Your Favorite Most Annoying Character - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T10:08:09Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/your-favorite-most-annoying?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A246658&feed=yes&xn_auth=nohe just became an out and out…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-20:537324:Comment:2470352010-08-20T10:22:59.478ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>he just became an out and out a-hole.</b><br />
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Of course, can you blame him....:) Here he's had a crush on Scarpetta for years and years, and who does she pick? Benton Wesley, Mr. Perfect! Another character I could have done without. It wasn't that he was especially irritating.....just too good to be true. It seems that novelists can create physically flawed by believable "minor" characters, but when it comes to hero/heroine, they have to be good-looking and sexy. :(
<b>he just became an out and out a-hole.</b><br />
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Of course, can you blame him....:) Here he's had a crush on Scarpetta for years and years, and who does she pick? Benton Wesley, Mr. Perfect! Another character I could have done without. It wasn't that he was especially irritating.....just too good to be true. It seems that novelists can create physically flawed by believable "minor" characters, but when it comes to hero/heroine, they have to be good-looking and sexy. :( there are a lot of reasons i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-20:537324:Comment:2470142010-08-20T06:55:05.750ZJacqui Horwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JacquiHorwood
there are a lot of reasons i stopped reading cornwall and the development of marino's character was one of them. he just became an out and out a-hole.
there are a lot of reasons i stopped reading cornwall and the development of marino's character was one of them. he just became an out and out a-hole. George's titles don't really…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467492010-08-17T21:07:38.114ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>George's titles don't really relate to content.</b><br />
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You've noticed that too! Actually, there seem to be very tenuous links, sometimes. And I like the titles. But you're right. They don't seem to relate.<br />
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And no, we don't want to change Havers! But will she ever find....true love? :) Maybe we better not go there. Her chances with Hadiya's father seem to have been blown, with the return of his wife in the last book....it seems clear he doesn't really love the woman but will stay with her so…
<b>George's titles don't really relate to content.</b><br />
<br />
You've noticed that too! Actually, there seem to be very tenuous links, sometimes. And I like the titles. But you're right. They don't seem to relate.<br />
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And no, we don't want to change Havers! But will she ever find....true love? :) Maybe we better not go there. Her chances with Hadiya's father seem to have been blown, with the return of his wife in the last book....it seems clear he doesn't really love the woman but will stay with her so as not to lose Hadiya. And, he's Muslim, so no hanky panky.<br />
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Maybe sometime I will check back and see if I can find out which book we were talking about. Her early books might be worth re-visiting, as it has been years. I don't think we want to chan…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467422010-08-17T18:18:20.323ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I don't think we want to change Havers.<br />
As for the book where she's best with Linley: My memory for titles is bad and George's titles don't really relate to content. I checked Amazon but could only get close enough to say it was the one that preceded PROPER SINNER.
I don't think we want to change Havers.<br />
As for the book where she's best with Linley: My memory for titles is bad and George's titles don't really relate to content. I checked Amazon but could only get close enough to say it was the one that preceded PROPER SINNER. I find her very self-congratu…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467412010-08-17T18:09:16.415ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>I find her very self-congratulatory.</b><br />
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She was a great cook, though! :)<br />
The self-congratulatory trait is probably one of the dangers of first person narrative. Cornwell wants to present this independent, confident, no-nonsense woman, and that's how she does it. In one of her later books, Cornwell switches to third person, and it doesn't work very well. You get used to Kay's voice, to her confident if occasionally overweening personality! Men seem to be her one weakness....
<b>I find her very self-congratulatory.</b><br />
<br />
She was a great cook, though! :)<br />
The self-congratulatory trait is probably one of the dangers of first person narrative. Cornwell wants to present this independent, confident, no-nonsense woman, and that's how she does it. In one of her later books, Cornwell switches to third person, and it doesn't work very well. You get used to Kay's voice, to her confident if occasionally overweening personality! Men seem to be her one weakness.... All segments with Havers in t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467282010-08-17T16:17:22.933ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>All segments with Havers in them are excellent.</b><br />
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I agree. Somehow, George has got that particular character down so well that every gesture seems believable. It's much easier for me to "see" Havers than it is to "see" Lynley. I mean, i can see him....I just don't entirely believe what I see.<br />
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Can you remind me:--- I forget which book it was where Havers had the crush.... now, of course, she's attracted to her Pakistani neighbor, the father of Hadiya, the little girl Havers loves like a…
<b>All segments with Havers in them are excellent.</b><br />
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I agree. Somehow, George has got that particular character down so well that every gesture seems believable. It's much easier for me to "see" Havers than it is to "see" Lynley. I mean, i can see him....I just don't entirely believe what I see.<br />
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Can you remind me:--- I forget which book it was where Havers had the crush.... now, of course, she's attracted to her Pakistani neighbor, the father of Hadiya, the little girl Havers loves like a daughter.<br />
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I keep expecting that George is going to do a "makeover" on Havers. (The way Cornwell did on Pete Marino). In "This Body of Death," the latest one, the new acting superindentent, Isabelle, tries to do just that; she thinks Havers' mode of dress is a disgrace. Plus now Havers has two busted front teeth, from an earlier mishap. Does it work? Sorry, I can't give that away! All it would take would be a better diet, losing a few stone, quitting smoking, dental surgery, a hairdresser, possibly dermabrasion and makeup. But then she wouldn't be Havers! :)<br />
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The thing about Havers is that she doesn't actually believe in herself as a woman. She's a good cop, she knows that. But it's as though she's afraid to try being anything else. It's easier to be a loser (at womanhood and love) than to try NOT being one, and fail. Now, that's a very human trait! :) It's true. Her character coul…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467272010-08-17T16:09:59.050ZRobin Spanohttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RobinSpano
It's true. Her character could have been developed more - she was fairly flat and vapid. Her dialogue often made me laugh, though. I like to laugh.
It's true. Her character could have been developed more - she was fairly flat and vapid. Her dialogue often made me laugh, though. I like to laugh. I liked Lady Helen.
Well, we…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467262010-08-17T16:06:06.335ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>I liked Lady Helen.</b><br />
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Well, we are told that she is very gentle and kind. I think the idea is that underneath her seemingly frivolous "Lady Helen" exterior is a serious and compassionate person. But somehow George didn't really get that across---at least not for me. Though it seems that "Tommy" needed someone like her, light-hearted and sunny, to alleviate the stresses of his work. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying a shopping spree now and then.....but Lady Helen was always heading…
<b>I liked Lady Helen.</b><br />
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Well, we are told that she is very gentle and kind. I think the idea is that underneath her seemingly frivolous "Lady Helen" exterior is a serious and compassionate person. But somehow George didn't really get that across---at least not for me. Though it seems that "Tommy" needed someone like her, light-hearted and sunny, to alleviate the stresses of his work. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying a shopping spree now and then.....but Lady Helen was always heading for Harrod's! I liked her better after she was gone! Still, I never imagined that George would do away with her! I really disliked Scarpetta's…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467252010-08-17T15:59:44.743ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<b>I really disliked Scarpetta's niece Lucy (Patricia Cornwell), whenever she was in a chapter I felt irritated</b><br />
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I couldn't stand her either! Lucy was OK as a little kid; it's when she grew up that she morphed into something obnoxious. But then, so did Pete Marino. He was a great sidekick for Scarpetta in the early books---kind of like Havers was to Lynley. Seems as though Cornwell didn't know what to do with his character later on, it seems---didn't know where to go with the "crush" thing.…
<b>I really disliked Scarpetta's niece Lucy (Patricia Cornwell), whenever she was in a chapter I felt irritated</b><br />
<br />
I couldn't stand her either! Lucy was OK as a little kid; it's when she grew up that she morphed into something obnoxious. But then, so did Pete Marino. He was a great sidekick for Scarpetta in the early books---kind of like Havers was to Lynley. Seems as though Cornwell didn't know what to do with his character later on, it seems---didn't know where to go with the "crush" thing. So she went too far. Good one! But it's Scarpetta…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-08-17:537324:Comment:2467182010-08-17T14:28:43.712ZRobin Spanohttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RobinSpano
Good one! But it's Scarpetta herself I don't like. I find her very self-congratulatory.
Good one! But it's Scarpetta herself I don't like. I find her very self-congratulatory.