Books - What's your definition of a good book?

22 Umbrellas · 03-11-2005, 07:48 PM

Do you just know a good book after you've finished reading one? Or do all of your favorite books have certain elements? Is writing style or plot or characterization or uniqueness more important to you, or do you like a good balance of everything?

For me, a good book usually leaves me thinking for several minutes after I read it. I just have to sit there looking at the back cover of the book and process what I've just read. I also know a good book when I finish reading and wish I'd been the one to write it. Writing style is probably the most important issue for me, but if a writer has just the greatest writing style and a ton of plot holes, I'm not exactly going to be ecstatic.

Soz · 03-11-2005, 11:32 PM

It's really difficult for me to express what makes a book good to me. It has to hit me right here -----> <points to heart>. I love great characters, understandable plot, great world-building, and strong women characters. I know there's more, but it's so hard for me to put into words why some books mean so much to me.

I forgot to add that proper use of English is very important to me. I know it might seem obvious, but because I was an English tutor for a few years, I get really annoyed with bad writing. I had a bad experience with a book last year: the whole time I was reading it, I couldn't stop myself from counting the amount of times the author kept repeating words.

There are also a few things that I usually can't read about (I call them my squick factors), but I'd rather not mention them because they are pretty disturbing.

80sBabygirl · 03-11-2005, 11:52 PM

My definition of a good book is something that's well-written (writing style can be important, but realistic dialogue is important, too as well as good description), a book that I can understand and that's a page turner, keeps me interested in the plot and the chraracters. A good book leaves me with a smile on my face and thinking about the book afterwards. A GREAT book makes me literally say, "Wow" after I've finished it (not many books have given me the wow factor).

Crossbow · 03-12-2005, 07:42 AM

I like books that make me feel like they're really happening. I, Claudius and The Stand are good examples. I remember being out walking with a friend while I was reading I. Claudius, and she asked why I was so upset and I said, "Everyone's being mean to Claudius!" She pointed out that most of what's in that book never happened, and I said, "But it's happening in my head!"

Kimberly · 03-12-2005, 12:18 PM

For me it is simple.. do I get sucked into the plot and characters lives? Do I want to put the book down. If I really love a book I can't put it down and am totally engrossed in the story and the characters. Even after I'm finished reading I want to know more about them and what will happen next.

For nonfiction a good book is one that really gets me thinking about the subject and when I'm done I want to read more on the subject.

ConnieB04 · 03-12-2005, 06:32 PM

If i want to read the book right after I have just finished it

**BehrItAll** · 03-12-2005, 09:28 PM

Basically if it's a book that I cannot put down and has me thinking about the story and characters when i am not able to read it or even years after I've read it, then I consider it a good book.
Also writing style, character depth/development, interesting story/plot have alot to do with if it is a good book or not.

~Izzerelly~ · 03-12-2005, 09:56 PM

For me a good book is one that is hard to put down. I do that so many times where I'll finish a long book in 1 day and if it continues i'll read that one for the next day. I've tried to cut back on doing that because it's how I got glasses.

A good book doesn't leave me with any questions in the end and I'll think about the story for a while.

**onionroach** · 03-13-2005, 04:48 AM

Soz, you kind of summed it up for me.

It's each of those things or a sum of those things. I can really love the characters and shrug at the plot and still consider the book good. I can be so so about the characters and love the story and still really like the book as well. I also really have to like the writer's style. If I don't like how the author writes, it doesn't matter if I like the characters or story, I'm not going to like the book. I probably won't finish it.

Kismet16 · 03-13-2005, 08:14 AM

k46 I agree with your whole post. A good book to me also has to have a good satisfying ending.

Niffler · 03-13-2005, 06:54 PM

a book that i dream about at least once and that i think about for weeks after finishing it.
one that i can't put down while i am reading it... you know, the nights that you're laying in bed reading and every chapter you say "ok last chapter, i have to get some sleep" but you just keep reading until you're so tired your eyes are closing and then the next day you have a ton of trouble getting up in the morning for work/school and then all day you're wishing you could just be reading.
*breathes*
wow.

yeah, that's a great book.

Kimberly · 03-13-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niffler

one that i can't put down while i am reading it... you know, the nights that you're laying in bed reading and every chapter you say "ok last chapter, i have to get some sleep" but you just keep reading until you're so tired your eyes are closing and then the next day you have a ton of trouble getting up in the morning for work/school and then all day you're wishing you could just be reading.
*breathes*
wow.

yeah, that's a great book.

I have lost so much sleep because of books like those! I blame great books for the bags under my eyes! hee

Also the desire to read everything by that author is another good sign for me that it was a great book. I just had to run to the bookstore today and buy the 2 other books by Mary Janice Davidson today because I liked her first book so much. hee even though I have like 20 books to read still

***Yellow Mustang Girl*** · 03-13-2005, 07:50 PM

Yeah, a book that keep you up late at night -- awesome.

I actually like a variety of books -- depends upon my mood etc. Sometimes I want escapism sometimes I want to think, etc.

**Quarterley** · 03-13-2005, 08:35 PM

1. I don't fall asleep reading it.

2. I keep wanting to know what happens next.

3. Got some really good lines or parts that would make me either

or go "Whoa..."

***Yellow Mustang Girl*** · 03-13-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quarterley

1. I don't fall asleep reading it.

2. I keep wanting to know what happens next.

3. Got some really good lines or parts that would make me either

or go "Whoa..."

I didn't think about #3 -- you're right