The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!
This week’s question is:
Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kickass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?
There are so many shared characteristics, I don't know how to start. First of all, the main characters are strong. They're not moaning and bitching every 5 seconds, nor do they cry in every scene. Crying is good, but does it have to be all the damn time?
Second, there's a little mystery in the main plot. There's always a little something that will be discovered at the very end of the book, something that I couldn't anticipate. I hate it when I decipher the clues way too early on when the author shows me every card he/she has up his/her sleeve. If there's a serial killer to be tracked down and locked up, don't tell me who he is, it will make me want to throw the book across the room and I don't like that.
Another characteristic most of them share is humor. I say most, because some of them don't have humor, but most of the books I read have a funny scene at least. Either that, or I find the sarcasm of a certain character hilarious, which is just as good. I love a character that is sarcastic, without being disrespectful.
There are many, many more characteristics, but these are the most important for me.
What about you?
Hi! New follower.
ReplyDeleteI think my reading experience must be very different to yours! For example, one of my fave reads is about a woman in a society where she can't do anything she wants because of all the restrictions put on her sex. She's very strong but at the same time weak because of outside influences. I'm also more about the journey to the ending rather than the ending itself. Though I admit that I'm not fond of being shown the killer before the end... it's not quite the same thing as figuring it out for myself along the way!
You can find my FF here.
Have a great weekend!
Hey Rea! Thanks for stopping by. The journey to the end is important, but for me that journey is ruined if I know the outcome. I'm not talking about books I've reread so many times I know them almost by heart :P I'm talking about books I'm just starting to read and I figure out what happens even before the story even gives me a hint of the ending. That is what ruins the book for me :P
ReplyDeleteI love a great mystery in a book. I like to call them 'ahaa' moments at the end when there is a big reveal you had no idea was coming. It always makes the reading experience 10x better for me.
ReplyDeleteNew Follower
Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves
My FF
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Nice post/blog! I'm glad i found you! Well, I guess most readers would agree with your main characteristics, they are essential for a good book ;). I would add that a good story also must combine genres, it shouldn't be categorized only as fantasy, sci-fy, or mystery, or thriller... There should be at least a bit of everything: romance, mystery, riddles, philosophy, wisdom (ancient and modern), etc. I guess many books follow that "rule"... Like Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, West Of Eden, I strive for that too in my stories, as it wouldn't be appropriate to like that and not doing it ;). I also prefer stories which describe not so ordinary characters like vampires, kings, princesses, wizards with sharp hats, werewolves, dwarfs, etc. We could see them in almost every book in the appropriate genres, so they become boring at some points... That's why I try to create new in some of my stories (weightless korks, glowing, living balls, Brown faces, fiery men, one-eyeds, night fruit, rock pieces, fish-keepers, etc sound more interesting I guess?).
ReplyDeleteI also have a suggestion I guess every book-lover, author would like? Using sites like zazzle.com, cafepress. com, fiverr? They could be a good way to promote your works/blog, etc and to help "remove" stupidity in the streets like headlines on t-shirts, fridge-magnets, cups, etc: My Boyfriend kisses Better Than Yours, FBI - female body inspector, etc. Not everything we see and think of should be about sex, right? It would be much better if there were more nice pictures of mythical creatures, good thoughts, poems from fantasy genre, etc? I'm allanbard there, I use some of my illustrations, thoughts, poems from my books (like: One can fight money only with money, Even in the hottest fire there's a bit of water, All the problems in the world lead to one - narrow-minded people, or
Love and happiness will be around,
as all the chains will disappear,
and Mountaineers will climb their mount
and there won't be any tear!
etc). I guess such lines sound and look much better than the usual we see every day? Best wishes! Keep the good worl going! Let the wonderful noise of the sea always sounds in your ears! (a greeting of the water dragons' hunters - my Tale Of The Rock Pieces).