Thursday, June 01, 2006
THE MEMPHIS READS QUESTION--6/01/06
There's a strange, new word on the dust jackets of many bestselling books:UNPUTDOWNABLE.
Such a book is so arresting and entertaining that you cannot stop reading it.
For example, Larry McMurtry's Telegraph Days is described as a "big, brilliant, unputdownable saga of the West."
Regardless of whether you think that this contrived word is catchy or annoying, what makes a book an irresistible page-turner? What books (or authors) have you not been able to stop reading and why?
Photo Credit: Clip Art, Microsoft Publisher 2003.
Labels: Memphis Reads Question
[permalink] posted by Memphis Reads : 9:00 AM
Comments:
For me, I need to care about the
characters. I am curious as to what
they will do next and what will
happen to them.
characters. I am curious as to what
they will do next and what will
happen to them.
# posted by 
: June 01, 2006 12:20 PM
: June 01, 2006 12:20 PM
Character development and suspense are the keys for me. I tend to be bored by stories that don't contain at least some element of suspense. I've continued to read many tired narratives because I wanted to find how things turned out in the end--the last Falco mystery by Lindsey Davis is a recent example.
Sometimes I know what is going to happen and am still hooked. WICKED by Gregory Maguire is a good example. I knew perfectly well that by the end of the story Dorothy Gale was going to "drown" Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). I was fascinated by Maguire's re-telling of the OZ story because of its suspense and rich characterizations--Elphaba is ultimately doomed because she is a loner who refuses to work with others.
Sometimes I know what is going to happen and am still hooked. WICKED by Gregory Maguire is a good example. I knew perfectly well that by the end of the story Dorothy Gale was going to "drown" Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). I was fascinated by Maguire's re-telling of the OZ story because of its suspense and rich characterizations--Elphaba is ultimately doomed because she is a loner who refuses to work with others.
For me the language makes a books unturndownable. If the author writes in a language that I like and can follow I'll keep reading until I can't stay awake any longer. Authors who jump to mind are Peter Taylor, William Faulkner and Katherine Anne Porter.
# posted by : June 02, 2006 2:05 PM
: June 02, 2006 2:05 PM
I enjoy well developed characters and a detailed setting. I like biographies, so if I can get into a story via the characters then my interest is usually held.
# posted by : June 03, 2006 3:47 PM
: June 03, 2006 3:47 PM
Please continue to share your opinions about the first question: what makes a book "unputdownable"?
NEW QUESTION: What characteristics of a book, genre, or author's style do you generally find unappealing?
NEW QUESTION: What characteristics of a book, genre, or author's style do you generally find unappealing?
the interaction between two smart and funny lovers...nick and nora charles are good examples...if you've only seen the movies, try to find a copy of the book by dashiell hammett
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# posted by : June 19, 2006 7:31 PM
: June 19, 2006 7:31 PM
