"A page-turner. I was unable to put it down." What book qualities create that feeling for you?

[Mochaspresso]

There have been so many comparisons of Twilight to classic literature like Pride and Prejudice. I loved Pride and Prejudice, but at the same time, it took me weeks to read it. The reason why was that as good as I thought it was, I was easily able to put it aside for 3 or 4 days and then come back to it. Even though I loved it, I wasn't hooked on it. It wasn't one of those books that had me up until 5am reading and then cursing that I have to stop reading so soon because I have to go to work. Great book....but I was able to put Pride and Prejudice down. I have noticed this about another book that I am currently reading. It's good but it's not one of those page-turners that hooks me.

I'm not trying to say that Twilight was the better written book, because it wasn't. There was just something about Twilight that made me not want to put the series down until I was done with it. For me, it was the story. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

So what book qualities create that "page-turner" feeling for you?

[Mickey]

I've actually been thinking a lot lately what characteristics make a book enjoyable to me. I think that being able to immerse myself in the characters or the writing style is very important.

There's a quote from Pat Conroy's My Reading Life that I've always liked (and I think that book gave the closest description to the sort of reader I am). He says:

“Here's what I love: when a great writer turns me into a Jew from Chicago, a lesbian out of South Carolina, or a black woman moving into a subway entrance in Harlem. Turn me into something else, writers of the world. Make me Muslim, heretic, hermaphrodite. Put me into a crusader's armor, a cardinal's vestments. Let me feel the pygmy's heartbeat, the queen's breast, the torturer's pleasure, the Nile's taste, or the nomad's thirst. Tell me everything that I must know. Hold nothing back.”
― Pat Conroy, My Reading Life

I like to read things that are heavily evocative and create their own worlds. It's nice to be able to get out of one's own head every once in a while and experience something different.

[[deleted user]]

I really don't know what book qualities create that feeling for me (though I think suspense might be one of them), but I can easily think of two page-turners: Nevermore and The Catcher in the Rye. (Although with Nevermore it was more of a just-kiss-him-already-girl feeling. :D)

[Nuran]

Good characters and good story. When I think about it deeper though, I'm the kind of reader that likes to guess where the story is going, and if the story gives clues to something that I can guess will make me feel happy or sad (in a thoughtful way), I have to read it until all the clues come together so I can go "YEESSS FINALLY!!!!" or "WWHHYY??!! *sniff sniff*.

So basically, the writer drops hints of something amazing or heartbreaking waiting around the corner, and you have to keep reading and reading til you get there.

I guess that would be classed as suspense or tension.

[Keri]

It has to be the anticipation of what is going to happen next is probably the biggest cause of the famous "just one more chapter". ;) As Nuran said above, if a book can keep you waiting for something it make you more likely to keep reading until you get there. Being emotionally hooked to either the story or the characters would have to be another reason.

[Ann]

I definitely agree with what has been said before. It is where the author carefully dangles a teaser at you at the end of most chapters. This keeps me going as each chapter causes me to have more and more questions.

However I have read books that I would call 'page-turners' but while I read them quickly, sometimes it was simply because I had to know what happened. I wouldn't say they were books I necessarily loved. Some leave me a bit flat at the end, especially when they build up a huge amount of expectation and the ending just doesn't deliver.

[Kirstyn]

What makes me not be able to stop reading about is characters I enjoy and identify with. If I like a character enough I will want to read on and find out what happens to them. An interesting plot is also important and my mood at the time. There have been times where I had temporarily stopped reading a book I loved because my mood at the time took away my desire to read.

[Danielle]

I agree, I often have a hard time getting into Jane Austen novels and other classic literature. It often takes its time painstakingly building the story before anything actually happens. However, Pride and Prejudice ended up being a page turner for me. It was one of those books I stayed up into early morning hours on a weekday because I had to finish it before I could sleep. And then I re-read the ending again the next day.

What makes a book a page-turner for me is just interest. If the book can keep me interested, make me want to know what is written in the next chapter, then I can't put it down. It doesn't need to be suspenseful or adventurous or even a good book. There were lots of books I couldn't put down even though I absolutely hated them. It's the "I can't look away from this train wreck" effect.

It doesn't even need to be a fiction book or a book with a plot or story for me. There are lots of science books I read, and I get so excited about the concept that I can't put the books down.

[QR]

The thing that made me like this book the most was the relate-ability. I could really understand Bella, it felt like I was her. And I have to give credit where credit is due, Meyer did a great job with that. If an author can make it so that you are SO interested in the plot that you can't put down the book, they win. Game over.

The plot was intriguing, even if it wasn't PERFECTLY written, even if it wasn't flawless, the story was still written in a clear, concise manner. It was descriptive and I found the descriptions really helped me understand where I was in the book.

The characters were very interesting, I especially liked Carlisle and his struggle to be "good" despite the cards he was dealt.
Overall, I really don't know why everyone is freaking out about this book. It's not horrible.

www.puffpost.tumblr.com

[J.C.]

I think the thing that makes me very interested is the characters. The writing needs to be good but if the characters hold no interest I'm not going to want to read about them. They need to be funny, strong-minded, and smart just to name a few.

[Sarah]

When I was younger, I was overly obsessive with romance. So, I guess that's why... Also, you just know they'll get married. ;)

[Pam]

My favorite books are not usually the ones that keep me up all night. The last page turners I've read have been Gone Girl, The Boy in the Suitcase and it's sequel Invisible Murder. I also felt that way about The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo series. While not great literature they are great stories that suck you in and make you want to know what happens next. My favorite books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Jane Eyre make me want to take time and savor the prose and the characters.

[chinami]

Danielle wrote: "I agree, I often have a hard time getting into Jane Austen novels and other classic literature. It often takes its time painstakingly building the story before anything actually happens. However, P..."

totally agree about the classics :P

[chinami]

I'm all about plot, characters, world building,developments and fast paced. I just expect either nail biting thrill or giggly feeling when I finish the novels.
If the story is great, I'll love the book for eternity. I must be thinking about the book a lot and I should be recommending to everyone i should rate it as 4 or 5 star.
I could not put down pride and prejudice even though I'm no fan of classics. I fell in love with this one particular novel. Classics no offense is not special with regards to the story. Its just many facts or rather historical facts compiled as fiction with some characters who're very dreary, complaining and dictating rules. at least that's what I think. :P

[Amy]

My feelings mirror a lot of yours. Some books/stories draw me in completely. A really great book for me is one that makes me forget there is a world going on around me because I am so absorbed in the story and characters. Some classics have done that for me, but mostly it's been the easier-to-read contemporary stories, like Twilight, that do that for me. Possibly because they are not as complicated, they allow my brain to blur right into the story. But then there are also the books that I want to read slowly to fully take in the artistry of the novel - like many of the classics. It really depends on my mood and how much time I have.