Pakistani Readers discussion

What makes a good book? I always wonder. Is a book good just because you want to finish the whole thing. Or is it because it touches your heart? The writing style, the story, the characters? Accuracy etc... Especially when rating it, or writing a review. How do you decide to give it 1 or 5 stars?

(This answer is restricted to fiction-mostly literary fiction)
Short answer:For me, it's all about how successfully something imaginary becomes real, how it touches the heart in a way that it lives inside you, and becomes unforgettable.
Long answer: Story, characterization, connection with the characters are vital for me. Language, style, pacing, flow come later, though they are important as well.
I need impact, which means there needs to be tragedy at some level. However, lately I have realized that books that are so tragic that there is not a single light-hearted moment are so depressing, that I prefer that my heart is touched, but can at least be lifted up again at some point during the book. Also, something can be touching and thought-provoking without being gruesome and centered around themes of abuse,war and graphic violence, and it can have an impact without all the central characters dying at the end.
I do enjoy an element of surprise if the author is able to do that without compromising the realism.
(I give 5 stars to a book if I thought about it in the middle of a busy work day, or if i felt like i had met the characters in real life and cared about what happened to them. And I almost never give a book 1 star, though I think the only one I did that to was the one in your profile pic)

I totally agree with, and interestingly enough this question came to mind after I finished catcher in the rye... I just don't get the book. I wanted to read it, i even enjoyed reading it at times... But I can't figure out if I like it or not.

Agreed zenab, i think my low rating for catcher in the rye was partly because it's the most famous american book, and is considered a piece of literature, it's taught in schools..which really makes me wonder about the direction this country is going in..it seemed more like a ramble than a novel. I felt cheated in the sense that i felt like my time had been wasted reading a book about nothing. Now maybe there was something really deep and inspiring which i just didn't get, because a lot of people ( i think it has like a million ratings)seem to love it.

I know... I thought something magical will happen... But nothing

I think a lot of those high ratings are from people who are afraid to realize what they really think about the book. I think this is their thought process: "It's a classic, one of the top 20th century American literature pieces... and I didn't like it... Maybe I'm stupid... Maybe i'm missing something... So better be6 safe and pretend that I love it... Because so many other people do"

Agreed zenab and aalia. I know I have liked some books by mediocre authors better than books by authors with the best language skills simply because the 'touch the heart strings' trumps all else. Classic example is Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. Her English is phenomenal, and I love her, but the book had so many characters, I couldn't fall in love with them.

I totally agree with the touching the heart strings.

For me one of the most important thing in a book is for the writing to be addictive, engrossing, polished, decent, appealing, entertaining and witty. 

Some compelling reasons for not liking a book would be too much profanity, indecent humour, graphic sexual scenes, vulgar descriptions, gruesome details, prevailing cruelty and nastiness, abusive behaviours, and focus on violent incidences. 

A book should be morally pleasing, emotionally satisfying and mentally engaging. Humour is preferable. A pleasant ambience is important. And a happy ending is a must! :-)

Ramla completely agree with you, I feel exactly the same...you've expressed my sentiments so beautifully....except the happy ending part. I want an ending that feels complete, so I can find resolution, but for me, it doesn't have to be happy.

I think all the reasons stated above are the right reasons to love a book- but they all boil down to one simple fact: did you love it? How much did you love it? Would like for others to read it and share what you felt? If it is yes, even to the first question alone, then it is a good book.

Nagwa wrote: "I think all the reasons stated above are the right reasons to love a book- but they all boil down to one simple fact: did you love it?"

Very well put, Nagwa :-)

Lara wrote: "Ramla completely agree with you, I feel exactly the same...you've expressed my sentiments so beautifully"

Thanks Lara, glad to know that you feel the same as me :-)

Lara also wrote: "....except the happy ending part. I want an ending that feels complete, so I can find resolution, but for me, it doesn't have to be happy."

Well, here I would like to add that to me, reading fiction is like going on a vacation to a wonderful world, which is preferably different from the real world, where I can just relax and unwind :-) 

So for me good books would be those that provide me immense happiness and a sense of deep comfort ...so that afterwards, I am able to face the responsibilities of real-life with rested mind, positive thoughts and fresh enthusiasm :-)