What makes you consider a book a "good" book?

[Almondandlime]

Is it interesting observations? Something new or different? A good writing style? An engaging plot?

And what do you expect to get out of a "good" book? A new perspective on life/humanity? Entertainment?

 

Discuss. 

[WhaleWhisper]

If I like it, I like it. There isn't any specific stuff I look for.

[Loser]

one that makes you wanna keep reading

[pizza]

one that could make me drown in feels

[Reliable-k]

Character development. I just hate when someone dies & I have no fucks to give.

& a good plot...

[mgl]

One that either has a very compelling story and/or is very informative.

[RainStormRaider]

An idea, an original one.

Or real, creative, engaging world-building.

Or an ingenious scheme.

Something that drives the plot and develops characters slowly and realistically.

A book where a woman is not a trophy or a creature of power, but an ordinary person with convictions.

[Your Juan and only]

It keep me interested

 

Any book that's not like Angels and Demons only book I've eead but never finished.

[Knee]

If I want to keep reading even when its finished, it's good. 

[LivingVoilet]

It's good if I like that shit. 

[DarkDawn]

Character development is nice.

The flow of the story.

Author's writing style. (I couldn't enjoy Hunger Games beacuse of the author's style)

If it keeps me wanting to read more.

[wiz109]

Something with characters and a plot that keeps my attention.  One that I want to re-read time and time again because even though I know what will happen, the story still captivates me.  

[xuan_]

when i like the book.. 

[evil4life]

i consider a book good when it interesting the whole way instead of at first being interesting but by the end i'm finishing it for the sake of saying i read it

[Kelly]

A writing style i like (everybody i know hated Ray Bradbury books like Fahrenheit 451, but i like his writing style, so i ended up appreciating the book.)

Flow

Character Development 

The message it conveys, and if i still think about it after i've finished it.

If it holds my interest is pretty important, but I always finish a book if i start it, and I can usually forgive a bad plot if the book makes me think about the message long after i've read it.

[Irrelephant]

I would call a lot of books "good" even if they weren't my style

well-written, tactful, or thoughtful

 

Character development is nice.
The flow of the story.
Author's writing style. (I couldn't enjoy Hunger Games because of the author's style)
If it keeps me wanting to read more.

 

Hunger Games 

[Ulmicola]

It has to be well-written, interesting, and not boring.

[pixelwave]

A book, main purpose of which is not entertainment. It doesn't matter if reading it makes me reconsider my thoughts on something or if it makes me feel things I've never felt before, or it makes me see things from another perspective, or.. The main point is that it should make me take a step outside of my comfort zone. Reading a book should be a challenge, a wake-up call, an journey to myself, but not something comfortable and cozy, not relaxation or procrastination. However, the latter type of books is needed as well, and writing it requires some special serious skills as well, it's just that I'd never call it "good". The same goes for cinematograph, fine art, music and any art in general.

[Virgin Mary's Vagina]

If I cry when a character dies then yes it's a good book.

[Almondandlime]

So it seems most people that have posted like an "interesting" book that makes you emotionally invested while the others value a thought-provoking book more. Interesting. 

 

As for me, I get kind of confused as to what I look for in a book. I don't like reading books simply for entertainment because I find that other media fulfill that purpose better. That's why I'm not a huge fan of the Young Adult genre which is more plot and entertainment-driven with writing styles that are (usually) not as sophisticated. So like a few others have said, I don't like the Hunger Games. 

 

 

A book, main purpose of which is not entertainment. It doesn't matter if reading it makes me reconsider my thoughts on something or if it makes me feel things I've never felt before, or it makes me see things from another perspective, or.. The main point is that it should make me take a step outside of my comfort zone. Reading a book should be a challenge, a wake-up call, an journey to myself, but not something comfortable and cozy, not relaxation or procrastination. However, the latter type of books is needed as well, and writing it requires some special serious skills as well, it's just that I'd never call it "good". The same goes for cinematograph, fine art, music and any art in general.

I tend to read books like this more often, but then I'm not quite sure what I hope to get out of it. There have been many times when I finish a book confused and frazzled and slightly angry with something and then I question the point of me reading that book. Is discomfort somehow a positive force? Did it make me a more thoughtful person? Did it open me up to more perspectives? Is that what I should aim for in life? 

 

So in the end I still don't know what I want from a book.   

[Uaena]

If I care about the characters and if I finish the story and still care, it's a good or even a great book. Too many books are more plot centered than character centered. 

[Midnight Dreamer]

one that will interest me and makes me want to read it 

[Miss.Miss]

A book I can't stop reading. One that grabs my imagination and makes me think as though I was a character, leaving in the character's world. The kind of book you still think about long after you've finished reading.

[~ PD Hercule Poirot ~]

The major point for me is not too much predictability, which is why I gave up on romance novels and stick to mystery, crime, law, fantasy, horror etc

 

I stick to crime and mystery the most nowadays and I'm not into biography or self-improvement stuff

New age books is ok for casual reading and I love decor / furniture books

[pixelwave]

I tend to read books like this more often, but then I'm not quite sure what I hope to get out of it. There have been many times when I finish a book confused and frazzled and slightly angry with something and then I question the point of me reading that book. Is discomfort somehow a positive force? Did it make me a more thoughtful person? Did it open me up to more perspectives? Is that what I should aim for in life? 

 

So in the end I still don't know what I want from a book.   

Well, I think it depends on what kind of confusion and anger it is. I feel that some negative emotions are useless and destructive (and maybe you're describing this kind), but others are a positive force, and I actually notice that things that make me uncomfortable, angry, irritated often end up being things that eventually change me to the better the most, and after getting over them I return to my normal state stronger and more confident than ever before. Sometimes you just really need to pick open your wounds just to make them heal better. Idk, it's just my pov of course:)