As I was thinking about this, my all-time favorite book that is on my bookshelf came to mind—The Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. I adore this book because it has it all. It's funny, sad, uplifting, and it leaves me feeling good at the end. It's written in letters between a 12 year-old Jewish boy, Joey, and a professional baseball player, Charlie, set in New York City during World War II.
I've often wondered what it is that makes this book so special to me. I think it’s the characters which is always the most important part of any movie, television show, or book. While story is important, a mediocre story with memorable and loveable characters is always a winner for me. This book offers all of that. Joey is being raised by his mother and aunt, and he’s desperate for male attention, so he starts sending letters to a professional baseball player.
I love the humor and the mom and aunt. They just have this way of making you laugh until you cry. But then again, so do Joey and Charlie. You can't help but love them all. And even though it’s set in one of the most tumultuous times in recent history, it still just makes me feel wonderful every time I read it. I highly recommended this book.
As I wrote this blog I wondered what makes truly memorable characters. When I think of characters that stay with me I think of shows like Gilmore Girls. One thing I’ve noticed about this show and The Last Days of Summer is even the most unlikeable characters have redeeming qualities like Lorelai’s parents. While they turn their back on their daughter when she gets pregnant and are always worried about status, they still deeply love their daughter and granddaughter even if I don’t like how they show their love at times. I think it’s the imperfections that make these characters stand out.
The same is true in Last Days of Summer. There are flawed characters, but they all have some kind of redeeming factor that makes you love them.
As a writer this is a great lesson because it’s not easy to give an unlikable character redeeming factors, but it’s something I want to work on because I believe it will give my stories more depth and readers that ahhh factor when they come to the end of the story. I also hope it will bring them back to read more of my books.
What’s your all-time favorite book and what’s put it on your keeper shelf?
I’m currently working on the third book in the Vermont Christmas Romance series. I’m still working on the rough draft, but I’m lacking unlikeable characters that I could redeem. So now I’m thinking about how I can incorporate that into the story. Since it’s a Christmas book I like the idea of a Scrooge type character that is changed by love and attention from my main characters.
Santa Comes to Snowside
What music do Santa’s elves like the best? Wrap music!
Annie Murphy, a transit bus driver in Snowside, Vermont, loves scavenger hunts and the corny jokes her riders share. She has a heart as big as the city and gave up college to raise her orphaned nephew without a second thought. But so far true love has eluded her.
A downturn in the economy five years ago sent Jack Davidson down a path to enlightenment. Giving up a lucrative career in finance and his swanky high-rise apartment, he invested all his savings to start Job Hunters 4 You, a nonprofit that helps the unemployed find work. The only thing missing is that special someone in his life.
Jody and Nick Claws arrive on Jack’s doorstep in matching red and green plaid flannel shirts, the spitting image of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The pair are on a mission to work their Christmas magic on two lonely hearts—Annie and Jack.
Grab your copy today because nothing kicks off the holidays like a match made in heaven.
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Wow Kathy, what a difficult, challenging and, for me, impossible question. I'm currently rereading for at least the 2nd time, Jo Beverley's novels set in the Georgian period. I recently read her Regency books for the 3rd if not 4th time. I've several of Nora Roberts' trilogies I reread from time to time. It isn't that I never read any new books...I do. Recently though I've been combing the "Keeper Shelves" which is something I do when life is having "fun" with me but I'm not laughing.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that those "keeper books" have memorable characters with something that "calls" to me.
Great post, Kathy! The ideas you presented about character development are spot on.
ReplyDeleteI added Last Days of Summer to my Want To Read List.
I don't have an overall favorite book, but my favorite Christmas book is Mutts and Mistletoe because of - you guessed it - the characters, both human and canine. They have me laughing out loud every time I read this book, which I've read for thr33 holiday seasons so far.
Judith:
ReplyDeleteI agree there are a lot on the keeper list and there are so many Nora Roberts great reads! And I agree that it's most likely the characters that call to us.
Sarah:
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about animal and human making memorable characters. I totally forgot about the animal and they are so important. It just reminded me how much I loved Marley. Need to read that again!