Invariably, I will read a book and trudge through weak structure, rambling sentences, and, at times, confusing sequences. And yet I stick with the story compelled by the turn of events and how the main character deals with circumstances. Why? It’s a question of action and reaction. But mainly, it’s because I care about the characters—fictional or real. But, I’ve also read uninspired stories, at least my perception, that remained flat and tiresome until the bitter end. The difference? Characters without character.
Characters in a story don’t all have to be super heroes or possess fantastical lives. It’s more about their experiences and the discovery process—the why, where, and how of their journey. I believe everyone has a story and it’s all in the telling.
As a young reader, I was drawn to fairy tales. I was thoroughly intrigued with stories that engaged my imagination. One of my favorites was a Norwegian tale called “The Princess on the Glass Hill” about the youngest son of three suitors who must climb a glass hill to obtain apples from a princess in order to win her. As a child, I felt sorry for the princess stuck on a slippery slope but thought her clever to roll the apples down to her suitor. I remember the illustrations in the book with the princess looking glum and rather bored at the top of the hill. What an existence! And, to this day, I’m not even sure of the actual point of the story. Yet, even though the characters weren’t well defined, the circumstances of the story were compelling. It’s the same with every story about characters and their struggles and how they cleverly achieve their goals or win favor against all odds. G. K. Chesterton, famed British writer, theologian, and critic of the early twentieth century, remarked “I left fairy stories lying on the floor of the nursery, and I have not found any books so sensible since.”
With a youthful penchant for fairy tales, it’s no wonder I preferred fiction to fact. I thought biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs couldn’t compete with the inventive minds of creative authors! I wanted to explore worlds unknown, characters with depth that slay the dragons in their lives! And then, in high school, I discovered biographies with a summer reading that included a book about Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Of course, the Lincolns had an exceptional story, but they were real people with struggles of everyday life aside from being players on the national and world stage. I started to see the depth of characters that could be anyone, if the story is well told.
Then again, I’ve read recent autobiographies that relied on celebrity status, and I’ve not been impressed. Why? Namedropping or a chronology of star-studded events isn’t essential for my immersion because it wears thin after a while. There needs to be more than the surroundings or story’s environment. The character has to have character which means, from a fairly accurate online definition “the ability to deal effectively with difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situations.” And being a character in your own story can be a grand achievement, if told well.
My prime example of a book with a so-so narrative, yet a riveting story is “In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom.” What kept me fully engaged in the autobiography was Keyonmi Park and her incredible will and miraculous circumstances that led to emancipation from starvation, government brainwashing, and stretches of isolation in North Korea. Her world seems unbelievable, but we believe her because she tells us from first-hand experience. And yet her journey gets even more precarious when she leaves behind her homeland. Her strength, determination, and sheer will to reach South Korea and begin her life anew is the force behind the story. It’s palpable between the pages, and, so many times, it seems her mission will fail. Yet, we know she lives to tell the story.
Conversely, I recently read a memoir that left me wondering why it was even written. The events were uninspired and the protagonist appeared mildly detached from any sense of discovery. Yes, I know that sounds really harsh. But it’s not that the story has to be an escape from a prison-like existence. Not everyone has such sheer survival circumstances to write about. But, the character needs to face something seemingly insurmountable, whether it be a personal struggle or a challenging circumstance. We all face tests and trials. And, if you decide to tell your story, don’t forget that you are the main character, whether you’re the princess on the glass hill or the suitor facing the impossible climb. Be inventive! Happy writing!