If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?
Or, um, is it just me?
Great writing is important, and figuring out the metaphors in a book is also something I really dig into some books for. But without a story that interests me I wouldn’t get far enough into the book to apprecialte those things. Great characters are a definite need, but if great characters do nothing but sit around and drink coffee then I’m not sure that’s enough to make even the best writing compelling.
No, it’s definitely the story that I read and even buy a book for. I’m not standing there in Walden’s, flipping books over and reading the back covers wondering, “Hmm.. I wonder what Pub Weekly said.” No, I’m wanting to know what the book is about. Why do I want to spend $12 (avg) to put this book on Mt. TBR, which is already overflowing onto my desk. The story has to be something I want to read. I’d sacrifice great writing for great story.
Of course, I want great writing, great characters, and great story, though you know 😉
Filed under: Booking Through Thursday | Tagged: book, book reading, meme, writing |
In the Shadow of Mt. TBR 
You nailed it with this sentence: “I’d sacrifice great writing for great story.”
I agree. You really hit it with:
“I’d sacrifice great writing for great story.”
Booking through stories
Me too, me too…. I want it all: good story, characters, setting and writing. Include a rainy day and warm chocolate cookies and I’m in heaven!!
Yep, I want it all, also.
I’m with you! 🙂
for sure. I do like good writing, but seriously good writing means a good storyline…or it should. If not I really don’t consider it good writing.
happy BTT!!
It’s one heck of a great story for me too! If nothing’s happening, no story development whatsoever, then the book’s a turn off. 😀
Everyone seems to have this answer, but I just don’t believe them. You’d read a book with lousy writing, crummy characterization, no metaphors, nothing to recommend it at all, except a good story. How could that even be a good story? It sounds like an episode of the Brady Bunch. Sure, I’d watch that sort of thing on television once in a while, but would you read the novelization?
Story is important, don’t get me wrong. But a book needs more than that.