common name these days.
Diane:
I just want you to know that you have my permission to use “Ronnie” anytime you want to. It is a very versatile name, can be used for female or male or short for something else like Veronica or Ronald. I happen to be a real “Ronnie” it is not short for anything else. So feel free……….
Ronnie, I just checked my handy dandy character name list, and “Ronnie” had quite a prominent role in CEECEE WILKES.
Gina, are you enjoying The Pilot’s Wife? I think that’s my favorite of Shreve’s books. And I don’t remember the character names either.
Yup, it was me. 🙂 I loved it. I finihed it during the wee hours of this morning because I couldn’t go to bed without finding out what happened. Everything was so finely drawn while being kind of at a distance–setting, characters, and the TENSION. Wow. There were a few lines I had to stop and read a line over a few times because they were so “on.”
I’ve only read three of hers, but definitely my favorite so far.
I always read Anita Shreve. I love most of her books, although I could never get into Fortune’s Rocks, which was ironically one of her most popular. The Pilot’s Wife was very “high concept,” which is what made it so incredibly good. Most of her books are quieter. If only we writers could come up with high concept books every time, we’d be much happier (and wealthier) critters.
I LOVED PILOT’S LIFE…I loved many of her early books-not her later books…that is happening with so many authors…I think they become commercial and decide to spend less time on books??? I am not sure…Certainly not true with you, Diane.
Brenda, I think it just takes certain elements to make a novel unique and ‘high concept;’ they either work or they don’t. I imagine that an established writer perhaps has a more difficult time with repeating the good fortune they may have found with one particular story/book on those that follow. Maybe Diane can comment on this (NOT that SHE has this problem!).
I recently read TETHERED which, in my humble opinion, was sort of ‘high concept’ and unique. I loved it.
I’ve never read Anita Shreve but have heard so much about her. One day I decided I try one of her books and picked up BODY SURFING…I opened to page 1 to read the 1st paragraph and it was in 1ST PERSON!…uh oh…not for me so I put it back on the shelf…Am I missing a good Anita Shreve book by refusing to read 1st person?……….
Oops…I made a mistake Diane…Anita Shreve wrote BODY SURFING in PRESENT tense. 1st person I love, not present tense…my mind must have been elsewhere when I wrote that comment.
That’s funny that it turned out to be 365! Weird timing for the exercise, huh?
I think this is a great idea. I believe I’ll start a document like this NOW while I haven’t used many names to prevent having to do it later!
You know, I hardly ever remember characters’ names in books unless they just stand out in a huge way for some reason. It frustrates me to no end when I’ve just finished a book and need to, but can’t remember the main character’s name–even when I loved the story! Sometimes it even happens while I’m in the middle of the book. I had to think hard to remember the characters’ names in the book I’m reading right now. (Anita Shreve/Pilot’s Wife … and I remember now.)
Should I be concerned? LOL
I don’t think it’s the author’s fault, but it’s interesting. Perhaps it’s even a good sign that the point of view was deep enough I got completely lost in the character’s head.
I just noticed you have a Penny in Cypress Point. I have a Penny in my WIP, and that’s not a very common name these days.
Three boyfriends-Jim…wow…I have a best friend named JIM…wonderful good man…
Good luck on names…
Diane:
I just want you to know that you have my permission to use “Ronnie” anytime you want to. It is a very versatile name, can be used for female or male or short for something else like Veronica or Ronald. I happen to be a real “Ronnie” it is not short for anything else. So feel free……….
Ronnie, I just checked my handy dandy character name list, and “Ronnie” had quite a prominent role in CEECEE WILKES.
Gina, are you enjoying The Pilot’s Wife? I think that’s my favorite of Shreve’s books. And I don’t remember the character names either.
Diane, I’m not reading The Pilot’s Wife. LOL Maybe you have me confused with someone else that is reading it? I read that book many, many years ago.
Yup, confused all right. It’s Julie (see first comment).
Yup, it was me. 🙂 I loved it. I finihed it during the wee hours of this morning because I couldn’t go to bed without finding out what happened. Everything was so finely drawn while being kind of at a distance–setting, characters, and the TENSION. Wow. There were a few lines I had to stop and read a line over a few times because they were so “on.”
I’ve only read three of hers, but definitely my favorite so far.
I read Pilot’s Wife many years ago and remember that I loved it. I read another Shreve novel after that and just could not get into it.
I always read Anita Shreve. I love most of her books, although I could never get into Fortune’s Rocks, which was ironically one of her most popular. The Pilot’s Wife was very “high concept,” which is what made it so incredibly good. Most of her books are quieter. If only we writers could come up with high concept books every time, we’d be much happier (and wealthier) critters.
I LOVED PILOT’S LIFE…I loved many of her early books-not her later books…that is happening with so many authors…I think they become commercial and decide to spend less time on books??? I am not sure…Certainly not true with you, Diane.
Brenda, I think it just takes certain elements to make a novel unique and ‘high concept;’ they either work or they don’t. I imagine that an established writer perhaps has a more difficult time with repeating the good fortune they may have found with one particular story/book on those that follow. Maybe Diane can comment on this (NOT that SHE has this problem!).
I recently read TETHERED which, in my humble opinion, was sort of ‘high concept’ and unique. I loved it.
I’ve never read Anita Shreve but have heard so much about her. One day I decided I try one of her books and picked up BODY SURFING…I opened to page 1 to read the 1st paragraph and it was in 1ST PERSON!…uh oh…not for me so I put it back on the shelf…Am I missing a good Anita Shreve book by refusing to read 1st person?……….
but Margo, you read ME in first person!
Oops…I made a mistake Diane…Anita Shreve wrote BODY SURFING in PRESENT tense. 1st person I love, not present tense…my mind must have been elsewhere when I wrote that comment.