I’d like to talk about what I call Realistic Fiction.
I read mystery/suspense novels almost exclusively
because I love a mystery. Always have; probably always will. Of course, there
are wonderful books in all genres but mystery/suspense is my genre of choice –
to read and to write.
I love to read and one of the reasons I read is to
escape the real world with all of its problems. When I read, I want to go to a
world where I can get to know and care about the characters, visit new places - real or imaginary - and, of course,
try to solve the mystery. If I learn something from the book, that’s a bonus.
Now, having said that, I want the fiction I read to be
realistic. The characters and the plot have to be believable in order for a
book to draw me in and to keep me reading. But I have my limits. There are
certain topics I avoid reading about. Some things hit too close to home and/or
are a bit “too” realistic for me.
For example, awhile back I started to read a novel by
a well-known author, a really good writer. But, after reading a few pages, I
realized that the main character’s father suffered from Alzheimer’s. The author
was trying to put a humorous spin on a serious disease. I’m sure lots of people
enjoyed his book and maybe I’m overly “sensitive” but I had to stop reading it. While
I realized that what happened in the book wasn’t “real,” it was too depressing
for me.
If you’ve read my Malone mysteries, you may be
thinking “Hmm. In the series, the main character’s husband is an alcoholic and another
of the characters is an elderly woman in a wheelchair. How is that not depressing?”
In fact, I had one review for “Mixed Messages” where the reviewer expressed
exactly that sentiment. And now I have a chance to explain the difference – as I
see it. Each of my books ends with what I consider to be essential in life and in
fiction – Hope!
Yes, David is an alcoholic and, yes, Olivia is in a
wheelchair. But, as the series progresses, you will see David recovering from alcoholism (you might
learn something about this often misunderstood disease) and, as you get to know
Olivia, you’ll realize quickly that the accident that crippled her happened
when she was seventeen and, not only has she adapted to her situation, but she
is one of the happiest, most positive people you’ll ever “meet.”
I’d love to hear from you. Are there topics you avoid
when you read? If so, would you like to tell us why? And, if not, I’d love to
hear about that too.
