What does it take to keep your interest?

[Mr.]

Since we have all read this book, I would like your thoughts on how it compares to the books you regularly read. When I look at your reading lists, they are largely composed of adventure or fantasy, with the occasional John Green thrown in. What makes a book exciting enough to really grab our interest?
For myself, I had trouble with TBITSP because I felt too far removed from the main character. Bruno's naivete was, to me, off-putting and fake. As our class examined several issues surrounding the Holocaust, we found more and more that the details of Bruno's "out-with" life were very poor renderings of reality.
But what would have drawn me in? I read mostly trashy "cop fiction" and am drawn in by the drama and humor. When I read more literary novels, the challenge of making meaning of everyday life can sometimes really engage my mind, but more often I need an interesting conceit. The Life of Pi would be a good example. The Kite Runner is that middle of the road book for me. The guilt and shame that need to be dealt with is a real human condition, but if it weren't for the draw of Afghanistan because of its exotic and geo-political interest, I don't know that I would have finished the book.
What allows you to engage with literature that is of more depth than vampires, dragons and witches?

[Teresa]

Well, I'm really interested in the history of both World War I and World War II which was one of the reasons why I was anxious to read this book. I really like to read just about any book I can get my hands on but what really engages me to read a book outside my favorite genres (fantasy and young-adult) are three things:
1. A plot that's a little complex, cool and dramatic
2. Characters that have great depth and interesting backgrounds
3. A story that makes me feel emotional in some way

A couple examples of books that I've read and fit in the three things that I mentioned (and are out side my favorite genres) would be East of Eden and The Known World.

[Larissa]

I read it because my sister gave it to me and I had seen the movie trailler and we both felt that this would be the one book to make me cry. It didn't. the story is nice enough but too sugar coated, not to mention there wasn't much effort in terms of language. I don't usually read books just for the stories they tell, there has to be aesthetic appreciation as well.