This week’s question is suggested by (blogless) JMutford:

Sometimes I find eccentric characters quirky and fun, other times I find them too unbelievable and annoying. What are some of the more outrageous characters you’ve read, and how do you feel about them?

I like eccentric characters, in eccentric novels. A lot. I like the absurdities of life written in a magical way. I love novels to be something more, something better, than ordinary. I loved Margherita Dolce Vita by Stefano Benni for it’s eccentric characters, but also because it was a social satire, because it was readable, because it was endearing. And a novel should be more than it’s quirkiness, it should strive to be great, too. The story and the characters should be intertwined so well, that it never seems over the top or excessive. Or that the eccentricities are all the author has to offer. They should just be a biproduct of great, imaginative writing. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is another great example of this.

The kind of books I find annoying are the ones that are trying too hard, Janet Evanovich novels, for example. Sure, the characters are quirky, but that’s all they are. It’s over the top, and I think the author is trying to hard for funny and witty without ever trying to be great. That, I find annoying. Also, the quirkiness of characters, it’s become very trendy in chick-lit. Almost every character could be described with that word.  Quirkiness by itself isn’t enough, there has to be substance, too.