Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion

The book I just finished is by an author who really seems to love using dialogue to further her story progressions. I liked this one more than the last, but when it comes to suspense, I don't prefer it to be dialogue heavy. I prefer to see action occurring instead of finding out what happens through the characters talking.

What you think about dialogue? Do you prefer too much, less or just enough?

I'm not big into heavy dialogue. I prefer more action. Books that use too much dialogue bore me and seem to be repetitive, saying the same thing over and over. So the answer to your question - YES, a book can have too much dialogue and I've read a few.

We are on the same page, Pamela.

I love banter when it comes to romance, and also some other genres. I think when it comes to action or suspense, I think dialogue should be used economically.

I can't remember the book but I read one where the first "scene" or meeting of the H/h lasted about a third of the book. Most of it was them talking back and forth. Literally repeating the same things over and over again. I think I did finish it but I wanted to throw that one up against the wall.

I love witty banter but dislike excessive and repetitious internal dialogue. Just read a book that had way to much of this and was bored halfway through.

I don't like when the dialogue is basically describing what they did that day and how they felt about it. Really? Bored much.

Lauren, I do like internal thoughts, but not too much of it.

I just put down Gabriels Inferno and I did like it but I would recommend it with "heavy dialogue warning"

I've read more and more suspense/thriller books heavy on dialogue, and it doesn't feel right to me. I always feel like, "When is something going to happen?"

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I've read more and more suspense/thriller books heavy on dialogue, and it doesn't feel right to me. I always feel like, "When is something going to happen?""

Exactly, the one I just read was a thriller and the internal dialogue and the discussions between characters was excessive and detracted from the action of the mystery plot.

Too much dialogue during sex is irritating to me also. I mean, really, do people really have such long conversations during the act? I know I don't. I might be an oddity and maybe talking during sex is really a normal thing but I don't think it is.

Lauren wrote: "I love witty banter but dislike excessive and repetitious internal dialogue. Just read a book that had way to much of this and was bored halfway through."

Lauren, I completely agree. Too much internal dialogue drives me nuts. I just finished Annie's song which I did enjoy but the two characters kept saying the same thing to themselves over and over again. At one point I thought I had gone back and reread a part but I hadn't.

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Too much dialogue during sex is irritating to me also. I mean, really, do people really have such long conversations during the act? I know I don't. I might be an oddity and maybe talking during se..."

LOL! That does seem a bit strange.

Lauren, I know what you mean. I read one suspense book where they talked more than they actually did anything else. That's just not right!

Absolutely! I've been reading Katie MacAlister, who has some really good books, but some of them are really dialogue-heavy, which is annoying. The only time I enjoy it is (obviously) when I'm reading a play/script.

I think that was the problem with The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons.

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Too much dialogue during sex is irritating to me also. I mean, really, do people really have such long conversations during the act? I know I don't. I might be an oddity and maybe talking during se..."

Your not an oddity. I think it is strange too. I just finished Upon the Midnight Clear and there was a sex scene in there where they started talking about her dead husband. I was like REALLY!!! I mean talk about a mood killer.

lol @ Jessica

I prefer the dialogue and the narrative to be equal. I know that's not always possible. I've read books where narrative just never seems to stop. By the time it does stop, I have no idea what was being said. Plus it can get boring.

As for talking during sex? That just seems weird! Who has time for it? Talking about an ex-husband? Definitely the wrong time and place!

I think dialogue-heavy works in category romances because you have limited space to ramp up the sexual tension and emotions.

But in anything that is supposed to have action and adventure, I prefer less dialogue

I agree, Zee. I do like a lot of dialogue in category romances. That's where my banter love comes in!

I'm bringing this back. I've been having the opposite problem lately with books. Too much internal monologue/ narration. It drives me nuts, I want to be apart of the story not a bystander.

However that does not mean I like dialogue for the sake of dialogue, especially when it's repetitive and pointless. For me, a successful book needs a healthy balance between dialogue/narration/and internal monologue.

Can a book have too much dialogue?

Yes. I found this a real problem with a particular author who was hugely popular a few years ago, when paranormal romance was the Big Thing. There were whole pages in her books with nothing but dialogue on them. I lost track of who was speaking every time!

I've been having the opposite problem lately with books. Too much internal monologue/ narration. It drives me nuts, I want to be apart of the story not a bystander.

But also this! I don't need ten pages straight of the hero walking around considering whether he has the emotional maturity to love the heroine (a typical sort of scene I come across in romance!).

Also not thrilled when more page time is given to describing the heroine's house than what happens when the bad guy breaks into that house!

Sonya Heaney wrote: "Also not thrilled when more page time is given to describing the heroine's house than what happens when the bad guy breaks into that house! ..."

But I must know if her IKEA dresser is the Fjalkinge or the Koppang!!

☺

Sonya Heaney wrote: "I've been having the opposite problem lately with books. Too much internal monologue/ narration. It drives me nuts, I want to be apart of the story not a bystander.

But also this! I don't need ten..."

LOL oh I forgot about that! I read a book where the author took several pages describing the vegetation around the house. LOL

I like dialogue but sometimes authors chain so much together that you don't have action, then on the flip side, as discussed, too much internal description can be insane.

Terri wrote: "I like dialogue but sometimes authors chain so much together that you don't have action, then on the flip side, as discussed, too much internal description can be insane."

Yes, I love witty banter and character interaction. Yet I don't like books with scenes so random, I automatically file them in the back of my head because they have mean something later on. Except, the book ends and that long talk about red kites didn't mean anything.

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Terri wrote: "I like dialogue but sometimes authors chain so much together that you don't have action, then on the flip side, as discussed, too much internal description can be insane."

Yes, I lov..."

LOL, so true, so true.

Jennifer wrote: "But I must know if her IKEA dresser is the Fjalkinge or the Koppang!!"

Rachel ~ SnapDragoness wrote: "LOL oh I forgot about that! I read a book where the author took several pages describing the vegetation around the house. LOL "

lol!! I'm pretty sure we all agree on these things, so why aren't the people producing these books noticing the problems?!

I read one (by a NYT bestseller, no less) where a page was given to describing the flower print on the heroine's crockery - and it was from the hero's perspective... Because when a guy drops by for sex, his main concern is going to be about what type of flower it is on his teacup and saucer. (Come to think of it, why were they drinking tea when he'd come over for sex anyway?)

I should probably broaden my complaint to heroes who think and act like men never, ever have!

Sonya Heaney wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "But I must know if her IKEA dresser is the Fjalkinge or the Koppang!!"

Rachel ~ SnapDragoness wrote: "LOL oh I forgot about that! I read a book where the author took several pages..."


Haha!! Don't you know a spot of tea goes well with sex?

I'm not going to mention this author, but it felt like every other page she kept referring to the female leads small rib cage. LOL Actually, she did that with every book in the series. I mentioned it to my husband and he said "Don't you know men look for small rib cages in women" haha

Jennifer wrote: "
Haha!! Don't you know a spot of tea goes well with sex?

I'm not going to mention this author, but it felt like every other page she kept referring to the female leads small rib cage. LOL Actually, she did that with every book in the series. I mentioned it to my husband and he said "Don't you know men look for small rib cages in women" haha "

Jennifer, you don't have to say a word...small rib cage = duh, Gone with the Wind...LOL

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "
Haha!! Don't you know a spot of tea goes well with sex?

I'm not going to mention this author, but it felt like every other page she kept referring to the female leads small rib ..."


Ha! That one too! I'd never survive back then without my fat pants.