What makes me enjoy a book and how do I rate and review it? - Discuss & Wonder #4

Hello and welcome to another discussion post! Today, I thought I'd share with you what makes me enjoy a book and what I take into consideration when rating and reviewing it.
I never stick to TBRs when it comes to which books I want to read next. I usually pick up whatever I'm in the mood for and I sincerely encourage you to do the same! That's why, I'm almost never able to finish a book I was not in the mood to read in the first place.

Review books are - of course - a while different story. That is why I always stick to the ones that I'm truly interested in reading!

How do you choose which book to read next? Do you prefer sticking to a TBR list or do you just pick up whatever your in the mood to read, like yours truly? 

The No1 thing that affects me when it comes to choosing which book to read next is the synopsis. The more intriguing, the better! It can make me jump up and down from excitement and anticipation. And when I do start reading a book, whether it's easy for me to connect with the characters or not is also very important. I feel like, we readers, cannot really enjoy books wholeheartedly if we don't feel a connection to the characters first. 
Moving on to the plot and story line. I really like cliches, as long as they are well written. And I love them even more when I can tell that they are cliches but somehow, the author has made them seem like a new experience by making them more interesting than they have ever been and twisting facts and information in order to create something new but at the same time, use something old to do so. I feel like I'm saying this every time but, hopefully, I'm making sense right now!
The writing style is important for me but it can only add to the experience. Except if, it can be very obvious that a book wasn't edited well, or if it was written in a very amateur way that I wasn't initially expecting. This doesn't mean that I don't fall head over heels in love with an author's writing. Quite the opposite actually. I love beautiful writing that can touch my heart and soul and make me think about it for days!
That's how my rating system works as well. It's very rare for me to give a book 1 or 2 star ratings, although it does happen from time to time. Especially when I'm very disappointed because a book hasn't reached my expectations or when I'm not really enjoying it at all.

While rating books, taking character and plot development into consideration is very important for me. And in most cases, they go hand in hand. Whether the characters are likable or not plays a big role as well, even though it sometimes depends on the reader's personal taste. 
Being able to tell whether the plot is flowing smoothly and things are happening to keep the adrenaline pumping is also a very essential part of rating and reviewing books. Which can be the complete opposite depending on what each one of us actually enjoys experiencing while reading. 

I always try to explain what a story makes me feel while I'm immersed in it.Even if putting feelings into words is not the easiest thing. I also try to point out both the positives and the negatives to each book that I read. And I take into consideration whether it was written in a way that helped me, and would help others, enjoy it more. 

You can't really help falling in love with a book. You can't help it in general. That is why I really do not make any sense when I try to review books that I found wonderful and enjoyed more than anything. It's usually easier to talk about the negatives of a book and analyse them rather than try to point out the positives.

Last but not least, unpredictable stories are always appreciated. The ones that develop in ways you had never expected and make you eager to find out what crazy thing will happen next. Plot twists keep things interesting and make you want to keep reading, whereas books that are more than predictable do not.

 There are always exceptions of course but, you're more likely to enjoy a book that left you breathless in several attempts to guess what would happen next without getting it right, rather than a predictable story with a very obvious and underdeveloped plot. To top that all off, fast paced stories are always a plus. Even more so when they do not end abruptly.

What are your thoughts on rating and reviewing books? Do you prefer fast paced and unpredictable stories, or simple ones with interesting plots?

Until the next discussion,






Comments

  1. I totally agree with you that connection to the characters is huge in my enjoyment of a book. I also think that it really affects my emotional connection to the book. And, of course, beautiful writing never hurts! :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    Replies
    1. I love beautifully written books! And if I don't connect to the characters from the beginning, it's very difficult for me to actually enjoy the book!

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