I don’t have a problem differentiating my “real” men from my “fictional” ones but I haven’t undergone the ultimate test yet, reading a book with #1’s name in it. If any male is going to infringe on my fantasy land it would be him. I do however sometimes struggle when I read books back-to-back that feature characters with the same name. It can take me a couple of chapters before I switch gears and replace one face with another.
I have a similar problem with books that have been made into movies; if I watch the latter before actually reading the novel it messes with my head. I read Game of Thrones after having seen the first season and try as I may, Tyrion Lannister will forever be linked to Peter Dinklage and Jon Snow to Kit Harington. I have a feeling that the same thing will happen if I ever decide to give the Sookie Stackhouse series a whirl; my version of Eric Northman will never be able to measure up to Alexander Skarsgard.
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Totally agree about Game of Thrones, I feel the same way. I think Eric was perfect in the first episode, it was a perfect match to me, but I didn’t like him after they cut his hair (I was mad..LOL).
I don’t care about the character’s names, I think the character makes the name, not the other way around. I had read books where the heroes had the same name as TH, and I didn’t have a problem.
If the character is likable enough I can overlook the fact that it may be a name I don’t like 🙂
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It kinda weirds me out when the hero has the same name as my brother, and sadly his name is pretty common.
That’s why I try to read the book before seeing the show or movie, I can usually keep how I see the character and how the actor portrays them separate.
The time this didn’t work…Harry Potter. Even though I read book 1-3 before the first movie came out Harry, Ron and Hermione will always look like Daniel, Rupert and Emma to me.
Names don’t bother me…other than the fact that I can’t keep them straight and may call a character by another name…but I do that in real life too LOL 🙂