 |
Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.
Here is what is on deck this week:
WHAT THINGS MAKE A GOOD BOOK FOR YOU?
In short:
Well, that's it for now. And if you're interested in participating, here is the TMST prompt list for the months of August and September:
- characters I can care for (they don't have to be like me, just to elicit a strong emotional response)
- articulate writing (better if it doesn't favour very short/choppy sentences, though sometimes they can be effective)
- when the book knows what it's doing (like, sci-fantasy is OK, sci-fi that employs supernatural devices without context...not so much)
Well, that's it for now. And if you're interested in participating, here is the TMST prompt list for the months of August and September:
- August 4th: Positive post: share something kind or positive
- August 11th: Book challenge: Challenge fellow bloggers to read a book you think they would enjoy
- August 18th: What book worlds would you love to visit?
- August 25th: What book worlds would you not like to find yourself in?
- September 1st: What's the biggest mistake you made as a newbie blogger? (I submitted this one)
- September 8th: Name some book sidekicks you would love to have by your side
- September 15th: What are some good reading habits that you have adopted?
- September 22nd: What are some bad reading habits you kicked or want to get rid of?
- September 29th: Book cover love: Share some book covers that you love
I'll be back for the meme on September 1st of course (I would have liked to do the August 4th prompt as well, but I was feeling uninspired, and I ended up scheduling a different kind of post instead...that will somehow explain why I wasn't in the best headspace for such prompt).
Now tell me something...what are the magic ingredients that make a book a success in your eyes?
I am not a writer, so it's very rare that I critique the writing. I read for entertainment. If a book bores me or I find myself not caring about the characters, I'm out. The ones that earn the most stars, are the ones that made me feel a lot.
ReplyDeleteI know your favourite books are those that make you cry 😉.
DeleteCharacters that I can care for - definitely. I wouldn't read a book if not at least one likable characters. Writing has to be good or at least, good enough that you won't hate reading it. So maybe there are some stories that is too twisty even for me but I find even when a book doesn't know what it is doing, there's always some interesting elements that might turn it around.
ReplyDeleteI can't really say what I like, it would be easier to say what I don't like. But it still really depends on the book. I mean, there are certain that I just like for no real reason. Maybe sometimes it's a feeling and not any actual thing that can be define.
Have a lovely day.
Twisty stories are OK - I like twists! To me, a book doesn't know what it's doing when it mixes different genres in an awkward way.
DeleteIt's interesting that you can't always pinpoint the things you like in a book, but you love it overall.
Agreed - but definitely that last one. I'm finding so many books lately that aren't what they say they are.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
That's its own can of worms, because it's the blurbers' fault (I know I just made up a word LOL). But it's definitely off-putting...
DeleteLike you, I also need to have really great characters. To me a good book not only has characters I can care for, but also a large group of characters with different ranges of personalities. I love books that centre around large friend groups, and each character brings in something new that I can love about them.
ReplyDeleteFriend group books do bring something special to the table when they're done right.
DeleteGood characters, a good premise and a story that holds my attention all the way through.
ReplyDeleteA good story definitely shouldn't have weak spots where you get bored!
DeleteI like all those things too! I think that's partly why we have so many books in common.
ReplyDelete• I'm totally guilty of falling in love with writing styles. Most of my favorite writers have an unmistakable voice.
• Then probably three-dimensional characters. Good or bad (because I love a villain), they need to feel like real people with flaws and quirks and motivations of their own.
• I love books that are structurally interesting with purpose. I love style that actually helps tell a better story. This can backfire terribly with stylistic things thrown in just for show, but when it works, it gets my nerd brain buzzing. 😂
• Genuine creepiness. My tolerance for horror is really high, so I'm so impressed when something unsettles me. It usually has to be subtle though, something to do with atmosphere or imagery or just plain good tension building. Heaping on gore and atrocities might set off my "yick" factor, but it won't affect me emotionally.
"structurally interesting with purpose."
DeleteThat should definitely be a tag! Like my "contemporary with a twist" one LOL. And I think it's hard to achieve that effect - same for "genuine creepiness". (Why am I not surprised that it would rank high in your "what makes a good book" list 😂).
I agree with all of these, but especially characters I care about. That can make or break a book for me.
ReplyDeleteEven when a book is a tad too slow or lacking in some respect, they can usually redime it, can't they? While a well written and plot-driven book misses on something without strong characters.
DeleteAh this is such an interesting topic. I think that characters are the ones that really make me care and fall for a book, really. No matter how great the concept or the writing is, if I can't find myself to care for the characters, it won't end up being a good book for me! :)
ReplyDeleteCharacters for the win! 👍
DeleteI pay the most attention to the characters, then to the plot and how it's constructed. I don't pay close attention to the writing, which makes me a bit weird, I think haha. I remember reviewing a book with Ruzi together, and she commented on finding the writing a bit dry, while I didn't pay attention to the writing at all. If something is particularly badly written, I'll probably see it and comment on it, though.
ReplyDeleteWhen I say that something is well-written, I typically talk about more than just the language/words. In these cases, I also mean that the plot is well constructed and the characters are developed well. It's a not a book, but the podcast I mentioned to you before, The Magnus Archives, is really excellently written. It hits all the things I would want in a book (characters and plot, AND it's one of those cases where I'd call the writing excellent in every way the writing can be analysed) and it's also well presented/acted. Great discussion, Roby!
LOL, I actually read excerpts of my books before I commit to reading/buying them, and if the writing doesn't grab me I delete them from my list. I get what you're saying though - even if the writing isn't stellar, a good characterisation and a well-constructed plot go a long way.
Delete