Where are all the… …normal people?
Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Wing 2400px (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Is it just me or are most books’ main characters talented in a literary way? What I mean is, if you consider the main characters of novels they are often an avid reader, a talented writer, overcome an illiterate or poor background to become, thankfully, a fully literate person. Before their eyes were opened to the world of words, they were only part formed, on a journey, and like a caterpillar they only began to grow as they consumed literature; their first book, the inspiring teacher etc.
A caterpillar beginning pupation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Then they finally emerge butterfly-like in the “proper” form. Think of Great Expectations and Pip, an orphan who becomes a gentleman and outgrows the world he grew up in and those that loved him.
Isn’t this a bit snobbish and patronising? I know that education is a key to advancement in this world, which is why it is so highly valued in developing countries; where teenage children love their ill equipped, poorly funded schools as opposed to many teenagers in the UK who barely tolerate or respect school because the difference it makes to their lives is not apparent to them. I love books and reading and would not change that. But I also know plenty of people who I respect who never read a book, I know others that only scraped through secondary education. They are now happy. They didn’t have a hidden literary talent which was needed to be brought out in them,
I know it’s not snobbishness really, it’s inevitable, as who writes books? Bookish people, who like me, value and love literature. Therefore, if you assume that authors put some of themselves into their books, especially their main characters, then it’s obvious that they are likely to be saved from mediocracy by literacy.
I think there are plenty of secondary characters that do not fit this pattern. They are the diamonds in the rough, the tart with a heart, the surprise element that shows the beauty and strength of humanity.
This reminded me of Educating Rita in which a working class woman ends up with a degree and her professor is saddened by the changes in her, for he thinks she has been diminished and become one of the shallow people he despises as opposed to the “old” Rita, who was alive with natural intelligence and character. The play ends with them both considering what they have gained and lost.
The world isn’t populated with amazingly literate people, you’ve only got to see the incorrect use of apostrophes everywhere to tell you that (sorry I do it too sometimes). So are our libraries missing some heroes? Normally literate people who are not interested in books but life.
I’d love to hear of some examples of main characters who fit this description in a book you’d recommend, or if you are an author have you written a story like that? Could you?
What’s the world reading then?
– The Collaborator – Gerald Seymour – early days still, but I’m a bit “Come on! Get on with it!”
Since I started this blog I’ve discovered some fantastic blogs about books and reading. I am particularly fond of the US Library and bookshop blogs, which really feel dynamic and engendering a sense of community. I wish our libraries in the UK did this, it would be great. I’m considering going into my local library and suggesting it. With a community of contributors it strikes me as a no-brainer and relatively easy. But I think they might just think I’m a weirdo! I’ll let you know how I get on.
Looking at other blogs from around the world has exposed me to whole libraries of books I would never have come across. I had assumed that bestsellers (with “the international bestseller” splashed across the cover) would be a world-wide phenomenon. I thought there’d be an inescapable bank of books, so I thought I’d look. This is what I found
| USA (New York Times Bestsellers w/e Aug 4) | UK (Lovereading.co.uk w/e July 20) | NZ (Nielsen Weekly Bestsellers w/e July 13) | |
| 1 | THE CUCKOO’S CALLING | THE RACKETEER | INFERNO |
| Robert Galbraith | John Grisham | Dan Brown | |
| 2 | THE ENGLISH GIRL | THE CASUAL VACANCY | AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED |
| Daniel Silva | J.K.Rowling | Khaled Hosseini | |
| 3 | FIRST SIGHT | THE CUCKOO’S CALLING | SECOND HONEYMOON |
| Danielle Steel | Robert Galbraith | James Patterson | |
| 4 | INFERNO | GUILTY WIVES | ENTWINED WITH YOU |
| Dan Brown | James Patterson | Sylvia Day | |
| 5 | HUNTING EVE | OH DEAR SYLVIA | UNSEEN |
| Iris Johansen | Dawn French | Karin Slaughter | |
| 6 | SECOND HONEYMOON | SOME DAY I’LL FIND YOU | FIFTY SHADES OF GREY |
| James Patterson | Richard Madeley | E.L. James | |
| 7 | HIDDEN ORDER | GONE GIRL | THE KEEPER OF SECRETS |
| Brad Thor | Gillian Flynn | Julie Thomas | |
| 8 | AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED | TRUST YOUR EYES | THE SON IN LAW |
| Khaled Hosseini | Linwood Barclay | Charity Norman | |
| 9 | PULSE, by Gail McHugh | CRIMINAL | THE KILL ROOM |
| Gail McHugh | Karin Slaughter | Jeffery Deaver | |
| 10 | GONE GIRL | THE BAT | A WANTED MAN |
| Gillian Flynn | Jo Nesbo | Lee Child |
Sorry, I couldn’t do every country, but I thought this was very interesting. Finding the information first was difficult, thank you New York Times for making it easy to get yours, boo to The Sunday Times (UK) for making it impossible to get your list without a subscription, and I wasn’t sure where to look for New Zealand but relied on Google.
There are overlaps, and some authors appear repeatedly, I expect that’s to do with the size of the publicity machine of the publisher, but there are also some significant differences. I can’t comment on US and NZ but there are a couple on the list which are by celebrities turned authors who I doubt have much of a following outside the UK. The UK list has many books set in the US, so was surprised not to see those in the US list (perhaps it’s a date of publication thing?) and it doesn’t look like Robert Gailbraith aka Joanne (she who must not be named!) has hit NZ yet. Some of the UK ones are quite old too. I wonder how many books in each list are set in other countries (UK list not set in UK etc). Would this be an indicator of character of that country? If a countries bestseller list contained mainly home grown stuff does that indicate it is inward looking for example?
I did find the New Zealand listing fantastic though (Nielsen Weekly Bestsellers List) it is separated out into international and NZ books, the NZ books look really good. I think this may be another way of How do I not pick a book? and it’s pretty easy to stick to the rules of Blissfully Ignorantly Reading.
I’m going to keep an eye on these lists and see how they compare over time.
I Just Couldn’t Do It
I’ve never tried to go into a book shop and not pick a book so I thought I’d give it a go. I’m going to have to change the rules. I think I’m too tight (mean) to spend out on something I know nothing about. Also, all the lovely books are laid out screaming for your attention. I just couldn’t stop myself picking them up, looking at the cover, looking at the blurb. If any of the staff were watching me I must have looked quite strange: furtively looking and then quickly slipping the book back down!
Book shops are just too damn good! I’m addicted. I can’t stop looking! I think the only way to do it is to ask the staff to get you a book (if you can afford it).
I went over to the library and that was a lot easier. I could quite happily saunter past a table and grab any book, almost without looking! Though I would give it a quick glance before going to the issue desk (or more likely machine these days – bah humbug) in case you’ve grabbed a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey!
While we’re on the subject of libraries, my local has been revamped with machines to scan and issue/return books yourself. It was nice to go into the library and chat with the staff who were out from behind the desk mixing with the library users. I asked one whether they liked this, expecting a positive answer. But apparently not. I think they’d like to keep the books to themselves, or users could only come to the library by invitation! I thought it would be nice mixing with the general public and chatting about book choices etc.
blissfullyignorantreading 
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