What Makes a Good Book?

What makes a Good Book?

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What makes a  good book? Does it have to win an award to be considered good?  Can a book be considered good if it is a great story with average writing? How about a well-written book with a less-than-compelling story line?

That is a tough question, to put into words the reasons why you pick a certain book to read. I can almost more easily say why I don’t like certain books over other’s. For me, it is usually due to the author, and his or her writing style. For example, there is one author I am always drawn to. The covers are very eye catching (yes yes I know don’t judge a book by its cover), the teaser on the back of the book seems intriguing. Even the last page of the book seems catchy! Oh, I forgot to mention that I always read the last page of a book to see if it hooks me. Sadly, after 3-4 books I have come to  find  I simply don’t like her style of writing.

For me, a good book is more than just a well-written story. A good book is a treasure trove of humanity so that no matter how often you open a page and start reading, there is still something new to be discovered. A good book is one that makes the reader feel. It takes you on a compelling journey. Calling a book “good” is an opinion that can be applied to any book. I believe that a book can be considered good if it is a great story with average writing. A great story with many struggles and ultimate success can be told even when the writing is average. Some story lines are not compelling, but they are so well written that people will recommend them. Have I read ones like these? Yes. [image error]

A  book doesn’t have to be a best seller, or on a recommended reading list for it to be classified as good.  Sometimes what makes a book a good one,  has to do more with what the reader needs at that given time in his or her life. Simply put, a good book is one that you enjoy reading. Sometimes the best books are hidden gems that you didn’t even know were out there! Take a look and pick up a book, you never know what you might just find.

These are just some of my thoughts, really the answer to this question varies upon each person. That being said, what about for you? What do you look for in books? Could you define what makes a good book to you?