Which Character Do You Prefer?

Use this forum to discuss the May 2018 Book of the Month, "The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid" by Gary Robinson
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joycechitwa
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Re: Which Character Do You Prefer?

Post by joycechitwa »

For me Duke's character is more striking, largely because he has lived life long enough to have a more holistic approach to the things that he does. For Pete's sake, he's actually living with cancer! His life, though flawed in a thousand ways, has character and depth that can only come from years of experience. Gary strikes me as young, inexperienced and therefore just drifting in life, waiting to see where it will all end up.
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Post by dbulkley »

Gary is much more unpredictable! The other I could go with or without honestly!
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Post by Oscar Osman »

Duke is my most favourite character since he approaches life in a mature manner.
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Post by Adediran Israel »

I love Duke character compare to Gary, he sound more real and endrgetic than Gary
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Post by asere_maryanne »

Duke is my favorite, even though he had a carefree approach to life, he knew what he was getting into and he was ready for the consequences.
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Post by samiam013 »

I have to say that I 100% enjoyed reading about Duke's character as a sword swallower. His life took so many twists and turns and even though he faced so many challenges he persevered. The fact that he chose to live one day at a time and never faltered from this mindset made him an incredibly compelling character in my mind. Gary seemed to follow others thought processes and what others were doing at the time. I did not feel as though he based his life choices on any internal guidance from his own mind's views. Gary was exceptionally easily influenced by those around him which did not always turn out well.
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Post by Sharill Rasowo »

I preferred Duke as he was he was way more interesting than Gary. He lived a very interesting life and grew up in the school of hard knocks.
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Post by Surabhi Rani »

I prefer the character of Gary Robinson to Duke Reynolds. He is a college graduate- young, aspiring, learning about life, chosen by Duke for his wisdom to be passed, in life. The character of Gary is a message of a possibility that is greater than Duke Reynolds. So he wins our admiration and inspiration!
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Post by Henry Wobi »

Duke was kind of eloquent but Gary looked timid to me..
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Post by SpencerVo »

I prefer Duke as he had a more interesting history and lived life with passion and inhibition. However, the one I relate to more is Gary. I am curious about how Gary would build his life up from scratch after he had received such positive lessons from Duke.
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Post by Kishor Rao »

I found Duke's character very much compelling. He had this layer to him which was very much intriguing to read and the character itself was very much likable inspite of the flaws which Duke had.
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Post by Radiant3 »

I found both characters interesting, but Duke led the more colorful life.
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Post by Shrabastee Chakraborty »

I do not like the choices either of them made. However, Duke's character was more colorful, more eventful and he was in control of his own life. I admire how even Gary describes him as the epitome of self-reliance. On the other hand, Gary keeps stumbling in his life. His situation is pitiful, but somehow it feels to me that it was his own doing. He could have chosen a better path in life. So my answer to this question is Duke!
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Shrabastee Chakraborty
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Post by Shrabastee Chakraborty »

P0tt3ry wrote: 03 May 2018, 17:35 Duke was always in touch with his demons. He understood the risks and consequences of his actions, but still made the choices he did. I liked this flawed character because he took ownership of his choices.

Gary, well, Gary didn't make choices. Gary just hedonistically drifts from one bad decision to another. He turns his life around but we aren't witnesses to that transformative stage of his life--just to the wild years and the events that occur decades later.
Precisely my thoughts. Duke chose his path and was in control of his life. Gary sort of stumbles through life. The pitiful situation he was in seems to be his own doing.
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Shrabastee Chakraborty
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Post by Shrabastee Chakraborty »

lavellan wrote: 26 May 2018, 23:18 I preferred Duke over Gary. Duke had greater caring for other people and most of his actions were self-destructive rather than hurtful to others. Gary didn't seem to care much other people's feelings and didn't try to improve himself until he met Duke.
I agree with you. Duke was what he chose to be. Gary was more of a lost soul. I believe he could have chosen a better path for himself. I am glad that he found Duke, but that did not necessarily have to be the case if he just took more responsibility for his actions.
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