Mary Renault books probably would indeed make you anxious because as far as I can tell they make EVERYONE anxious. People continue screaming about The Friendly Young Ladies years after they first read it because the anxiety of the reading experience stuck with them for decades. ("This book isn't actually going to - no. NO. IT WENT SOMEWHERE WORSE!") It's like the grated horseradish of reading experiences. You keep going even as it sears parts of your sinuses you didn't know existed.
But anyway! In general, I do love authors who make their side characters feel like real people who exist outside of the protagonist's story. It's not just a matter of giving them their own backstory (although that certainly helps) but giving them thoughts and motivations that don't revolve around the protagonist.
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Date: 2022-01-07 01:51 am (UTC)But anyway! In general, I do love authors who make their side characters feel like real people who exist outside of the protagonist's story. It's not just a matter of giving them their own backstory (although that certainly helps) but giving them thoughts and motivations that don't revolve around the protagonist.