08-06-2010, 11:35 AM
Thanks for stating your impressions so clearly. It was fun to read them!
I, too, prefer a minimal amount of physical description, just enough to give one the sense of the person described. I have to admit, though, that the picture on the cover colors my perception strongly. If she's a short brunette on the cover, but a statuesque redhead on the inside (this has happened!), I tend to retain the impression of the former in my mind.
On another note, I would like to offer a few thoughts on the question that started this thread. Thoughts not necessarily connected.
1) To state the obvious, it takes a good writer to create a good heroine and a great writer to create a great one. Since many gothic heroines are not fortunate enough to be in the hands of such a one, the portrayal of their character obviously suffers.
2) In the best stories of any genre the author takes pains to present his characters to the reader with deft and unique touches that delineate the characters and draw us into the story.
3) A truly good gothic romance writer endears the heroine to us through the portrayal of her intelligence and integrity. The more winsomely this is done, the more memorable she will be.
I, too, prefer a minimal amount of physical description, just enough to give one the sense of the person described. I have to admit, though, that the picture on the cover colors my perception strongly. If she's a short brunette on the cover, but a statuesque redhead on the inside (this has happened!), I tend to retain the impression of the former in my mind.
On another note, I would like to offer a few thoughts on the question that started this thread. Thoughts not necessarily connected.
1) To state the obvious, it takes a good writer to create a good heroine and a great writer to create a great one. Since many gothic heroines are not fortunate enough to be in the hands of such a one, the portrayal of their character obviously suffers.
2) In the best stories of any genre the author takes pains to present his characters to the reader with deft and unique touches that delineate the characters and draw us into the story.
3) A truly good gothic romance writer endears the heroine to us through the portrayal of her intelligence and integrity. The more winsomely this is done, the more memorable she will be.