What I am interested in knowing (and this will require reader participation) is what you most appreciate about the books that you most appreciate. Is it a quick-paced plot? Good, descriptive imagery? A deep delve into weighty issues?
I have a story for a book in mind (literally--it will be based on an actual dream of mine) which I will describe in a future post. For now, I am interested in what people are interested in when they pick up a book to read it.
8 comments:
The book I would write would be largely theological in the thought and issues it examines. I suppose there might be significant social thought as far as how the Church should function as the body of Christ...
I agree on the "vivid, colorful imagery" note. Perhaps what I consider to be most important (in many things, not just novels) is that the author's passion and perspective must come out in the material. Maybe this could best be summed up in the word "vision." The plot, message, etc. will all fall into place if it is genuine, sincere, heartfelt and passionate. (I think that if the writer is truly committed to the work as a whole, this will manifest itself in the novel and make it great.) Sorry my contribution is so vague and open-ended, but that's what comes to mind.
Anyway, I agree with the vivid imagery stuff. Think Fellowship of the Ring. Also, despite my tirade against the B.S.-edness of English and its imprecision and unsystematic nature, that's partly what makes it interesting. Vague symbolism is also interesting.
I also really like Faulkner. Perhaps what I like most are his different perspectives and sense of what I can only describe as "beautiful, tragic desperation" in his novels.
john gardner ("the art of fiction") said this:
TELL THE TRUTH.
Hmmm...That (telling the truth) is actually going to be one of the problems in how I would write this.
why is it a problem?
I'm not trying to be stupid and build up the tension, but the storyline is somewhat long and involved. Until I have time to write out the purport of the dream, I guess I'll just have to be cryptic. :)
ah. mr. chesterton would admire your mystery.
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