This one I’m going to pose as a question, because what does make a good book? There are the building blocks for good writing, of course, and I’m sure we’ve all seen authors come out with writing guides and books about how they write, or rather how you should write. I love these books, so please don’t think I’m opposed to writing guides. But what things truly make a good book? Let’s try to think outside of genres and demographics for this one because I believe the elements of a good book transcend these parameters. Good books are good regardless, and everything is subjective.

Immersion

Immersion doesn’t have to mean the same thing to everyone, nor does it have to be the same kind of immersion for each book you pick up. For example, one book can hook you in with its landscape – lush green pastures dotted with settlements, surrounded by imposing grey mountains capped in snow, white veins lining the rocky giants – while the next can have a character so compelling and authentic you can’t help but feel them pull you into the story, bringing you along for the ride. Immersion is key as it makes people escape their everyday life. Immersion is a must for a good book, which is why I’ve put this first.

Meaningful Worlds

What I mean by this is the world doesn’t revolve around the plot of the book. There is life outside of the key characters, outside of the circumstances they’re faced with, and the world spins regardless of what happens to them. When a story world has a vibrant ecosystem of people, activity, and life that functions without input from the main characters, it is a world I believe works. If it feels like a video game where NPCs are just sitting around, waiting to be interacted with, there’s a dullness that filters into everything. Does this make sense? Another way to put it is this – can you see yourself getting distracted from what the characters are doing if you’re standing next to them? If they’re walking through town, talking to someone important, or trying to run away from something, is something else catching your eye? Do you think you could be pulled away by interesting people or situations, or are you staying with the group because things aren’t lively? There is no intrigue outside of the band of characters surrounding you. Velaris, for example, is a jewel of a city with so many things to do and people to interact with, and it is one of the main reasons people fall in love with the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, right? The same can be said of Camorr in The Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Ketterdam in Six of Crows Duology and Panem in The Hunger Games.

Lively Characters

We don’t like cardboard characters right? Yes, there is a chance to put ourselves in the character’s shoes when they have so little essence, but generally, we like characters to be fleshed out and interesting. Lively characters make the story come alive. They breathe life into the dialogue, make interactions and relationships engaging, and overall make the story memorable. Even the characters that are more soft-spoken, more introverted, and more reclusive, give a little something to the book. Aragorn, for example, is not someone who goes around galavanting and boasting about himself. He’s quiet, purposeful, and has many layers to him that make him interesting and compelling, furthermore, making the Lord of the Rings books so fantastic. Katniss isn’t one for being in the spotlight, and when she’s on the defensive she can be harsh and blunt, but that makes her more real. Those reactions give her gusto and make her stand out. Characters are the backbones of stories, and without strong characters, we can’t have a good novel that can stand on its own, can we? Even books that are all about themes and messages and motifs need characters to carry out their plots.

Surprises

I don’t mean things coming out of left field, though depending on the book they can provide a great deal of entertainment and interest. I mean the books where you think you know what will happen, you have a keen sense of where things will go, who may be the bad guy, what these two characters will discover, etc. The scene is set, the action begins, but right when before your thoughts come true, something else happens and it is brilliant because it is not only possible given the circumstances or situation, but it is a pleasant surprise because you didn’t see it coming. We like being right sometimes, but we love being wrong when something mesmerising comes out of it. Someone saying something out of pocket that opens your eyes wider, someone swooping in to save the day, something falling into place that has been sitting around since the beginning – a tiny insignificant detail, until it isn’t. Surprises bring a tension spike, a moment of humour or heartbreak, and get a claw into our emotions when we least expect it. Thrillers do this as part of their very purpose, but I’ve seen historical fiction accomplish this, as well as fantasies, contemporary fiction and all the books in between.

I’m sure there are more, but these things are subjective. One person’s surprise is another’s first thought. One person’s favourite character is someone else’s most boring character. There is no wrong and right when it comes to these things, and if anything, learning the good and the bad about a book or a character or whatever it may be will do you better in the long run. Please feel free to add things in the comments, or argue against one of my points. Maybe you don’t think a good book is defined by lively characters or the element of surprise. Maybe you’ve got a favourite book that features only one of the points above. I’d love to learn how you view good books and what makes a good book by your standards.