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What is a "good book"

S

SoccerfreakAB2

New Member
I don't mean what is an example of a good read. My intentions are to find what makes a good book in general. What makes a book flourish with admirers while others dwindle on threads? I'm curious to read everyone's responses.
 
aside from the obvious, good writing, an original plot, characters that are fleshed out and that we can empathize with, i think it is personal taste, which really takes the power out the authors hands. you can think a book is fabulous and i can think it is the absolute worst waste of paper. books that are hugely popular can still suck to an individual reader.
 
In the final analysis, I think, the degree to which any book is "good" is the degree to which that book captures and communicates the "truth" or "essence" of some situation.
For instance, a book like 100 Years of Solitude does a wonderful job of communicating the "truth" about growing up in a certain time and place even though, on the surface, it doesn't seem like a very realistic book.
 
Halcyon said:
"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it."
-James Bryce
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hey Halcyon! i'm going with you, i think you remember only the good and the worst books, if you can recall the story of a book three years after you read it, it has to be really good or it was the worst you ever experienced!!
bye
 
I'm talking about ninjas! :cool:

I have a theory. I call it "the ninja pirate" theory. Any book or movie no matter how mediocre will instantly become utterly fantastic the moment it has ninjas or pirates in it! :D
 
SillyWabbit said:
I'm talking about ninjas! :cool:

I have a theory. I call it "the ninja pirate" theory. Any book or movie no matter how mediocre will instantly become utterly fantastic the moment it has ninjas or pirates in it! :D
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HAHAHAHA.. ROFL!!!

PS. My responce is a reasonable contribution to this intellectual discussion – is it not? :D
 
SillyWabbit said:
I'm talking about ninjas! :cool:

I have a theory. I call it "the ninja pirate" theory. Any book or movie no matter how mediocre will instantly become utterly fantastic the moment it has ninjas or pirates in it! :D
Click to expand...

are you serious?? okay i guess you are, how your bunny is jumping up and down!!
but no, this pirate- ninja theory doesn't work for me, i mean not that i don't like ninjas and pirates, it's just not every plot is automaticaly good!! :cool: but maybe you can convince me!! try it..!
 
Halcyon said:
HAHAHAHA.. ROFL!!!

PS. My responce is a reasonable contribution to this intellectual discussion – is it not? :D
Click to expand...

Indeed it is sir! :D


are you serious?? okay i guess you are, how your bunny is jumping up and down!!
but no, this pirate- ninja theory doesn't work for me, i mean not that i don't like ninjas and pirates, it's just not every plot is automaticaly good!! but maybe you can convince me!! try it..!
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Hmmmm. Well.... think of Jane Ayre! Jane is staning in the study waiting for her love to appear. She cannot wait for the tender moment when suddenly a ninja jumps through the window and trys to chop her head of! THEN some passing pirates ( they are lost ) hear the noise and figure three might be some loot to be had and a huge fight ensures. There, the book is much better now :D

PS: I am joking :cool:
 
SillyWabbit said:
Hmmmm. Well.... think of Jane Ayre! Jane is staning in the study waiting for her love to appear. She cannot wait for the tender moment when suddenly a ninja jumps through the window and trys to chop her head of! THEN some passing pirates ( they are lost ) hear the noise and figure three might be some loot to be had and a huge fight ensures. There, the book is much better now :D

PS: I am joking :cool:
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hmm... great plot :rolleyes: !! okay but, female persons who swing a sword come mostly not too bad!! :D
 
and sorry that we turn this threat in a playground!!
i'm really really sorry, so guys back to the topic!! =D
 
I was so enjoying Wabbit's story when you said get back to the topic. Sigh. Wabbit, do the ninjas sneak around this thread now, throwing shurikens at unsuspecting posters?

Okay then... a good book for me is very simple: if I read it and love it, and have a lasting impression on me, then it's good. [High-fives Honeydevil]

The more people love the book, the higher the chances are that you'll probably like it too. But it's just a chance - it's equally possible you'll get nothing from the supposedly good book. It's important to separate the noise from real acclaim. That's why I joined this forum - to listen to opinions from other readers with the same interests. TBF never failed me yet...

ds
 
honeydevil said:
hey Halcyon! i'm going with you, i think you remember only the good and the worst books, if you can recall the story of a book three years after you read it, it has to be really good or it was the worst you ever experienced!!
bye
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Count me in. Halcyon's got a point. I read 'Shadow of the Lynx' 15 years ago, perhaps more - please don't ask my age - and recently purchased it and read it with as much enjoyment as I did then.
 
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