BOOK CRITICISM

Books, books, books. Where do I start? There are so many book genres, and even more types of books. Everyone has their own unique style, everyone who reads judges books differently. Needless to say, I can’t speak for everyone when I critique books, nor can I confirm I’ll cover all genres. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

First of all, I don’t like confusing books. This means books that I can’t follow due to poor writing. These tend to be rare, but this can be applied to any story. It would help if authors didn’t skip important parts. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want things to be spelled out for me, but plot points must make sense. When I write, I like to include lots of detail, maybe even too much. I do this because I want the reader to picture and understand what I’m writing about, and also because it makes the story more intense.

Another thing I find annoying is when authors let the story drag on for too long without incident. I’ll admit I am sometimes guilty of this but doing so builds tension and creates uncertainty (like having small, suspicious events without revealing the main conflict). If I read a book that drags on, I usually get bored. I think it’s important to establish setting, but it’s also important to get on with it.

Something I always appreciate in books is drama. This appears in description, foreshadowing, and effects. Occasionally, a book is too slow, and I find myself wanting to get to the action already. Other times, there isn’t enough drama. I want to feel the mood in a story and relating to the characters as well. Drama can be tricky, and finding a balance is key.

I frequently get disappointed by books where the characters are stereotypical, with no good reason for it. Everyone’s different, and our books should reflect that. We can agree to disagree, but those were just a few opinions I have on what I value in a good book.

📷​​SMLXL 📷