What Do My Characters Read?

As I pondered this week’s question about what my characters read, I realized that to an outside observer, it appears they read very little. In all of her many adventures, Dana, my main protagonist, only picks up a book once or twice.

The problem is the act of reading itself. While any number of books can be full of excitement and keep a reader engrossed for hours, reading about someone else reading can be awfully tedious. That’s why I try to keep Dana busy. Unless she’s actively looking for clues or performing some work-related tasks in the farm’s office, she spends most of her time with other people, allowing for plenty of action and lively conversation. Even in her down time, she is often on a date with Jason or hanging out in her apartment with her sister, Ashlee. It’s far more interesting to hear the two sisters banter about their favorite Survivor contestant while they watch TV together than it is to read about Dana reading a book.

But she does read, and her favorite genre is mystery, of course. All those tips and tricks she reads about come in handy when she’s investigating the occasional murder in Blossom Valley. She has also borrowed quite a few books from Esther on organic farming and caring for animals, plus she reads every issue of the Blossom Valley Herald, especially the articles that Jason writes.

Ashlee, on the other hand, mostly reads fashion magazines so she can keep abreast of the latest trends and styles, plus she scans the occasional gossip rag. But while the coffee table in their apartment is often littered with these magazines and tabloids, Ashlee is turning to the digital versions more and more. She likes to say she’s saving trees, but really she finds print media too slow for her tastes.

As for Jason, he is a nonfiction lover through and through. He especially enjoys military books and focuses much of his reading on World War Two, with the occasional side trip into the Civil War.

Now that Dana’s relationship with Jason is heating up and she’s finding her duties increasing at the farm, she finds less time to enjoy her books. But on those cold winter nights when the wind is howling and the temperature is dropping, she loves nothing more than to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and the latest cozy mystery.

Comments

[Michael A. Black]

You know, I don't think I've shown any of my characters reading either and for exactly the same reason you mentioned. It's hard to convey action when your protagonist is sitting in a chair reading a book. Hmm, maybe I'll take this as a challenge and try to come up with a reading scene.