Essay Question

[rolanni]

I've got a lot to do today, and I thought maybe you'd like something to do, too!

So, here you are -- an essay question.

Who is your favorite character in the Carousel books so far -- and why?

Remember to insert spoiler space, if you need to discuss specific scenes from the books.

See y'all on the flip side.

Comments

[otterb.livejournal.com]

I like Kate herself, but I adore Borgan. It's the "strong enough to not have to demonstrate I'm in charge" vibe. Far more appealing to me than any number of swaggering so-called alpha males.

I'm with OtterB!

[ohlibn.livejournal.com]

Yes, definitely Borgan, for the same reason.

OTOH I am really enjoying the new arrival and her attitude to life, the trenvay, and Kate, as well! So - not my favorite character but definitely a top contender. It's good to see Kate making friends and participating more in the community.

[gareth griffiths (from livejournal.com)]

There aren't multiple PoV characters really so other than Borgan (but even then to a degree he's the same) we see all the characters more through Kate's eyes. It's difficult to have another favourite because the storyline is very much Kate's story. Mr Ignat is a good character but we don't really get to see a lot of his story, similarly the other trenway are really nice side stories. Maybe we should say 'the land' and 'the sea' because they are fundamental 'characters' in the story.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting comment.

I'm often told that the...point of a first person narrative is to make the story seem "more real" and easier for a reader to fall into. It would seem to follow, then, that the other characters would be more vivid, through the magic of "I".

Kate -- and any first person narrator -- occupies a strange position in the story. They are *telling you,* while pretending not to know that there's a "you" to tell. They are, in addition to being their own person, the voice of the story. But the other characters ought still to feel. . .real to readers, in the same way that the people "I" meet in everyday life seem real. "I" don't know everybody's backstory, but that doesn't make them. . .less real.

. . .I think.

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

Well, obviously, it's Kate's story, and Borgan and Mr. Ignat are core characters, but leaving those aside, the new woman in town, Peggy Marr. I like the way she's corporate and not corporate. I hope she gets more "face" time, I'm liking her. The pink hair, the attitude, and the willingness to muck in are all appealing.

Fave character in Carousel books?

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Kate herself. Has a lot going on lots juggling plates and does it all very well. Including trying to have a boyfriend which is, in my experience, a difficult thing.

[vythe.livejournal.com]

Pardon me for being trivial, but I'll say it: my favourite is Bob. And his counterpart in Surfside, whose name slipped my mind and who is really Bob's double. Mostly because he apparently holds the town together, playing as the trenvays' team captain, putting up with all those people's quirks and crazies, and he still hasn't lost faith. That earns him a lot of respect. I wouldn't be able to do that even if I had lost of special powers.

And he makes real mean coffee, too.
:-)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Nothing trivial about making sure the town gets fed :)

And Bob's old, so he does, in fact, know most of the trenvay in Archers Beach, and has apparently managed to stay on more-or-less cordial terms with most. No mean feat.

[vythe.livejournal.com]

I have a question, though: is it true that people in the Liad universe are predominantly vegetarian? In particular, are Daav and Theo vegetarians? I am not going to think worse of them for that, just checking. And if this is correct, then did it happen randomly, or was there some author's point to make?

I am re-reading the books, and it just stroke me that in one scene the big and hungry Mr. McFarland fortifies himself with a cheese and veggies sandwich. It sounded... strange. And now that I am thinking about it, the only moment when the characters expressedly eat meat (I am probably wrong about it) is when freshly arrived to Boss Moran's house - and that is not by their preference.

The world is poorer for the lack of meat, I'd say.
:-)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I do remember that we didn't want Liadens chowing down on hamburgers and fries. We wanted their eating habits to be. . .strange, like their culture.

I'm thinking Cheever's probably glad it's not a yeast sammich he's got on-hand, or something vat grown and gray...