Sometimes all you can do is sit down and read a good book. There may have been an Arctic air blast that forced you indoors, or you may simply want some ‘me time’ for a few hours. But what makes a good book, and will it be the same thing for different people? In this article, we’ll be discussing 6 qualities that make a book extra special.
1.Good Production
For the perfect buy, the paper should be high quality because this can affect how a book feels in your hands when you’re reading it, and whether or not the ink bleeds through from one page to another. A well-bound book won’t fall apart in your hands over time. The artwork/design quality should be aesthetically pleasing, and the book layout should be well-produced. The font needs to be clear and restful to the eyes, and the dust jacket be long-lasting. Whilst eBooks (e.g. Kindle) aren’t physical products, the visual elements discussed will be important. For more tips on selecting high-quality books, check out spines.com.
Many of these battles will be lost or won according to the publishing company chosen. This is because it’s the role of book publishers to edit and design them. They also take on the responsibility for book promotion and marketing, production, and distribution. Publishing companies often accept work according to specific genres, formats, book sizes, and author locations.
2.An Engaging Plot
This will keep the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. If a story is boring and predictable, people won’t be motivated to continue reading. They may not finish a book if they think they’ve already figured out how it ends. A good plot always leaves you wanting more when you put the book down.
What does it mean to be ”engaging?” It should contain surprise twists or unforeseen events that make the reader go “whoa!” It should feature characters who make the reader feel emotionally involved and root for their success. Authors need to give their readers room to put themselves in the shoes of any character, so they can feel like the story’s happening right there to them.
3.Memorable Characters
They need to be well-developed and interesting so that readers will want to learn more about them. A great author can make their readers feel like they know the people personally, and care what happens to them. If the reader can’t form a connection, they will become indifferent to the story’s outcome. Good books are often remembered for their characters long after the last page has been turned.
It can be powerful if the characters have well-developed backgrounds. This is because giving them pasts can make them feel more realistic and relatable. For example, an assassin might have been found abandoned as a child in front of an orphanage. They may have no knowledge of their parents or of being left there. It could be that later on they turn bad because of a lack of emotional attachment, or express amazing compassion to a fellow orphan.
4.A Well-Developed Setting
This means that everything about the book’s world should be consistent. It should be well thought out, and make logical sense. Some good literary examples of this include:
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
One way to tell if a book has a well-developed setting is if it makes you feel like you’re there, living in that world. The best books are often those where the author takes great care in describing every detail and leaves no stone unturned. This can be achieved through the use of plentiful information, well-crafted dialogue, and vivid imagery.
5.Thought-Provoking Theme/s
Readers often want to be taken on a journey, exploring new worlds and ideas, and coming out the other side having learned something. Many people enjoy being provoked by books that make them question their own beliefs and assumptions, and that forces them to see the world in a different light. Some classic book examples include:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – A chilling vision of the future, this book explores what happens when religious extremism takes over.
1984 by George Orwell – One of the most famous dystopian novels ever written: 1984 is an essential read for anyone interested in politics and the effects of totalitarianism.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – A coming-of-age story that tackles topics such as teenage angst, isolation, and mental illness.
Beloved by Toni Morrison – This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of a runaway slave who returns to her home plantation years later.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown – A page-turning thriller about a Harvard professor who must race against time to stop an ancient order from destroying Vatican City.
6.A Satisfying Conclusion
A good story won’t just stop where it seems convenient to do so – the conclusion should be the ultimate goal of the book. It should wrap up the plot and leave the reader with a sense of completion. The book should tie up any loose ends brought about during earlier events in the story. The plot should have come full circle, answering all questions from start to finish (e.g. how many children did character X end up having? Did Y finally get their promotion?). The protagonist’s goals will need to be achieved or at least put on hold unless they’re killed off (which can be satisfying!). The book may leave room for one or more sequels to keep the readers on the hook for future publications.
There are many other things that can contribute to a good book besides things like the plot, setting, and characters. Think about such elements as humor, irony, adventure, and romance. Whilst it’s true that certain factors make for a good book, everyone is different. This means that a good read for you may not be the same for me and vice versa. At the end of the day, well-written books that delight the imagination and entertain the reader will continue to be popular forever.
