The Elusive Elements Of A Good Read by Morton S. Gray
I went through a strange phase recently when I couldn’t settle to read and abandoned several novels that I had started. I hasten to add that it was my mood not the novels I tried. In the end I decided to reread a couple of favourites instead and it set me wondering why these books in particular appealed to me when the others I’d tried to read didn’t.
As a writer, I am obviously trying to include these elusive things in my own work so that readers will want to read my novel and maybe look for others I’ve written too.
It made me realise more than ever that reading a book is definitely a two way process. The writer has to have written a good book, yes, but also the reader needs to be in a receptive mood to the subject of the book at that particular point in time too. The more I thought about this the more I realised how this reader/writer relationship is quite a complex thing.
I’ve given below my random thoughts for the elements needed in a book for a reader to have a satisfactory reading experience.
The topic, characters, setting need to be relatable to you personally and this can either be because these are familiar, aspirational or totally out of your experience.Easy to read and not using numerous words that have to be looked up to understand their context or meaning.The plot keeps your interest, captures your imagination and transports you into the world of the story.The book allows the use of the reader’s own imagination.Taps into your own particular emotions and senses.The inclusion of a character like you are now, how you felt in the past, or even aspire to be even if only in your dreams.The story makes sense to you and maybe even puts into words thoughts you yourself have had or else make complete sense to you – these are the sentences that I often highlight on my kindle so that I can refer back to them.Sometimes you reread a book to recapture a feeling, a thought, a lost time, or to put things into perspective, to transport yourself out of a current situation or to put things into focus.Finally, the book must have a satisfactory ending.Not too difficult to write into a novel then! Haha.
I can hear those of you who have stuck with me this far wondering which books I’ve just reread!
Wintercombe by Pamela Belle – a great story set in the English civil war, with family dynamics and a love story.
A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon – a complex story set in different parts of the main character, Gina’s life, including university, living with parents, relationships in various phases, coping with illness and life in general.
If you as a reader or writer have anything else to add to my list above, please send me a comment below.
Thank you for visiting Morton S. Gray’s blog.
My latest release is A New Arrival in Borteen Bay
Sign up to my blog to receive weekly updates below:
About The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series
Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe
Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post.
You can also find me on Amazon, Facebook, X Twitter and Instagram.
Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books
