Books with accents

Do you like it when authors write speech in novels with accents? I mean, if say the character was a Somerset farmer and " Oo ar , ow bist young un?" type thing, would you say it added to the scene on your mind or is it annoying?

Re: Books with accents

It makes it clearer to understand.

Re: Books with accents

Depends on how well it's done. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it's annoying!

Re: Books with accents

Reading 'Bermondsey Boy' (Tommy Steele) at the moment and I love it, full of laughter - so easy to picture the characters too
I think it has to be written well ..........

Re: Books with accents

I think it can give you the area by the accent they speak. Also you could probably see the somerset farmer as you say, in your mind as been dressed in country farmer fashion...
I prefer it as it becomes more interesting..

Re: Books with accents

It can be very helpful in setting the scene for a book and its also why some translations dont work..

Re: Books with accents

I'm afraid it's a complete turn off to me, concentrating on decyphering the dialect just distracts me from the story. Besides, if I am told the story is in the Northeast , Yorkshire, the Southwest or wherever, then I can imagine the local accent without the need to force feed it to me.

Re: Books with accents

This is true if its strong dialect - it was featured in this book for a short time and I hadn't a clue what was being said

Re: Books with accents

Stella Gibbons' wonderfully satirical novel "Cold Comfort Farm" (1932) sends up the fashion for the romantic use of country talk brilliantly. Great book, great woman!

Re: Books with accents

It really depends how well it's written I remember a few books I gave up on due to the way the dialect was written making no sense what so ever, but done well it can add enormously to the atmosphere of a book.