Pic credit: Florin Gorgan
Introduction
Distractions in fiction reading. We all have some type of quirk or jarring moment in fiction that sometimes has to do with us or in this case the author creates the distraction. What I’m about to talk about really bothers me and that is when authors decide to incorporate real life characters who are related to them into their stories. In this case it’s James Lee Burke using his daughter’s name and likeness in his Dave Robicheaux series. If you’re not familiar, Alafair Burke is a crime novelist is in her own right. She’s the author of the Ellie Hatcher series among others and I usually enjoy her books.
The Jarring Moment
I want to say it was SWAN PEAK where Dave’s daughter, Alafair, is introduced in the story. She’s all grown up and like the real life Alafair, she’s a lawyer. I’m told the similarities don’t stop there either (Amazon discussion). It’s said that over the course of the books that the book Alafair character slowly evolves and takes on the characteristics of the real life Alafair. According to Brian (reader in the link whose read the entire series), Alafair was introduced in HEAVEN’S PRISONERS in 1988. The character was purposely named after his daughter. At the time she was a minor character. If she had continued to be a minor character in the series then I wouldn’t have had a problem reading the series.
Sorry but I find this kind of thing very intrusive. If James Lee Burke’s daughter wasn’t as prominent as her father then this post wouldn’t exist. Does this sort of thing bother you as well? Or is it just me? I realize that our own realities sometimes can interfere with our reading. That’s out of the author’s control sure but this is not the case here. In this case though, the author inserting someone who is related to him and not entirely fictional is a big problem for me. I wish he would have re-thought that idea. Where was his editor? Why was this such a good idea? As readers are we not allowed to use our own imaginations when it comes characters in stories? I don’t appreciate writers invading the space of readers like this. Ugh. What a bad move there.
Discussion
Any thoughts on this? What kind of things throw you out of the story? This post was in part inspired by my discussion with Brian Baker (linked to him in the article above). He’s a regular reviewer at Amazon and is apart of the Vine program. He encouraged me to read the earlier books in the series. I’m not 100% sure if I will. There are just too many other writers out there wanting to be read and if they have relatives inserted into their stories then I am not aware of it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.
Keishon – Interesting question! I’ll admit the use of Alafair Burke’s name in James Lee Burke’s stories doesn’t bother me, although I’m only speaking for myself of course. I get distracted – pulled right out of a story – by “shock value” plot elements. If I feel that a scene of gore, explicitness, etc, is there just for shock value that’s enough to put me right off.
Thanks for the feedback Margot! I agree with you as well about the shock value but violence usually doesn’t bother me unless it’s gratuitousness. I’m also distracted by unrealistic situations and improbabilities and people acting against basic human nature.
The use of Alafair’s name in the Robicheaux stories has never bothered me, but I started reading them before I knew Burke was using his daughter’s name. The early Robicheaux books are much better than the more recent ones. In fact, I have a pile of the more recent that I haven’t read.
I agree with Margot Kinberg that shock value for the sake of shock value can turn me off a book faster than anything else. Another thing: Too much introspection where the hero or heroine keeps mulling over in their minds how they feel about things, rather than tell one another. That can bore me to tears faster than anything else.
Hey Bev, yes I realize with such a long standing series that this issue probably won’t rate much of nothing but an eye roll for most readers. So be it.
Interesting— I was unaware of the connection, I can understand why this might jar with your reading experience. But factional portrayal can work well, look at James Ellroy’s portrayal of Mickey Cohen for example. Alafair Burke is a doll, and a great writer too, haven’t read her Pops work as yet—but I will give it a go.
Factional portrayal is fine. It’s when authors start inserting themselves or their family members especially if they are as prominent as they are that I have a problem with. I have nothing against Alafair Burke either and enjoy her books. I just don’t want to read about her in her father’s work is all. Thanks for the feedback.
I haven’t read the series, but if I were to pick it up, the similarities would make me uncomfortable.
This reminds me a little bit of what Nora Roberts is doing with her Boonsboro Inn series, except I don’t think (I hope) there was a real life haunting or that any of the characters are her children.
Yeah I read about that and have a problem with that too.
I’ve been thinking about your post since yesterday, and at first I was hung up on trying to think of an example of something jarring versus just annoying. Most of the time it’s something like a character who doesn’t change in a series or is too perfect that annoys me. I finally did come up with one jarring read, and it’s one of the first stories in Daniel Woodrell’s The Outlaw Album. The premise was just too gruesome for me ( I don’t want to spoil it).
I bought the Outlaw Album and can’t wait to see what was so gruesome about it
. Love this writer’s voice. In Woe to Live On there was a opening scene that was kind of horrific so I might have an idea of what you mean.
I hadn’t picked up on the connection at all. I had no idea Alafair Burke was related to James Lee Burke. Of course it makes sense now. Hope all is well with you Keishon.
Thank you Sarah.
I haven’t read any of Alafair Burke’s books, and it’s been several years since I read any by James Lee Burke. That said, I think using his daughter’s name is odd. If she has anything more than a cameo role, it’s beyond weird.
As for jarring elements that throw me out of a story: Series inconsistencies. Drives me batty. I forgive Ken Bruen, but no one else gets a pass.
Thanks Sarah. Ken Bruen gets a pass always with me too. I think he’s brilliant.