Monday, November 30, 2015

Musing Mondays - November 30

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:
  • I’m currently reading…
  • Up next I think I’ll read…
  • I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
  • I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I can’t wait to get a copy of…
  • I wish I could read ___, but…
  • I blogged about ____ this past week…
THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION:What makes a book really enjoyable for you? And, conversely, what would turn you off about a book?

It's been a lounge around the house in my slippers time since the church bazaar on Saturday. I am reading and blogging more than I was before and it's been a nice respite from working so hard all year.

Wow! Great question this week. What makes a book really enjoyable to me? Characters I adore or at least can care about; sympathetic characters--especially villains whose life circumstances turned them into the people they are presently in the book; stories where the main character experiences substantial growth and coming of age novels; a satisfying end--even if it's a sad one.

What turns me off? Inconsistencies in characters--unless there is a good reason for it; surprise endings that make no sense; repetition, poor editing and a writing style that doesn't engage me.

How about you? What do you like and not care for in books?

6 comments:

JC Jones said...

Great answer. I have been in since Thanksgiving as we have had non-stop rain. Promised it would stop today but still misting. How is the woman in your group that writes SciFi. If she is published I will look her up.

Breana M. said...

For me the story really matters, the characters too. But if the story is no good then I usually end up putting the book down.

Anonymous said...

One thing that can turn me off from a book is instant-love. I get attraction upon first meeting, but having your character(s) fall madly in love the moment they meet. It really rankles me.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Definitely the characters make the book for me, too...and I like what you said about inconsistencies. Sometimes I find myself shouting "no, she wouldn't do that!"

Enjoy...and here is my MUSING MONDAYS POST

Elizabeth Shaw said...

YES!! I agree on the editing!!! I try to overlook editing mistakes if I am reading an ARC, but if I bought a book I do not expect to see many editing errors.

Cheryl Malandrinos said...

Thanks for visiting, everyone. It's so nice to have you here.

JC, so sorry you've been stuck inside. Maybe at least it is good that it is rain and not snow. The woman in our writer's group has not been published yet, but she is amazing.

Breana, lack of a good story will definitely lead to someone closing the book.

nashvillebookworm, I am not a fan of instant love either. Attraction, yes. Love at first sight doesn't sit well with me.

Laurel, isn't it funny when we get angry over characters acting in ways we feel goes against their grain?

Elizabeth, I'm with you. I don't have the same expectations with ARCs, but I want a finished book error free.

Thanks again for stopping by today, everyone. I appreciate it.