W hat makes a good story? What makes you want to pick up a book and read from the beginning to the end. These days I find it hard to find a story that makes me want to keep reading. The type of story that makes you crazy. That type of story that makes you stay up all night even though you have work the next day. You just can’t put the book down. What is that experience made of? What sparks it? What sustains it? What keeps you reading? Are there stories that are universally good, that no matter who reads the book they will find it addicting, like the Harry Potter Series. Or are there stories that are good only because of your own life experiences, personality and personal taste?
I have had the experience of a friend recommending a book to me saying, “This book is just amazing, you have to read it!” Only to abandon the book after the first 100 pages or less. What made the difference? Why was my experience different from the experience of my friend?
There have been times that I have struggled to read a 120 page book but then read a 1000+ book in two days. I am curious about what builds that momentum. Are you? Is it character? Is it a unique plot? Is it the theme? Is it the concept? It it a combination of all? These questions have been tugging at me for a long time.
Why did The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo resinate with so many people? Is it psychology? The psychology of literature would be a fascinating topic. To explore why we like, hate, adore, and become addicted to characters and certain stories would fascinate me. Does it fascinate you?
Does art imitate life? Is this the draw? Does art veer from reality? Is this the draw. What is it for you? Do you read fiction to escape or do you read it because it resonates and reflects your real life? Some argue that they don’t read fiction because there is nothing to learn from it. Is this true? What life lessons have you been able to learn from reading fiction, if any? What novel deliberately impacted the next steps that you took in your life? Has a fiction book drastically impacted your life? I am really interested in hearing your thoughts. please do share in the comment section below. Let’s start the discussion on what makes a good story together.
