Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky on Melissa's page. Have fun, and have at it!
This week's question: What makes a great novel, in your opinion?
You have to have a good plot, killer characters and a great writing style. Sprinkle in a unique idea and a fantastic setting and we're almost there. But the truth of matter is, you can have all of those things and if it doesn't have that extra something special, it's not going to be GREAT.
That little something special is the ability to connect with their audience. This is the difference between a 4.5 bunny and 5 bunny review on my blog. I need a novel that keeps me up at night. I need characters who invade my dreams, who make me sad when they are sad and make me happy when they triumph. It's all about the connection the author can make with the reader. Only then is a novel truly great in my book. That's what makes writing and reading so subjective. Like picking a partner/lover/significant other, it's all got to do with chemistry and what makes that person tick. When a novel is able to move a reader, that's when it's magic. That's when a novel is great.
Here are some of my picks for greatness:
This list goes on but these are a few of the novels that touched me because they weren't just words written on a page. They were living, breathing things that stayed with me long after the final page was turned.
So what about you, what makes a great novel?
Definitely with you on the trifecta! Plot, characters, and voice are all SO important! Without them, a book is hopeless, and a truly great book will leave you thinking about the book for a long, long time. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if the plot is not compelling, the book might be good but it'll not attain greatness. And how awesome is Libba Bray? Have you read her Going Bovine? It shows how diverse she is.
ReplyDeleteI think a great book is all about the characters and world the writer has set up. The plot's also important but if I can't relate to and/or sympathise with the characters then I probably won't be able to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe most important for me:
ReplyDeletelet me dive into the story so that I forget everything else around me. And I guess this can only be reached my all your points. Defining the little something is difficult though, because it's different for every reader, I think.
Nahno ∗ McLein ™
Great answer! i gotta have great characters!!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. Our lists are the same! Awesome picks of greatness :)
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