Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat.
This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week. As we are a faith-based group the questions refer mainly to Christian fiction or non-fiction.
Today’s question is:
Do unusual names without a way to pronounce them frustrate you in a book?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group. Remember to comment today on Tuesday Book Chat to enter the giveaway.
Let’s chat!
Yes it does. I get really frustrated when I can’t work out how to pronounce a name. I have used google and the how to pronounce option. One time I asked the author. But there are names I shake my head and wonder why can’t you use a more common name. Susan Page Davis had a German girls name and very early one when the heroine is first introduced to the hero she says her name and its sounds like xxx. I then was fine. Others I have ended up changing the name. One name was Kyla (ironically, I get it right now) but called her Kayla every time I saw her name.
My big plea to authors if you use unusual names, please provide how to pronounce them. Even if its common where you are maybe ask on your social media if you are unsure. Your readers will appreciate it. Ironically I can handle Irish names much better than some American names.
Your turn.
I look forward to reading your comments here or at the FB group.
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If it’s a tricky one, I do appreciate it if the author finds a way in the story explain how it is pronounced.
I don’t mind them if they’re easy to google, like the Irish ones. I’ve enjoyed finding out how to pronounce those. Mind you, I always forget how to say Saoirse and have to look it up every time.
Its a bit like me with Caoimhe it took a while to get the name right but with Caoimhe Bray player for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL I have it down pat. Which is probably good cos she is bound to be a star for Australia Cricket. But If I saw it in a book I would be What.
It would definitely be easier if the pronunciation was added, even if it was before or after the story.
I fully agree. It really does help.
Yes!! Adding pronunciation would be helpful. Although, it was put in for an unusual name in a book I read recently and it still didn’t make sense to me.
Sometimes my own idea of the name makes way more sense. I have a friend Jana. I know she said its Jane with and a on the end but in my mine its Jana as in like Jana Wendt the reporter. The same with Tara. I see it as how we say it Tar-a where as Americans say Tear -a (as in tear a piece of paper)
Oh yes this gets to me because I spend the whole time in reading the book trying to sound it out in my head. I agree with Joannie above it would be great if the author included his to pronounce the names when they know they are difficult.
Oh I am with you on this I try sounding them out in my head and then still have issues. And some authors seem to make it their aim to use unusual names in their books. Its like friends of ours who didn’t want the simple Amy so went Aimee. You can use unique names that are easy to pronounce