Question #2
There are many readers who complain about historicals being too predictable. Do you think that historicals should be “reinvented” with unusual premises, characters, time periods, and settings? Or do you think they just need to be written “the way they used to be?”
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January 16th, 2007 at 4:40 am
I don’t have the same opinion. I think it only depends on the author if or if not the books are predictable. One can’t say that about a whole genre.
January 16th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I don’t think historicals are predictable. I like the way they are being written now. Historicals are my favorite genre.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
it does depend on the readers.
January 16th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Again, since I read contemps it would be hard for me to say. Each reader has their own opinion.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:42 am
I do enjoy plots and locations I have never read before but a well written story with the same elements that have done before can also be a pleasure to read.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I don’t think that historicals are predictable. I think the storylines and characters have to be interesting to keep me interested.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I will admit that some authors I read use what I call their “formula”. And it works for them, so they don’t deviate very much from it. But as long as the stories are fresh and not a re-hash of what everyone else is writing I’ll still read them. I wouldn’t call them predictable, though.
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
While new premises and places could be fun in historicals, the truth is that I simply enjoy stories that are well told. I leave it up to author to decide upon whether they want to try something new. If I have the chance, I read it and then judge whether I like it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:16 pm
For awhile, I did not read historicals. Not because these historical were predictable, but because they were not well written. A well written novel can make the most tired cliche plot exciting. So I might be casting aside novels for being “predictable”, I still love highway men heroes, stowaway heroines, characters dressing as the opposite gender, pickpocket heroines, and every other romance cliche. You just need to make the novel exciting.
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:20 am
Hello Sylvia,
I actually think it depends on the readers. Not all readers have the same opinions some will think it should change and some will think it should stay the same. Me honestly I am not sure I am not a big fan of reading historicals. I do read a few depends on the storyline. So far I did come across a few I liked and don’t see any problem with it.
Hugssss
Linda.H.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I enjoy historical books the way they are written now. I don’t find them predictable b/c each author has their own views and creativeness as to how a historical should be written and what is most important to explain and describe for that time period.
I think each time an author writes a historical the book is “reinvented” in their own way.
January 28th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I enjoy historical books the way they are written now. Some authors can be predictable but not everyone.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:47 am
I definitely do not want the historicals to be reinvented.
I read Pamela Clare’s “Surrender ” awhile back and I learned so much about the early United States during the French and Indian war period (early 1800’s). It wasn’t boring or lecture like… just descriptive!
I like the historicals where woman aren’t settling for the old dictates of society… where they’re not accepting the spinster/old maid roles if they weren’t married by the age of 21, and living in the country. I like where they are challenging the “Men dictated rules” and where they are speaking and acting out. Taking control of their destinies!
January 30th, 2007 at 3:41 am
I have to agree with Laurie, that the new kind of heroines are great. They are no longer the simpering misses, who believer everything or do everything what others want from them.
January 31st, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Thank you, all! I really appreciate the time you took to comment and share your thoughts.
(can you believe January is over already? I can’t. It just flew right by me.)
Laurie,
Email me at sylvia@sylviaday.com with a title from my Bookshelf and I’ll send it your way.
Hugs,
Sylvia
February 1st, 2007 at 12:07 pm
wtg laurie, cya to wrchat