Tell me a story...

[horridporrid]

Last weekend I enjoyed a lovely feast of storytelling. Saw a great movie (X-Men: First Class), watched an excellent tv show (The Game of Thrones on HBO), and plowed through an addictive trilogy (Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins). I had an absolute blast gorging myself on the various mediums, losing myself in the various stories. But some modes

Comments

[xparrot]

Manga/graphic novels/sequential art definitely has a learning curve - and a lot of it depends on what you read, and what kind of story. Putting aside learning how to absorb action through still pictures (and that's definitely something that you get better at with experience), a single-volume graphic novel may have an awesome story, but it will only take you a couple hours to read; for me that's never enough time to get invested (hence why I rarely actively fan on movies, even those I love and rewatch). While as a 20+ volume manga series (or comic series, though I've never read any American comic over about 10 volumes?) gives you time to really get into the chars and story (also can be a different experience to read manga/comics as they're coming out; then it's like the TV show experience of eagerly anticipating new episodes

[horridporrid]

I like that comparison of manga series to television -- I think it's really apt. And I've definitely enjoyed the ones I've read. But it's so new for me there's still enough of a... disconnect is too strong a word, but an awareness that this isn't the story-medium I'm used to so things are new and different and I'm aware of that as well as the story, if that makes sense.

...nowadays I tend to be drawn to different media depending on mood.

Oh, good point! Because there are times that a book is the last thing I want to tackle. Too tired, too stressed, or whatever, and a television show works perfectly. (Depending on the show of course. More Glee less The Wire.) When we were in the middle of moving, I didn't want to read. Too much going on to completely dive into another world, maybe? So mood, circumstances, all of that changes things, too.

And you should check out Hunger Games! I'm planning to do a reread when I'm a little less "more, more, more!!" - so my view isn't exactly analytical. But I enjoyed myself! ;D

[sholio]

Books are definitely where it's at for me -- with comics/manga in second place. Just exactly how far behind depends on whether I'm bingeing or not; there is a learning curve, like xparrot said, and I do seem to need a little while to retrain my brain to sink into them. I delight in having that visual element, though. It's the one thing that's not present in books, even though the fact that you have to fill in the visuals in a book is part of its charm. (I tend to think more verbally than visually, too; there's something about books, and written/verbal storytelling in general, that is just infinitely satisfying to my brain. Like you said, it pulls me more deeply into the story and the characters -- it's the only storytelling medium in which you can get into the characters' heads, at least without having to rely on techniques like voiceovers

[horridporrid]

I delight in having that visual element, though. It's the one thing that's not present in books, even though the fact that you have to fill in the visuals in a book is part of its charm.

The artwork in graphic novels (I'm using that as a generic to cover comic/manga -- I'm not sure that's correct?) is amazing. It's why I'm a little melancholy about not getting as into it as easily as I'd expected. Because it's so cool looking! I'm actually glad to hear there is a learning curve. It means there's hope! :)

(I did think it interesting that the mediums that worked least for me are also the ones I'm least familiar with. I think all of them have their own learning curve and I could easily see someone who may have been brought up in theater just not being as moved by movies. "You don't see them sweat!" or something like that.)

But I think what gets to me about both of those things, over other media, is the single-creator intimacy, if that makes any sense?

Yes! I think that's a huge part of it. The author is so sure of their world

[ms_arithmancer]

Books win for me too. I believe the thing about books that makes them so immersive, is that a reader's experience of a book is in large part created by a reader. The other four mediums you mention have a visual component, which saves you the trouble of creating it for yourself, but thereby also deprives you of the fun of same, and also, sometimes, faces you with a bad casting choice, fake-looking set, etc. that can detract from the experience. Whereas the world of a book that pulls us in, looks and feels the way *we* think it should.

[horridporrid]

I believe the thing about books that makes them so immersive, is that a reader's experience of a book is in large part created by a reader.

Yes! I've learned that when you write, you should steer clear of over-explaining. Let the reader fill in the blanks because first of all, they can, but second it's a way to pull them into the world. I've found that I don't like an author to over-describe a character. Give me a sense of what they look like - a few basics descriptors, a sense of their style, and I'll fill in the rest. And then they'll be someone I know.

The weird thing with just reading Hunger Games is they're making it into a movie and midway through the second book I learned Woody Harrelson is playing one of the roles. And I think he'll be perfect for the part! But... Gosh, I saw the character completely differently and it was a bit of a disconnect for me while he flickered back and forth between my vision and the casting choice.