What the #@$! does ‘invested in a book’ mean?
I’ve read too many reviews for short stories and novellas by various authors where the reviewer has said something like, “The story wasn’t long enough for me to be invested in the characters.”
Invested?! What does this mean? They’re short works, not bank term deposits.
When I read comments like this, I wonder how long a story has to be for these readers to feel their investment was a sound decision? Is there a prescribed minimum number of words authors must write for readers to be confident in their choices? Do these readers speak to their literary adviser to get the right portfolio of books in case they risk investing in the wrong one?
And what happens if too many readers read the wrong books? Will there be a Global Literary Crisis?
As a reader, I’m ‘invested’ in the story and characters from the first page, first paragraph, first line. If a book has interested me enough to open it, I’m willing to take a risk whether it’s 500 words or 500,000. I can assure you, I’ll have no regrets.
Invested?! What does this mean? They’re short works, not bank term deposits.
When I read comments like this, I wonder how long a story has to be for these readers to feel their investment was a sound decision? Is there a prescribed minimum number of words authors must write for readers to be confident in their choices? Do these readers speak to their literary adviser to get the right portfolio of books in case they risk investing in the wrong one?
And what happens if too many readers read the wrong books? Will there be a Global Literary Crisis?
As a reader, I’m ‘invested’ in the story and characters from the first page, first paragraph, first line. If a book has interested me enough to open it, I’m willing to take a risk whether it’s 500 words or 500,000. I can assure you, I’ll have no regrets.
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