Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "good-books"
What Defines a Good Book for You?
A good book, as far as I'm concerned, has to:-
1. Have characters I care about (though I don't mind if some are "slow burn" characters so I grow to care about them. I am prepared to give them time but I feel cheated if by the end of the book, I haven't been made to care about the characters.).
2. Have characters I can get behind and either "root" for their success or, usually if a villain, hope they get their comeuppance. (I do love finding out how they do!).
3. Give you a sense that the author has said all that has needed to be said but oh how you wish there was more of the story because you enjoyed it so much.
4. Give you a sense of a wonderfully created world, leaving the way for prequels or sequels, whether or not the writer actually does write these.
5. Have a gripping plot, obviously.
6. Have an easy to remember blurb. It makes it easier to recommend the book to others because it gives you the main point, which drew you to reading the book in the first place.
7. Have a title that intrigues or you can see a few different directions in which the title could take you. That opens up all sorts of possibilities for the story itself and makes me want to crack on and read it!
8. If within a really popular genre, such as crime or fantasy, being able to offer something different to the "mix" so the book stands out.
9. You could see a decent film being made out of the plot as long as the movie people stick to the plot of the book, given it is so good.
10. You want to re-read it at least once a year. Always a good sign that.
1. Have characters I care about (though I don't mind if some are "slow burn" characters so I grow to care about them. I am prepared to give them time but I feel cheated if by the end of the book, I haven't been made to care about the characters.).
2. Have characters I can get behind and either "root" for their success or, usually if a villain, hope they get their comeuppance. (I do love finding out how they do!).
3. Give you a sense that the author has said all that has needed to be said but oh how you wish there was more of the story because you enjoyed it so much.
4. Give you a sense of a wonderfully created world, leaving the way for prequels or sequels, whether or not the writer actually does write these.
5. Have a gripping plot, obviously.
6. Have an easy to remember blurb. It makes it easier to recommend the book to others because it gives you the main point, which drew you to reading the book in the first place.
7. Have a title that intrigues or you can see a few different directions in which the title could take you. That opens up all sorts of possibilities for the story itself and makes me want to crack on and read it!
8. If within a really popular genre, such as crime or fantasy, being able to offer something different to the "mix" so the book stands out.
9. You could see a decent film being made out of the plot as long as the movie people stick to the plot of the book, given it is so good.
10. You want to re-read it at least once a year. Always a good sign that.
What Makes a Character Work for You?
In all of the best stories I've read, certain things have to be true about the characters.
1. They've got to be interesting in some way, whether it is by being so different to these around them it is bound to grab your attention, or they do something which goes against what is expected of them. You immediately want to know why and what the consequences are. Result! You read on...
2. They have to have flaws and virtues and, above all, understandable reasons for acting the way they are. It doesn't mean you have to agree or like them.
3. Personal one here - I'm particularly fond of the underdog. I like to see if they can "win out". Fairytales of course feature a lot of these (and they do win!) so that fuels my love of this one.
4. They have to overcome adversity in some way, whether that is a major one (or is only major to them).
5. They have to develop in some way over the course of the story or novel and by the end, even if not successful in their aim which is driving the story, have come to a better understanding of themselves and the world they live in. The reader can see they've changed for the better.
1. They've got to be interesting in some way, whether it is by being so different to these around them it is bound to grab your attention, or they do something which goes against what is expected of them. You immediately want to know why and what the consequences are. Result! You read on...
2. They have to have flaws and virtues and, above all, understandable reasons for acting the way they are. It doesn't mean you have to agree or like them.
3. Personal one here - I'm particularly fond of the underdog. I like to see if they can "win out". Fairytales of course feature a lot of these (and they do win!) so that fuels my love of this one.
4. They have to overcome adversity in some way, whether that is a major one (or is only major to them).
5. They have to develop in some way over the course of the story or novel and by the end, even if not successful in their aim which is driving the story, have come to a better understanding of themselves and the world they live in. The reader can see they've changed for the better.
What Do I Want Books To Do For Me?
I look for different things from books, depending on which genre I'm reading, but there are things in common across the spectrum.
A good book for me must:-
1. Entertain me. (I want to be gripped by its pace and narrative. I don't want to be sent to sleep by it!).
2. I want to learn something from it and this applies to fiction as much as non-fiction.
From the former, I can learn something about behaviour and choices depending on what the characters do.
Learning from non-fiction books is obvious but it is a good idea to read outside the subjects you might usually choose (and this is something I need to do more often).
I love history and that is my "go to" for non-fiction reading but I always used to like geography so maybe I should try some travel writing books etc. Hmm... might look up some ideas to put on my Christmas present wish list then!).
3. I want to want to read the book again in due course. Good books call for repeated reading (and I find I pick up more details on a second or third read). I also wouldn't undermine the comfort of reading a familiar book. There is much to be said for that.
So what do YOU look for in a good book?
A good book for me must:-
1. Entertain me. (I want to be gripped by its pace and narrative. I don't want to be sent to sleep by it!).
2. I want to learn something from it and this applies to fiction as much as non-fiction.
From the former, I can learn something about behaviour and choices depending on what the characters do.
Learning from non-fiction books is obvious but it is a good idea to read outside the subjects you might usually choose (and this is something I need to do more often).
I love history and that is my "go to" for non-fiction reading but I always used to like geography so maybe I should try some travel writing books etc. Hmm... might look up some ideas to put on my Christmas present wish list then!).
3. I want to want to read the book again in due course. Good books call for repeated reading (and I find I pick up more details on a second or third read). I also wouldn't undermine the comfort of reading a familiar book. There is much to be said for that.
So what do YOU look for in a good book?
What I Look For In A Good Book
Regardless of genre, what I look for first in a good book is a gripping lead character. I don't necessarily have to like them (!) but I do need to be intrigued by them enough to make me want to read their story.
This applies to non-fiction too if you accept the "narrative voice" of the text is a kind of character too. Does that voice grip me enough to keep on reading or does it send me to sleep? (Never a good sign that!).
Once I've finished the book, is it going to be one of those I enjoyed reading but won't read again? Or will it reach the dizzy heights of being one of those absolute favourites I happily turn to time and again when I need them back in my life for a bit?
I don't know about you but I do like light reading anyway and I especially like it now. I am not going to be reading the doom and gloom merchants (I can get that from watching the news).
I know the reality of what is out there but it doesn't mean I have to read about it.
My reading is about entertainment and escapism and those things shouldn't be despised.
So my criteria for what is a good book does boil down to its entertainment value and that is down to the character portrayal.
This applies to non-fiction too if you accept the "narrative voice" of the text is a kind of character too. Does that voice grip me enough to keep on reading or does it send me to sleep? (Never a good sign that!).
Once I've finished the book, is it going to be one of those I enjoyed reading but won't read again? Or will it reach the dizzy heights of being one of those absolute favourites I happily turn to time and again when I need them back in my life for a bit?
I don't know about you but I do like light reading anyway and I especially like it now. I am not going to be reading the doom and gloom merchants (I can get that from watching the news).
I know the reality of what is out there but it doesn't mean I have to read about it.
My reading is about entertainment and escapism and those things shouldn't be despised.
So my criteria for what is a good book does boil down to its entertainment value and that is down to the character portrayal.
What I Like to See In A Book
Hmm… this is a good statement, isn’t it? I could give chapter and verse here, appropriately, but for me one thing only is key to whether a book is good or not.
It’s all down to the characters. Do they grip me? Do they get me rooting for them to succeed or fail?
(Funnily enough, either is fine, and I do love to see a “good” villain get their comeuppance eventually. I blame my love of fairytales for that one).
If a character does not grip me, I switch off. I love Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth Bennett is a fabulous character and ahead of her time. She says what she thinks and I love that.
Conversely, I am not gripped by Mansfield Park as I think the heroine there is dull and, to my mind, not worth of being a heroine. Her happy ending does depend on the misfortunes of others, in my view, but Elizabeth had to work for hers and it was by no means certain it would happen until close to the end.
I wanted to see Miss Price do so much more to “earn” her happy ending but there you go.
(I guess it’s a kind of warning to all writers that even the best can come up with characters who don’t engage with their readers and I know there are those who love Mansfield Park but it has never done anything for me because of this).
It’s all down to the characters. Do they grip me? Do they get me rooting for them to succeed or fail?
(Funnily enough, either is fine, and I do love to see a “good” villain get their comeuppance eventually. I blame my love of fairytales for that one).
If a character does not grip me, I switch off. I love Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth Bennett is a fabulous character and ahead of her time. She says what she thinks and I love that.
Conversely, I am not gripped by Mansfield Park as I think the heroine there is dull and, to my mind, not worth of being a heroine. Her happy ending does depend on the misfortunes of others, in my view, but Elizabeth had to work for hers and it was by no means certain it would happen until close to the end.
I wanted to see Miss Price do so much more to “earn” her happy ending but there you go.
(I guess it’s a kind of warning to all writers that even the best can come up with characters who don’t engage with their readers and I know there are those who love Mansfield Park but it has never done anything for me because of this).
