You know what I'm talking about.
You're lying on bed, after shimmying yourself into that pair of jeans, and sucking everything in. Your back is pressed tightly against the mattress, your stomach could rival the poster of a supermodel's, and you're not breathing.
Because of one little button.
You push and squeeze; you close your eyes and pray.
Pray for that button to slip in, to lock, so that you can sashay your butt out of your house and go on your merry way.
And then the moment arrives. You've managed to secure that damn, bloody button. You stand up, feeling triumphant, like a queen, a siren, a goddess.
Then you look in the mirror.
The jeans don't look good. They're tight... they don't fit... and well, they bring back the 1980s fashion in a bad way.
So, how does this relate to writing? How does this relate to reading?
You get a book. Supposedly a really good book--one that your friends have raved about, one that critics have raved about, hell, even one that Mrs. Giggles has raved about. And well, you've been waiting for this book because maybe it's the start of a new series, the end, or just it's the author you heart to death.
But you read the book.
And suddenly it feels like those pair of jeans.
Because no matter how you're reading and squeezing and hoping that you'll find a glimpse--a scene, a sentence, hell, even a period to like the book.
You don't.
While you can force yourself to try and make the book fit... trying to make you like the book, you just can't.
So what makes us love certain books, like others, and hate the rest?
What makes one friend love one book and the other look at her like she's become Medusa?
Is reading totally subjective?
Or is there a core of stories we're all ingrained with? I think of the highly popular and much loved Lisa Kleypas and her recent release, Blue-Eyed Devil. Everyone who I've come across on blogdom has pretty much kow-towed to this awesome book.
Because in a word, it's awesome.
So what does Lisa Kleypas have that others don't--or merely what does she do that make those jeans fit? Let's just say that she does everything that a great writer should do in her book. She has characters you care about, she has conflict that is tension-filled, and her writing is flawless.
Yes, it's true... we, as readers, come across books like Lisa Kleypas but mostly, we don't. And if we're writing, we hope to have those books that are more of Lisa's ilk than... well, I won't name names.
But basically, what makes a good book "good?"
15 comments:
Love this post. Like somebody said about pornography, "I can't describe it, but I'll know it when I see it." A good book for me just IS. I find myself smiling, even if the scene isn't funny. The language just draws me in and I roll along. I don't want to put the book down, yet I don't want to finish it, either, because then the glory will be OVER! There are precious few authors who give me that perfect fit.
Yeah, what Maggie said. lol!
I don't know, there is just a style that pulls you in and makes you love the story and characters that it becomes a need to know their story. I hope I accomplish that with my stories.
And can I be LK when I grow up? She was one of the first romance writers I devoured when I started reading the genre. Every single story she has, has spoken to me. Maybe that is what makes a writer a writer? Someone that can draw those readers in, some do it better than others--I think it depends on the audience you are trying to wrap around your words/prose/story/characters.
I haven't read Blue Eyed Devil or the one before that, Sugar Daddy but I have been meaning to. I love her historicals.
I can't describe what makes a book click for me, but I know that 1) the ending is what usually clinches a book for me, and 2) I can usually tell if the book is going knock my socks off by a couple of chapters.
I tried to reply, and it sounded stupid. So I deleted it. :-)
I agree with what Maggie said, too. She explained it very well.
I do think that our experiences in life help us to interpret a book, and maybe it's when I see a small touch of myself that makes me love a book. Or maybe it's that I see something that I wish I could be that makes me love a book.
Maggie explained it all perfectly. I can do no better. It probably has something to do with the whole left brain, right brain thing...or not.lol.
Great blog, Elyssa.
I know exactly what you mean. I think it's an essence. Some writers just have that something that carries me along in their voice. That thing that makes me want to never stop reading.
Other writers don't.
I don't know how to get it. I personally think it's personal. I bet I'd love to hear those writer's tell a story in person too. Just the way they approach the world, maybe.
Dunno. I just hope I have it.
I sure can see it in the talented crowd of gals I spend time with on these blogs, that's for sure.
Boy, that jean buttoning scene is hitting WAY too close to home today. Dang it.
This is one of the major challenges in writing, what's good is somewhat subjective. I mean, there are things that are bad that will always be bad, but tastes are so different.
I guess the bottom line, and the thing I hear the most, is character. If you can create characters that people love, they'll usually go along for the ride even if the ride isn't perfect.
Tough question. I started answering "it's the characters", then I switched to "it's the authors voice", now I'm going with "I don't know!" LOL
I know every book that's ever grabbed me has been because I wanted to see what happened to the characters. LK has such awesome character driven stories. She makes me care about them, understand them, love them and root for them and their HEA.
There are sometimes when I fall in love with a certain author's voice. Mary Balogh is the best example I can give for that. I've read a lot of her books that weren't A+ reads for me but her voice transports me and puts me in a place I know I want to go. If that makes any sense! Her words, descriptions, dialogue all add to a world I want to inhabit for a couple of hours.
LOL Ter! You and I must have posted at the same time. Great minds think alike!
I'll go with the crowd and agree with what Maggie said! I've never been able to pinpoint the Good Book formula. However, I have found that stories with elements of romance, adventure, and mystery tend to draw me in if they're well-written. It's not a concrete thing, but I think it just points to the fact that a one dimensional book just doesn't do it for me for the most part.
Gosh, I'm glad I posted first! Blushing. I've become such a cranky reader as I've tried writing, muckling on to info dumps and stupid mistakes (using Sir Lastname instead of Sir Firstname, when it should be Sir William instead of Sir Shakespeare). But sometimes the author transcends poor editing and cliches and just creates that elusive "something" that makes a book a keeper, or at least brings a tear to my eye at the end. The characters have to be convincing, even if they're in the same damn ballroom or terrace in the moonlight. And I challenge you all to see exactly HOW MUCH you can see in the dark with a moon above. Sorry, but you will never see the color of anybody's eyes or clothes.
Oh, don't make me bring up Scandal in Spring again.
But for Sugar Daddy, I forgive her. I would forgive her a 100 SIS's for this book.
I think Lisa focuses far more on character evolving the plot than plot evolving the character. We know her characters more than we know ourselves by the end of her books--and that makes us care. A lot of books where I just didn't care for them, it's because the characters weren't individuals--they were the CORE Rake or the CORE Damsel in Distress who Reads Books...but not anything special.
Character makes everything.
I like your metaphor, Ely. It works on lots of levels. My too tight jeans may fit somebody else perfectly. They may even fit me perfectly six months from now. But even if they fit, I may have decided by then that what I really want is a pair of black dress pants rather than jeans.
The same is true of books. Not only do our tastes differ from one another, but we like different books at certain points in our lives or when we are in certain moods. I don't think there is a one-size fits-everyone book. Even Lisa Kleypas, whose books are nearly all keepers for me, gets some two-star reviews.
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