Some things I've noticed about my own reactions to works of fiction

[Raphael]

I have the impression that I react to works of fiction quite differently from many other people, in the sense that I don't mind some things that, for many other people, mean that a work is clearly poorly written, and, at the same time, things that many other people don't mind or even quite like are dealbreakers for me.

For instance, I don't mind it if some of the characters in a work aren't all that complex, if some of them can be summed up very quickly. Complex, multifaceted characters are nice to have, but for me it's not a requirement that all the characters have to be like that.

Related to that, I don't always mind clichés, and I might actively like clichés that push my buttons in just the right ways.

I'm also apparently hard to bore. OK, there should be more happening in a work of fiction than in the phonebook, but for me, it doesn't have to be an unbroken chain of excitement, either.

So simple plotlines and simple characters aren't automatically a problem for me, though things can go too far in that direction even for me. But the only concrete example I can think of for fiction I disliked for having simplistic plots, one-dimensional characters, unimpressive prose, and banal messages is the work of that celebrated icon of 20th-century German literature, Bertold Brecht. (Yes, I know that Brecht had come up with a new Theory of Theatre according to which simplistic plots, one-dimensional characters, unimpressive prose, and banal messages were features, not bugs, but I'm not impressed with that Theory of Theatre, either.)

Finally, I don't even really care as much about something as basic as plot as many others. If I like a scene in a book on its own, I don't see why I should care that much about whether that scene does anything for the larger plot.

At the same time, I do very much dislike it if I just can't stand a character whom I'm apparently supposed to cheer on, if I absolutely can't emphasize with any of the characters, or if the difference between my own worldview and priorities and the worldview and priorities of the writer(s) is just too big.

That doesn't mean that I have too completely agree with the writer. I quite like Richard Adams's Watership Down although I disagree with the novel's conservative politics, and Terry Pratchett's Jingo is one of my favorite books although I disagree with the pacifist message that is the whole point of the story. And given my somewhat idiosyncratic political views, if I'd insist on agreeing completely with authors whose work I read, I probably couldn't read anything.

But, that said, if I have the impression that a work expects me to cheer on things that I simply don't find cheer-on worthy, I can lose patience quickly. For instance, I once got Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles as a present. I read the first few pages. Then, a character with whom the author seemed to agree seriously presented the old "if you explain the physics, chemistry, and biology of how people can see things, you're denying the beauty of beautiful paintings"-argument, without anyone pushing back against it. I consider that argument to be completely ridiculous, so I simply stopped reading the book at that point.

Another example is that I don't care how much of an amazing cinematographic genius Quentin Tarantino is; I simply can't stand his constant glorification of sadists and sociopaths, so I don't like his movies.

So, all in all, stuff that ruins fiction for seemingly everyone else is no problem for me, but stuff that is no problem for seemingly everyone else can ruin fiction for me. I sometimes wonder why that is so. I guess it's possible that I'm a bit on the spectrum - could that be a factor there? I don't know.

[rotting bones]

You don't have to care too much about what other people think. If you're open to simulating interest, I've recently turned to divination to write fiction like Philip K Dick. Here's one method I tried:

I got the Alice in Wonderland oracle deck and the Magickal Botanical oracle deck. I chose these decks for their themes and artwork.

I picked 8 effects of trauma: 1. Sensitivity, 2. Inattention, 3. Obsession, 4. Depression, 5. Anger, 6. Panic, 7. Guilt, and 8. Dissociation.

For each effect, I drew an Alice card to indicate the nature of the wound and a Botanical oracle to indicate the "medicine", i.e. the character arc that would serve as treatment.

It sort of worked, but the medicine deck has too many cards that tell you to reconnect with ancestors, spirits, the earth, etc. So I did some creative interpretations like psychics are supposed to. Here's an example:

1. Sensitivity

Wound: 13. All Must Have Prizes. Trying to keep everyone happy. Treating everyone as equals and rewarding those who have not worked hard. Playing nice, wanting to please. An inability to choose who or what is best for you. Trying to be fair, but avoiding difficult decisions is not fair on yourself. Maintaining illusions to avoid disappointing others.
Medicine: 6. Cannabis Reversed. We might be feeling lost or adrift and need some structure to balance an excess of dissolution. We must find our own center in the midst of the streams of life and establish our sense of self without slipping into fear.

2. Inattention

Wound: 14. Clock Time. You are distracted because of increased responsibility, feeling it is too late to pursue your dreams.
Medicine: 2. Belladonna Reversed. What spell are you under? What has enchanted you or distracted you? What might be toxic to you, but you haven't realized it yet? What messages from the spirit world are right there, but being ignored by you?

3. Obsession

Wound: 8. Do Not Drink Poison. Toxic nutrition or health regime. Clean out from your home and pantry of substances, foods, even fabrics that can 'poison' your personal environment.
Medicine: 15. Lavender Reversed. We may be acting too calm, too peaceful, not seeing things as they truly are, but as we want them to be. Get clarity from Lavender to see the situation truly, and then approach the work before you calmly, but realistically.

4. Depression

Wound: 42. Mortality Reversed. The belief that this life has less value than other possible lives. Wasting time, procrastinating or stagnating. Waiting for a 'heaven.' Believing life is more a curse than a blessing... a burden to be carried.
Medicine: 31. Yarrow Reversed. A violation of our boundaries and a need to seal up the wound, re-establishing protection shields. If the episode is not clear in your mind, reflect on recent communication and interactions, how someone might have crossed a line or contributed to your loss of energy. Is there a person or situation you are obsessing over? That could be your key. Take this time to re-establish your own personal space and be careful who you let into your space, mind and heart.

5. Anger

Wound: 43. Manage To Be Glad Reversed. A belief that happiness is easier for others who seem more fortunate and have been given blessings you have missed out on. Feeling happiness is out of reach. Focusing on the sadness, rather than the bliss that can be created.
Medicine: 12. Henbane Reversed. A block to your ancestral inheritance and inspiration. You are missing a part of the picture and need a fuller scope to proceed clearly. Uncover the truth.

6. Panic

Wound: 44. You Can't Go Back To Yesterday Reversed. Living in the past. Speaking of past events. Musing over what once was. Nostalgia. Believing you are the same as you once were. Living through stories rather than experiences. Memory overrides the present. No anticipation of future.
Medicine: 5. Camellia. Appreciate what you have-your home, belongings, health and happiness. When this card appears in a reading, it indicates gratitude for what you have and reminds you that gratitude combined with humility is the key to going forward. The flower spirit is enveloped in the luxury of her petals. Enjoy the world and your life. Enjoy your family and friends. Listen to your intuition from a place of beauty and security. Do not fear scarcity.

7. Guilt

Wound: 25. Wake Up! A rude awakening. Being asked to deliver before you feel ready.
Medicine: 14. Ivy Reversed. Are you feeling uprooted and ungrounded? Are the difficulties of life making it hard to go on? Ivy tells us to root ourselves in the world once again to be able to grow and thrive rather than give up. You will develop the strength and resilience needed to go onward.

8. Dissociation

Wound: 26. It's Always Teatime. You feel deadened by the repetition in patterns and schedules.
Medicine: 4. Calla Lily. The balance of desire and spiritual attainment is found. Strive for personal empowerment, or a relationship going well on all levels, a match physically and spiritually. Things should be pleasurable, peaceful and connected.