Message In A Book

[Ashley]

I really like it when a book that gives a message or makes you think of what you would do in a particular situation or what not. For example, Jodi Picoult's books.

What are on your thoughts about books having a lesson or message for the readers?

[Wes]

I think messages are great unless they are political.

[Elizabeth]

Messages can be great as long as they're not preachy- in either political or religious/moral sense.

[Caroline]

I'm with Laura on this one--I enjoy messages, but not if they're delivered in a preachy way. There are times when I feel like an author has a holier-than-thou sense of morality, and that just really puts me off. Luckily, most authors are good about not doing this.

[Tara]

Well, I don't mind when a story has a message, but I have to admit that there have been times when I completely missed the message. I don't want a message to be overly preachy and I don't want to feel like I'm being beaten with it, so the subtle ones are good, but if the message is too subtle, I completely miss it. I hated when my lit professors would ask the class what the message was in a book and I had no idea. There was a message? Then the professor would say what the message was and it was completely not what I got from reading the book, it wasn't even what I understood the story to be saying. I think my professors made up those messages just for kicks and giggles.