Someone Needs to Rescue the Heroine

For those of us who have read scary stories, we know what it's like to be lying quietly in bed, engrossed in a story only to have some little, inconsequential noise startle us as much as if a rhino had come tearing into the room. Others may have noticed that after reading lots of mysteries and thrillers that they have begun looking at everything very suspiciously and anticipating dire turns when there aren't any. And of course, some people think that those who read romances are often easily swayed to believe in love where there is really only lust or desire.

I think people can often take on elements from the books they are reading. If you often read books that contain other languages, you might start using those words. When I first read SOUL FLAME by Barbara Wood, I caught myself thinking of Greek and medical terms I had learned in that book (highly recommend that book, by the way).

Lately, many of my books choices have featured strong, tough-girl characters (currently reading HEAT STROKE by Rachel Caine, the second in the Weather Wardens series). They are sarcastic, of course. Sexually and spiritually independent. They have a core of softness they hide from the world as they fight their demons (sometimes literally) and they do so with sharp tongues and sharper minds. I find I have taken on some of these traits, but not necessarily in a good way.

This theory is not that dissimilar from those who believe troubled kids are difficult because of the music they listen to. If this is true, then maybe we could use this theory to our advantage. Instead of corporal punishment, we could force all delinquents to read SENSE AND SENSIBILITY or WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Have children who have a difficult time learning history or languages read HOUSEHOLD GODS by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, a book set in ancient Rome that sure taught me a lot.

Either way, I think I might put away my strong female books and branch out into something a little less... influential. Suggestions?

Nicole