What makes a good book?

[Reefern86]

Well...this thread is simple. For those of u that actually read...u know those big paper things with lots of words in them...what makes a good book?

Is it just a certain genre that u can pick up and enjoy anything, or are there specific things u like/look for. Such as suspence, great detail, charater devolopment, etc.

I'm just curious to c what ppl actually look for in a book, and what makes a person not want to put it down!

[Rayster]

Ah, u said it.

Character Development.

The greatest thing, to look for in a book IMO. What's a book without characters? An array of characters in that respect too. Not just one central, cos if u dun care about the character's viewpoint, you're most likely not goin to care bout the events etc, in the book at all.

Over detail is always not a good thing. If the authour tries to ram home a particular image it may not suit the reader...

I'm just curious to c what ppl actually look for in a book, and what makes a person not want to put it down!

Not putting it down.. is some actual suspense, and caring for the character(s). It's wat i try to enforce anyway whenever i write =]

[Jasper]

- A solid plot with an exciting twist.
- Interesting characters.
- Usage of adjectives and what not to describe the scenary vividly :).

[WatashiWa]

Suspense, if my heart is beating over what's going to happen next, the book is a success. On the other hand, if it not that kind of story a ook that has be laughing to myself is pretty good to. A book that does both. . . .wow.

[MidoriSangatsu]

I'm big with fantasy
if romance - sweet and to the point don't fiddle around like "Gone With the Wind"
main character either needs to be really smart (if bad) or Very Heroic
a story with a happy ending (not like recent Harry Potters)
if death for a person.. make it a character you wouldn't be so attached to

My suggestion for a good book is the Series with Ink at the beggining of each
Inkheart and Inkspell

unfortunate things happen that all happened because one book that book that brought the character great misfortune.

these books have compelled me to read during times I shouldn't.

First book is Inkheart by Funke (last name can't remember first) and Inkspell is the sequal.

[M_A]

@Midori - I would like to disagree. I am a big fan of George R.R. Martin's books, and he is known for killing off main characters loved by millions suddenly and gruesomly. And guess what, all those surprising deaths were absolutely unfiorgettable. If a character no one cares about dies, then it's not a big deal, really. This brings me to my answer to the thread: originality and daring. The author has to be original and try new things. Just because people expect and want a happy story doesn't mean he/she should do that. I am tired of books in which i can predict the ending, i want to be shocked, surprised and moved. I want realistic characters, not ued stereotypes ripped off of LOTR, and i want a story that does not follow an established structure, but something new and unique.

[WatashiWa]

Writers are know to kill of fan favorites to surprise the reader and make them care more. An example would be on the television show Lost, In the second season, when Ana Lucia was shot, they decided to kill of Libby aswell because no one liked Ana Lucia and no one would care if she died (I use No one loosely)

[II Xion II]

Character development is extremely important in anything, whether it be books or anime. If I do not feel anything for the characters, then even the best plots can seem dull and trite.

It also depends on the genre, but generally I believe that a good dose of archetypal metaphors, symbols, themes, and allusions (to classical figures and other important works) help make a work into a piece of art. Also, a lot of detail when discussing scenery really improves the feel of a book.

[Guy]

Character development is very important. Characters are the most important thing, so obviously they must be good. The plot must be well-thought too. Please don't give me any mindless crap thought up for no reason. Of course, plot twists add more to it. Now, I prefer books with unpredictable endings, and I really hate it when books, movies, etc. end with "happily ever after". I mean, why is every plot nowadays ending with happily ever after?

[Kamy]

i agree that character development is great and essential
but what i like is a book about made up world (fantasy type books) i can't really read a book without some fighting.

[Ronin36]

I had never heard of this before studying it in school my 10th year, but check this out. It fits a lot of good stories, and is supposed to be a big guideline for good books and movies.

The Hero's Journey (http://www.mythichero.com/what_is_mythology.htm)

[Rayster]

i agree that character development is great and essential
but what i like is a book about made up world (fantasy type books) i can't really read a book without some fighting.
Then you need to read my fic: moonBlade
fantasy, characters, fighting. :)

[DireCry]

A good book must have a twisting storyline, good characters, background.

[Vladimir]

what makes a good book ?
let me think . hmn . interesting storyline . suspense . good character . heroic . the author mustbe good at their description . their arguements . the best is bram stolker dracula and lord of the rings . they have good set .

[Evanesque]

It depends from the genre of the book.

A good horror book noting that it involves the supernatural will have realistic details. Sometimes, books that just say, 'oh ghosts' don't freak us out so that's something stupid.

A good book would engross a reader such that he would feel as though he knows what it feels like to be in the situation.

Details depends on the type of book you are reading, if it's drama then yes detail is very important and it is the same for suspense books...

The way the details are arranged is very important to stimulate the reader's mind and allow him to imagine the situation.

There are many points to a good book...I'll probably post them up here later

[Shaehl]

There are many things that make a good book, but in my opinion, credible suspense is the most important thing in making a book readable. Everything else comes afterward.

I'm not talking about the "bad guy waiting around the corner" kind of suspense either. What I mean by credible suspense is, the ever-present knowledge that something important (from the character's perspective anyway) is unnavoidably going to happen. It could be anything from finding a mysterious breifcase, to a simple sentence saying something along the lines of "that was when everything changed". For, me I need to get a clear sense that the story is going somewhere that promises to be interesting, or I just can't muscle my way through the first few chapters.

Once that is established, I think the next most important factor in determining whether or not a book is good, is clear and concise writing. I have read fanfictions that have been more interesting and fun than the work of professional authors, simply because the writing was clear and easy to visualize. You can make use of metaphors of the highest quality, and/or word choices laden with symbolism, but if the end result is that your writing becomes convoluted and steeped in tedium, you're not gaining anything in my opinion. If the work required to understand and bring a story to life in my mind outwieghs my desire to find out what happens next, I most likely will not finish it.