Always a Booklover: Names

Names

Posted by Unknown at Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Oops so this post is a day late. Sorry! Slipped my mind! Anyway, names. I think names in books are very important. It subconsciously determines whether I enjoy the book or not. Especially the hero's name. If it's a horrible name, I will just find myself unable to enjoy the book. In certain ways, it determines whether I can relate to the character.

Once, I recall reading a book with the hero named Peyton. I couldn't enjoy the book. Because every time I saw his name, I burst out in laughter. Quite horrible of me, I know but this is just one of my pet peeves.

What about you? Do you have a peeve about names too?

7 comments:

J.L. Schmidt April 18, 2013 at 2:31 AM: Considering all the time I spend naming my own characters... I honestly don't think that much about the names of characters in books I READ... unless it sounds too terribly similar to another author's character (see: Eragon/Aragorn).

Maybe it's because I don't actually sub-vocalize while I read, so I don't think about it too much. Or maybe it's just because I read a lot of fantasy, and the names are all practically unpronounceable anyway! haha
Unknown April 18, 2013 at 2:42 AM: I do actually. In Stephen King's Under The Dome, the main character, a man, was called Barbie, and it took me awhile to accept him.
Ros Jackson April 18, 2013 at 9:29 PM: My pet peeve has to be when the character has no name at all, or in fantasy when there are too many apostrophes. I'd be quite happy to read a book with a Peyton in it, though. It's a little unusual, but it's also short and easy to pronounce.
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan April 19, 2013 at 1:29 AM: Fun post!:O)
Carrie-Anne April 19, 2013 at 2:18 AM: Fewer things turn me off to a story faster, even just reading a synopsis, than seeing the writer tried to predate a naming trend. No, your historical character would NOT have a name like Ayden, Madison, or Braedon. No, your contemporary teen's mother would not be named Mackenzie or Kaitlyn. No, someone over the age of 10 would not have a name like Kayden or Taylee. No, a woman born in 1920 would not be named Ashley or Courtney. I wish more writers would at least look at naming trends and popularity charts, instead of deciding to use a recently-popular name on any old character.
Teddy Rose April 19, 2013 at 2:36 AM: I like names I can pronounce best. LOL!
Unknown April 19, 2013 at 7:07 AM: The name is very important. I love unique ones.