What guarantees you read a book..

V

vexed2002

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Jan 11, 2002
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Perhaps 10 years too late, I've come to the realization that every single book I have ever bought (and REALLY loved) has always had one re-occuring theme in. That of a child thats growing and usually becomes pretty darn powerful/respected in the world.

Garion, Belgariad. (and the 13 other identical Edding's novels) (never to be read again) :P
Pug/Tomas/James, Riftwar Saga
Frodo, LOTR
Fitz, Assassins Apprentice
Simon, Memory Sorrow & Thorn

I'm sure you get the idea.

Was just wondering if there were any themes that guaranteed you read a book..

(and if nobodys already seen it, there an article on 'why people read fiction' by david farland at..
http://www.runelords.com/writingtips/Why%20People%20Read.html )
 
Plot, plot, plot.

Complicated, twisting, spinning, twirling, convoluted, jaw-dropping, deftly executed plots always get me to read the next in the series.
 
Hrm I don't tink there is a single theme that I like more than any other. But I do know that i'm usually put off by anything that has elves/dark elves/orcs etc in it.
 
As an adjunct question, that may spark a bit of debate: What should an author put into a book to ensure that he/she can come up with a bit of a readership base?
 
I like strong female protagonists. Not that I don't read (and enjoy!) books that feature males as the main characters, but historically I have preferred to read about strong women. Books are so formative, I think I was looking for role models when I was young and the preferance carried on into my adulthood.
I enjoy a book that has a romantic subplot. Not thinly veiled porn, or Velveeta with dragons, but a well-written love story that is underlying a well-written fantasy story.
 
I'll read a book if the blurb on the back sounds interesting or if it gets good recommendations from either people I know or from the various websites I frequent.

Fluffy bunny, how can you tell if the plot or writing style are good if you don't read it first?
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[This message has been edited by Warewolf (edited January 28, 2002).]
 
Anything with the word "Mage" in the title. They're all great books.

Sorry, Qin. Couldn't resist...
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There only circumstances which absolutely guarantee that I will read a book are if it is given to me for Christmas or my birthday by my husband.
 
Interesting characters, intelligent discussions, and an occasional joke about democrats for good measure.
 
I'll read books people recommend to me along with any other books by the same author if I happen to like the book.

If I haven't heard of the book (browsing...), then I look at the title. If it sounds interesting, I open up the book to a random page and start reading. If I'm interested, I read it. If I find it boring, I don't.
 
Like everyone says, I want a good plot, good writing, and good characters. Of course, you have no idea if the book will have all those things before you read it, so that is not a helpful description for me.

So what do I look for when I read the blurb, the reviews, or whatever? I want a strong female protaginist. I read books with male leads, but I am more likely to give the book a try if it seems to have a strong female somewhere in it. I will also try almost any fairy tale, be it YA, adult, or even a children's book. I love fairy tales. I will also buy almost any book that has an Asian influence. This isn't even limited to fantasy. I read a lot of books set in turn of the century China and it almost feels like I am reading fantasy *l*.

Caleyna, http://www.fantasyfreaks.org
 
Simply put in two words - the author. If the author is talented then I tend to read all the author has written. Right now I am working on Modesitt.
 
What about republicans? Don't they get the same treatment as democrats?
Click to expand...
Your assuming there is a difference between the two. . .

Give me a book with interesting characters and ditch the multi-paragraph descriptions, and I am ready to go.
Plot, plot, plot.
Complicated, twisting, spinning, twirling, convoluted, jaw-dropping, deftly executed plots always get me to read the next in the series.
Click to expand...
What Bond said.

Carmichael
 
what everyone else said multiple times, except that I also want to mention what was said only once by fluffybunny:
writing style.

I appreciate interesting, original, ... writing style. I like it when someone actually has something worthwhile to say (I do realize that the definition of 'worthwhile' is the one thing we could rant about for weeks, so I won't even try it).

-- Elessar
 
Astrinna - if this is true than you should like Dragon Lance a lot. There a many strong female characters and often times they are the leaders who lead the men to the solution of the problems at hand. Sometimes, the women are playing full and equal role and sometimes the women are not necessarily the main characters but the ones that get the tale rolling.

There is Tika - who did not hide under anyone's wing and was quite frankly a terror herself with those blunt objects of hers that would frequently make the villains flee in terror.

Kitra - who led a division of evil troops in a war. The men were the followers here.

Laurna - who was nicknamed the Golden General because of her hair color - who led the men into battle.

Grasilla Hornslager - who only called herself Mrs Honslager and pretended that there was a man around - which there wasn't.

Also Robert Jordan's women are not about to take a back seat to any man, who they constantly badger as "wool headed".

Modesitt's Spell song cycle centers around a strong female character, the men are really adjuncts. How about the Recluse series, the men are the main characters but the women do not follow blindly.
 
Any plot really. It's the way it is presented and written that matters. If i'm drawn in immediately to a cool world i'm happy.

I suppose on hte other hand there a lot of good books that probably start really crap.
 
The words G R R Martin, Margaret Weis, Stephen King, Bronte, or Goodkind on the cover. Sells me every time.
 
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