what do you look for in a book

1. what do you look for in a book

   #1

   I'm currently trying to write a high fantasy novel. As a matter of interest I was wondering what particular aspects of books do you look for when your looking for a book in a shop. By aspects I mean origional characters, complex or simple worlds or what kind of sub-genre do you prefer.

2. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #2

   I tend to go for really good characters, myself, everything else comes from that.
   
   But don't write what you think people want to read.  Write what you want to write, and what you feel comfortable with.  It'll be a better book.

3. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #3

   I go for good plots. Everything else is secondary to me... Wait, I love detail and plots. Yep. Detail goes a long way too!

4. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #4

   You need to avoid any cliches. Cliches piss me off, and I am instantly turned off a book if it has very big and/or obvious cliches in it. I want to read something new, not just everything that's ever been written before.

5. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #5

   Well, I've seen some works use cliches on purpose, just to turn them completely upside down (I've done it.)  Of course, turning them upside down works *because* it's a new treatment of it...

6. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #6

   Thanks, that stuff about the cliches might come in handy.

7. Re: what do you look for in a book

   #7

   Cliche or not, I am a sucker for anything that starts with normal person and turns them into something world changing. Wheel of Time, Hobbit, Riftwar, etc, etc. The journey of the characters is what always sells me the most.

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