There are some things that irritate me a little when I read. And there are some things that bug me a bit. And there are other things that drive me crazy and might mean I rant to someone about them even if I liked the rest of the book. So this year I’m going to rant a bit, perhaps even sarcastically, to you on the 5th Tuesdays. If you don’t want to read ranting or sarcasm, skip this post. You have been warned.

Seriously! This drives me crazy in stories! I have closed a book and ranted to the characters out loud before. And I’ve done it more than once. That grumpy man above? Yeah, my face might look like that. If I’m not rolling my eyes and muttering about how dumb everyone is acting.

Character A sees Character B talking to Character F and instantly knows something is going on beyond just a talk. And of course A can’t talk to B about it because B would probably lie or something. And did you know that B can’t talk to A and ask what the problem is? I mean it was A that has the problem and B shouldn’t pry. Right?

Ugh! Not again! Why must characters be so dumb? What is with them and their instant decisions when they see or hear something that could be true or might not be? Can’t they talk about it? Ask questions to clarify? Listen to another side of the story? Nope. Why?

I just want to step inside the pages of the book when that happens and do something. Shake someone, tell them a few plain facts that they won’t listen to (I might have to slap them to get them to pay attention), or maybe even drag them together and force them to talk things out. Oh, maybe I could lock them in one of those rooms where you have to work together to get out. I think someone needs to write a story and have that happen if the characters jump to conclusions and won’t talk.

If they are just short misunderstandings and the characters actually talk and listen, and get things worked out quickly, I’ll be okay, but if the not communicating and jumping to false assumptions drags on and on . . . my irritation level is going to rise. And probably my blood pressure. And my ranting will begin. I may even shut the book and rant at the characters for a few minutes before I can calm down enough to continue. And if it goes on and they just won’t behave, I’ve been known to quit the book altogether and never go back to it.

So just go TALK already! And if you go to talk, make sure you shut up and LISTEN too! *glares at characters who won’t communicate*

Whew. Okay, I think I’m done now.

If you are writing a book and you don’t want me to rant and rave and get mad at your characters because I can’t shake them or tell them how dumb they are being, make sure they communicate, please.

Thanks.

What is something that drives you crazy in books? Does jumping to conclusions and not communicating irritate you in books? Have you ever wanted to tell a character a think or to or make them do something different?