When writing or speaking about a fictional character, which tense do you use?

Preference seems to vary from person to person and educator to educator. Personally, I generally use the present tense.
For example, after reading a book about a man named John I might say, “I got the impression that John is a man of regret. Remember when he cries after firing his assistant?”
Many others would say that John was a man of regret, and that he cried after the firing. What about you?