Readers' consent

[luxken27]

I was following up on some e-publishing wank last night (here if you're interested), and in the process ran across this really interesting article-about-an-article, on the idea of readers' consent. This is basically a theory that tries to explain why some plots work for some readers but not for others:

Ever put down a book? Why? Sometimes it is because the story is boring but sometimes it is because there is something in the story that bothered you.

This happened to me recently when I was reading a book the other day. The hero declared (to another person) that he was in love with the heroine and I put the book down, metaphorically speaking. I wasn’t ready to go there with the hero. The author hadn’t prepared me well enough for that scene to happen and thus I wasn’t satisfied with the direction of the story.

Source: Dear Author: The Reader and Consent (09/21/10)

This has happened with me, not only from a reading perspective, but from a writing one. I was shocked when, halfway through Fleeting, about half the audience became outraged at a turn of events that was essential to moving forward the plot of the story. When I wrote that installment, I was aware that it might be a surprise to some readers (or maybe even a bit unbelievable), but I was nowhere near prepared to handle the visceral reaction quite a few reviewers had to it. I'd touched a nerve in a *huge* way, and it was obvious I'd brought those readers out of the story, perhaps so much so that they'd stop reading it entirely. This bothered me, a lot, but it also kinda fascinated me - and now this idea of readers needing to consent - or, at least, buy - to the actions presented in the plot help me make sense of it, and learn from it.

I'd definitely urge you guys to read the entire article (yes, it's posted at a romance blog, but it's not limited to romantic or sexual interactions). Has this ever happened to you? Does it explain why there are popular stories/series/movies that others seem to adore but you just don't get (or vice versa)? Discussion, as always, is welcome =)

Comments

[luxken27]

It just moved too slow to me, the director concentrated too much on the character progression/motivation and not enough on the progression of the story.

I wonder if this could be an issue of framing as well. Do you think if someone told you that it was a character study instead of an action movie (or however it was introduced to you), that you would've tolerated it better? Or would you not have even bothered with it?

I don't like movies that are so action-packed I feel like I'm going to break my neck trying to follow all the moving pieces. But I don't like the film equivalent of literary fiction, either, where you're so enamored of your style you forget you're supposed to be telling a story :P Can you tell I don't want a lot of movies or loooooong TV series (like Lost)?

As far as triggers, well yeah, rape really gets to me too in books, especially if it's glorified and the heroine falls in love with her rapist. Blah.

I wonder how you'd react to a book like the Nikita Black novel they recently reviewed over there.

Stories about a woman who's life revolves around the fate of a man bother me, just no

AGREED. Nothing bothers me more - it's like, haven't we evolved at all in the last sixty years? Ugh. (And your reaction to The Time-Traveler's Wife pretty much cemented my decision to stay far, far away from it, LOL.)

[paynesgrey.livejournal.com]

o you think if someone told you that it was a character study instead of an action movie (or however it was introduced to you), that you would've tolerated it better?

I probably wouldn't have bothered with it, or needed to be in a certain mood to watch it. I dunno. I do like character studies, but I'm really not all that interested in serial killers, you know? But my husband doesn't seem to think I like good Oscar winning movies, so I get razzed on for that.

I wonder how you'd react to a book like the Nikita Black novel they recently reviewed over there.
I'm not a big romance reader (Nora Roberts is about all I read, because she's fantastic, and she's in my comfort zone) but who knows, I might have read this out of sheer curiosity (though I really don't know after a review like that.)

And your reaction to The Time-Traveler's Wife pretty much cemented my decision to stay far, far away from it, LOL.

It was disappointing, mostly because everyone just loves that book and I just can't wrap my brain around WHY, you know? Because I found it neither romantic nor how women should act when they're in love. And that's not counting the literary problems with the book...

I think it's my least favorite book of all time... like the only book ever to generate such hatred in me that I want to set it on fire with my mind every time I see it in the Literature section at Borders.

[luxken27]

good Oscar winning movies

I *think* that's an oxymoron...but don't quote me on that :P

who knows, I might have read this out of sheer curiosity (though I really don't know after a review like that.)

Did you see the spoiler for the ending in the comments? That's a big load of DNW for me. And, I think, it does larger damage to the genre - its a controversial book already, being how its about BDSM and set in fetish clubs, but to add that sort of 'negative' surprise twist ending? Paints the whole genre in that light. It's just...bizarre, to me, how far out of their way some authors will go for the sheer shock value.

Because I found it neither romantic nor how women should act when they're in love.

THIS. There is a lot of "popular" romance stuff that I just hate, because I believe there should be more to a woman's life and existence the the presence or absence of a man. The romance genre has come so far since the days of the bodice rippers, but there are just enough of them around to keep it mired down. And this was ~literary fiction~ which is supposed to be ~better~ than genre - but after reading this, would you pick up a romance novel? I wouldn't!