In your opinion, what makes a good book?

[Narnian525]

In this topic, we'll discuss our views and thoughts on what makes a good book.

A good book, to me, has strong characters. A good author that pens characters that are relatable, yet fun. Characters that go through the same experiences that we go through. Also, a good book has a strong setting that's able to pull you into the world of the characters. Lastly, a good book doesn't just focus all on one thing. Variety is a must to keep me interested.

You?

[Dadinator]

I have to get into the characters, If I don't like them the rest doesn't matter.

[gwenhyver42]

Plot has to be unpredictable, to some extent. I get bored with Hallmark movie type plots.
Characters cannot be boring. If they are underdeveloped and have no quirks, just appearances, then I get bored with them. And too many characters is terribly confusing.
Setting is secondary to all of this. If it's well written, I don't care if it's set in medieval wherever or some distant future on a spaceship in a distant galaxy.
Reading things in the second person aggravates me. Who is the author to tell me what I'm doing? ;P The rare exception to this is RPG games... but that's not books.

[mojoboy31]

Hmmmm.... Like, Dadinator and Gwen said; it starts with the characters. The more well defined the characters are, the more the plot shapes around them, and the more the world is defined by them and their perspectives on it. Everything starts with characters. The greatest plot, and the greatest setting are worthless if the characters are wooden boards.

And like Gwen; too many characters is terribly confusing. I've started and not finished way too many books because I just didn't want to keep up with so many characters anymore.

@Gwen: I didn't know that you weren't a fan of second person.

[gwenhyver42]

[Narnian525]

Gwen: I also don't like second person. It's weird to be reading what you're doing in a book.

[mojoboy31]

[Narnian525]

[gwenhyver42]

hahaha... I dislike one of my characters in my own writing because she whines a lot.... Mojo knows who I'm talking about...

[mojoboy31]

[gwenhyver42]

Ah....

[mojoboy31]

[gwenhyver42]