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Aug
28
BTT: I Want It All
2008 at 8am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Today’s topic: If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?
Or, um, is it just me?
So, what exactly is the question here?
There are a lot of reasons that I love to read, and while I do enjoy a compelling story that makes me want to keep reading to find out what happens next, I’d never give that as my favorite or primary reason for reading. Not that many people would ask.
A compelling story on its own isn’t going to do it for me, though. I need character development—-good, interesting, thoughtful character development—-and I love complex narratives and stories told by multiple narrators. Unreliable narrators and ambiguity in the storylines and meanings of the events get me all hot and bothered. In fact, I’d say that the “descriptive, emotive powers of the writer” and “deep, literary meaning” are things I look for and prize in a piece of literature, far above the edge-of-your-seat factor. I enjoy following characters on a journey, and that’s what usually keeps me reading.
This isn’t to say that plot isn’t important. It’s very important, and I do like the occasional plot-driven novel, but it needs to be well written and have fully developed characters. I’m not willing to sacrifice plot for characters or vice-versa.
I want it all.
And what about non-fiction books? When I read those, I’m usually not reading for the story or to find out what happens next—-I’m reading to learn something or to think about the world in a new way or to experience something I’ve never experienced before through someone else’s eyes. A non-fiction book that is written to convey information about a topic should be well constructed, and the author should definitely employ his descriptive powers to help me understand and encode the infromation. A non-fiction that is written about someone’s experiences (i.e. a memoir, travelogue, etc.) should have its own version of character development as the author describes how she was changed by the experience she’s writing about….but the stories about the experiences themselves (I suppose this is the non-fiction version of “plot”) are also important.
I want it all.
I read because I can’t imagine not reading. I read because there’s no better way to step out of my own life and circumstances and to forget about the world for a while than immersing myself in someone else’s story. I read because books have the power to change us—-to change the way we think and the way we feel and the way we live in our world—-and I think that’s pretty amazing. I read because I love the way a good book makes me feel and because there’s no better way to spend a rainy day than on the couch than with a book, and I read because, though reading is a solitary activity, it allows me to connect with other people on a level that (at least in my experience) most other hobbies don’t. I read not because I have to but because I want to. I’m voracious and greedy, and I lust after books. I just can’t help myself. When it comes to books….
I want it all.
Did you miss yesterday’s post about life as a bookseller? Scroll down for some screaming good times…
I didn’t even consider nonfiction books in my answer.
I say…me too!
Great answer, yours!
Booking through stories
Love your response!! I’m passing this blog on to my book club members.
Thanks, Debbie! Your book clubbers are always welcome here in BookLadyland!
Hmm, I didn’t think about nonfiction books in this question either. Although if the non-fiction is history, that can be ‘plot’-driven, I supposed.
Anyway, I basically completely agreed with you…right down to the fact that there really wasn’t an actual question.
Great answer! I didn’t think about non0fiction!
And yes, it does seem strange that the question’s answer was “yes it is just you” or “no it isn’t just you”. I would love for someone to have put that as their answer – and that’s it!
Well put. I could not have stated it better myself. I also find that depending on my mood.. sometimes I more demanding in what I expect from a book. Especially if it is a much hyped bestseller and I am just not getting the hype.
I totally agree with you. If the characters and their relationships to each other are compelling, I don’t care what they do, I just want to hang out with them. If the characters are doing something really exciting but they have no depth and the writing doesn’t grab me? I just plain don’t care!
“I read because I can’t imagine not reading.” That’s a definite for me as well. And I, too, want it all. Otherwise I just can’t enjoy it even in the slightest bit – I need those other elements.
Thanks for the comment!
yes, could I get a combo please?
for sure.
I like the way you put it. I think mainly my issue is that if the writing is good I hardly notice since the author makes it all look easy, but if it is obvious…it is bad, and I have a hard time reading it.
happy BTT!!
Like many of the others, I didn’t consider non-fiction, because I don’t read it all that much. But the rest of your answer pretty much matches what I said, only you said it a lot more eloquently. I’d much rather have a book with strong, well-developed characters and no plot, than a well-plotted book with insufficient characters.
[...] What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot? They’re equally important. I want it all! [...]