MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Do readers want to know what characters look like?

Bilbo1967 · 11-02-2009, 05:03 PM

Interesting question.

I think that, for me, it's a bit variable. Sometimes I read a book where the physical description of the character is never given and it just doesn't matter. The physical description is secondary to the mental characteristics and I think like most people I tend to fill in a physical description in my own head.

Perhaps this is why films of well-loved books are often a disappointment - they can't possibly match everybody's mental picture.

11-02-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Interesting question. I think that, for me, it's a bit variable. Sometimes I read a book where the physical description of the character is never given and it just doesn't matter. The physical description is secondary to the mental characteristics and I think like most people I tend to fill in a physical description in my own head. Perhaps this is why films of well-loved books are often a disappointment - they can't possibly match everybody's mental picture.