SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I'm a voracious reader and I really get into the stories while I am reading them.

I posted in the book forum that I just finished reading the last "50 Shades" book of the trilogy (Read all three in about 2 weeks! LOL) And yes, I know - I'm waaayyyy late to the party, but I didn't have a book ready to read and wanted to know what all the talk was about, so I started the first one and just got addicted to their story.

But now that I'm done, I miss the characters. This happens to me alot when I read a really long book or a series where you are immersed in a character. I hope I don't sound like a raving lunatic, but does anyone else miss the characters of a book after they've finished and there are no more to read?

When I was younger I did. I was a huge Judy Blume fan and when the books were finished I definitely missed the characters. Also, Laura Ingalls. I read the whole Little House series over and over so I wouldn't have to say goodbye to that family!

As far as 50 Shades...I definitely don't miss those characters because they got on my nerves big time! As a matter of fact, I was happy to be rid of them!

I've never read those books, not interested.

But yes, there are plenty of characters I miss when I'm done I'm with a book. Or wish the author ended the book differently for the characters "Why couldn't Character A leave and be with Character B? Why!?"

Yep I wonder why the story had to end lol. I also dislike when I read a book and they start at childhood and then the next book zooms forward 10 years and they give you a summary of their growing up in a chapter.

What an interesting question! I've never thought about it.

I'm also a voracious reader and listener of audio books. But, I read very few series which would tell me I don't miss the characters, but now that I'm thinking about it I have to wonder if the few series I do read is because of the characters--wanting to keep them close?

[This message edited by Skye at 8:13 AM, April 19th (Friday)]

I *still* miss the Harry Potter characters.

Often I will get so into a book I find myself thinking in the terms and language the author uses. It's odd.

Yes! For sure, especially from series where you are immersed for a long time in the lives of the characters.

Harry Potter, and also the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

I also find a lot of solace in characters from my childhood. In times of stress, I often reread the Anne of Green Gables series and also anything Agatha Christie - especially Miss Marple, she makes me feel safe and happy!

I really miss Richard and Kahlan from the Sword of Truth series.....I wanted to name DD Kahlan, but there is already a Kayla, Kira, and Katlyn on DH's side of the family, so it got shot down quick.

They had a Legend of the Seeker series that i just had a hard time getting into....made me think that Xena or Hercules was going to come walking around the corner at any time.

I miss Laura too! And I wish I was Nancy Drew...

I miss the little boy's voice from the book Room. Haunting...

Jamie and Claire from Outlander. I'd wake up at night worrying about what was going to happen to them.

I miss the Harry Potter characters too

I've just started the Outlander series.

Yes.

All the time! I always thought it was strange that I felt this way. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one

If you mean something like, 'Do you wish there were more books in a series?' I sure do.

I'd love to read some more Peter Wimsey, Nero Wolfe and Archie, Aubrey-Maturin, Lindsey-Havers, Sharpe, and too many more to mention or even think of....

BTW, the authors who have continued series originally written by authors who have died just don't do it for me.

[This message edited by sisoon at 12:35 PM, April 19th (Friday)]

I read all of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta books and am always chomping at the bit for the next one.

And as for 50 Shades, like I wrote in the book forum (which had no replies since I'm only a year behind everyone else... ) I didn't think anything of the kinky stuff - what alarmed me was Christian Grey's control-freakedness and his "dark" moments and how he (and Ana too) both grew as people - so in fancy-schmancy literary terms - I liked the character development in the books.

Jamie and Claire from Outlander.

Me too!!!

I love Taran and Eilonwy from the Lloyd Alexander Pyrdian series. It's a great young adult fantasy adventure series.

Ohhhh! Scarpetta! Yes! I just started Bone Bed.

Also, Patterson's Alex Cross guy and J.D. Robb's (well, technically Nora Roberts) Eve Dallas and all of the rest of the characters.

I'm a sucker for *series* books because I really enjoy following the *families*--(think North/South-type.

Yes! Yes!

After reading the incredibly long Dark Tower series by Stephen King, I missed several of the characters. When he published an "in between" book a couple of years ago, long after the series ended, it was like I had a chance to get together with old friends once more. It was great.

For comfort, sometimes I will re-read a book from my childhood -- The Melondy Family by Elizabeth Enright. I feel like I am visiting with old friends I grew up with during childhood. Good stories, good, honest characters. So different from so much of what goes on today.

Great topic.

Yes, especially when I was younger. I remember reading the Mists of Avalon and feeling like Avalon was actually real, like she was writing about a real place on the planet that I just hadn't traveled to yet, but desperately wanted to. I would sometimes wonder what the characters were doing that day before catching myself and remembering they were fictional.

Why is it that I can't fall into an entire world like that anymore when I read? Is it being an adult? Am I too jaded? Or is there still a book series that I haven't read yet that would let me do that again?

Sigh...I miss that.