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.