How can we describe writing styles and/or book qualities-CHECKLIST?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

As we tell each other about the books we're reading or have read, it's helpful to describe the author's writing style and the qualities about the book which we liked or didn't like. It isn't always easy to describe this type of thing... it's hard to find words which pinpoint those qualities. But they're a good guide when one is choosing authors to read.

It's the same when trying to describe the effect of a book without laying out the specifics of the plot, i.e., telling what we liked or didn't like about the book.

I wonder if there's a checklist anywhere which would help readers to describe a writing style or a book quality. I thought we might talk about what items might go on that checklist.

RANDOM LIST OF EXAMPLES I'VE COLLECTED:
easy read
impenetrable
no exposition
deliberate obscurity
too wordy
lush language
flowery prose
stilted prose
too much description
repetitive
memorable characters
likable characters
one-dimensional characters
too many characters
contains flashbacks
linear
introspective
one-dimensional characters
sentimental schmaltz
trite and clumsy
cozy mystery
hard to follow
a preposterously tangled story (from a NYTimes review)
meandering plot that is difficult to follow
cumbersome digressions
morbidly fascinating
bittersweet and touching
deeply moving
multiple plot lines
long multi-clause sentences
slow-paced / fast paced
starts slowly
plot driven / character driven
boring / gripping

Of course many of the above might be subjective opinions. Nevertheless, they might be helpful.

Please add any other examples which come to mind, or feel free to discuss and/or elaborate on the above.

[Jim]

Excellent idea, Joy.

Dialogue - not only how well it was done, but sometimes authors spell out how people talk until I can't read it or tire of it.

Cussing - sometimes it's overdone, not done & should be or just right.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Excellent idea, Joy.
Dialogue - not only how well it was done, but sometimes authors spell out how people talk until I can't read it or tire of it.
Cussing - sometimes it's overdone, not done &..."

Good additions, Jim.

Related to that might be "Dialogue done in dialect". Sometimes that can get on your nerves if overdone.

PS-Also related to dialogue, sometimes the author doesn't make clear who is doing the talking, especially in a long passage of "back and forth" dialogue.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Another helpful aspect to list would be the GENRE of the book itself, or the different genres in which one author works.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Here are a few more useful words to use in reviews:

poorly fleshed out characters
disjointed, poor sequencing
unimpressive
obscure, difficult to comprehend
opaque allusions
barely readable dreck
ornate descriptions
high-flautin verbosity [highfalutin or hifalutin or highfaluting] [high falutin] [perhaps variant of fluting, from flute]
pompous or pretentious
over-blown language
Over-the-top acting
terribly over written
completely lacking merit and art.
quality of its prose being generally seen as poor. [at Wiki re Fifty Shades of Grey ]
cliche-ridden
a coming-of-age story
disappointing
predictable
contrived
confusing circumlocutions
enigmatic references [from novel "Pope Joan"]
obscure references
esoteric references
cryptic
engaging
compelling
heart-warming
no real resolution