I feel like I experience a bit of cognitive dissonance specifically when I write reviews and make annotations in books I read. I don’t know whether to treat the characters as if they’re real or not.
Specifically it happens when I pass judgment on a character, like “why would you do that?” Well. They did that because the author made them because the characters aren’t real.
So I was wondering how others went about it.
by Responsible-Club-393
3 Comments
Whether they’re real or not doesn’t really matter. Sure, the author made them do the thing, but what matters is whether it obeys the inner logic of the narrative. The author also gave them a certain personality and put them into circumstances, and how they act should make sense in that context. Not in the sense that every action should be perfectly rational, mind. It just should align with whatever else the story gives us. If it does, it’s all good. If it doesn’t, there’s either a reason, or it’s just poor writing choices.
Well they are kinda real in the story and I dont judge much because it’s a story, evolving. You expect the protagonist , in many cases, to evolve. Or simply change and you live that with them. (Thinking of a few novels I read lately).
Well ofc I know they are not REAL, but I do like to write stuff in the books like I’m talking to them. The book is their home, and therefore when I write in it they see it. (Ofc this is not actually true but it’s a fun lil thought)