tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post1934076226382492226..comments2024-03-25T05:17:05.202-05:00Comments on Writing In The Crosshairs: WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOOK?Roland D. Yeomanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-53498418487958665022015-05-13T03:19:24.647-05:002015-05-13T03:19:24.647-05:00I need to be captivated or hooked very early one a...I need to be captivated or hooked very early one and I want the be held in suspense. I need to know that the stakes are real and also to feel the emotions that the characters are experiencing Melissa Sugarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16268333458796847721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-54648969167078214892015-05-11T13:52:01.067-05:002015-05-11T13:52:01.067-05:00Elephant's Child:
I revisit books, too. :-) M...Elephant's Child:<br />I revisit books, too. :-) Most for the friendships etched in the pages or the witty dialogue.Characters I would like as friends, I usually drop in year to year. :-)<br /><br />Helena:<br />And suspense, too. And humor. :-)<br /><br />Teresa:<br />You and Arlee are alike in believing a good book will have you thinking about it long after you've finished reading it. <br /><br />Arlee:<br />You're right: the definition of "good" can vary from reader to reader or from one reason for reading to another.<br /><br />A good research book may be dull, but the facts revealed may be new and quite useful to you in your needs.<br /><br />In THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS, I tried to write a book that would literally grow on you: one that could be enjoyed when read as a child, and then enjoyed on another level when read as an adult.<br /><br />I've heard the same thing you wrote about CATCHER IN THE RYE.<br /><br />Thanks for writing such in-depth comments to my last two posts! :-)<br /><br />Madilyn:<br />Yes, for a book to have you feel something, it must be authentic, right?<br /><br />Robin:<br />I think you hit it on the head: the characters must be relatable and touch our hearts, too.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-30946500560187001792015-05-11T11:43:51.360-05:002015-05-11T11:43:51.360-05:00That is a great question, and I agree with all of ...That is a great question, and I agree with all of your answers. I think I must CARE about what happens to the character(s). If the writer can do that, I'm in.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-1848434610461659972015-05-11T11:20:11.308-05:002015-05-11T11:20:11.308-05:00Not sure. A good book makes me feel something. Be ...Not sure. A good book makes me feel something. Be it anger or laughter or whatever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-25897081688829496292015-05-11T10:20:15.336-05:002015-05-11T10:20:15.336-05:00All of your criteria are important for a good book...All of your criteria are important for a good book. Also the definition of good can vary. <br /><br />For me there are good books from an entertaining standpoint. If the reading of the book was fun and a smooth flowing page-turning experience for me then that was good from that standpoint.<br /><br />However a book that makes me think even if it might not have been all that fun then it's pretty good as well.<br /><br />The book starts reaching my level of greatness from my perspective if I can't shake it after I've read it or maybe it hits me later with a gotcha moment of realization of what the book was saying. <br /><br />There are many books that were good while I was reading them and immediately afterwards--kind of like carnival ride good. But they are mostly forgotten later.<br /><br />Then there are the books that cling to me and grow better the more I think about them and then I feel compelled to read them again. Those are really good books.<br /><br />An example I think of right off is <i>Catcher in the Rye</i>. The book kind of bugged me while I was reading it and I kept wondering why it was held in such high esteem. But then I kept thinking about it and couldn't forget what was in that book. I still think that book is somewhat overrated, but I also see it as a good book, certainly better than while I was reading it.<br /><br />Arlee Bird<br />A to Z Challenge Co-host<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a><br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-39177781614409481092015-05-11T08:04:02.857-05:002015-05-11T08:04:02.857-05:00All of the above. Great characters mean nothing if...All of the above. Great characters mean nothing if there isn't a sense of place. Place means nothing if I don't want to read the next sentence. <br /><br />A good book (to me) means I'm still thinking about it months and perhaps years past the time of reading. T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-89491459030325255362015-05-11T01:06:45.229-05:002015-05-11T01:06:45.229-05:00I think you covered all the bases. There have to ...I think you covered all the bases. There have to be characters we really care about, a vivid setting, a story that draws us in, and action and ideas that climb to an inevitable climax and ending.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-61889044357084661572015-05-11T00:14:12.441-05:002015-05-11T00:14:12.441-05:00I need to feel, I need to think. And a good book ...I need to feel, I need to think. And a good book in my world is one I will revisit. Sometimes again and again.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.com