Hi, I’m Heather and honored to be guest posting today! Lisa and I share a love of reading, so she asked me to write about books. I’m a YA enthusiast but also enjoy chick lit or a comically written non-fiction from time to time. I read a lot – and friends, both online and off, know it.

Because of this, I get asked for book recommendations quite often. Most times, these recommendations lead to a gushy tale a week later about how much they “loved” the book and I listen with a satisfied smile, knowing that we now share a hidden secret of faraway settings, despicable character choices and frenzied plot lines. It’s almost like I’m recruiting a book army – a circle of friends that will no doubt support me when I need a book recommendation of my own.

While I love the “you were so right” acknowledgement, sometimes, I get a “what were you thinking” response. They simply hated the book I adored. First, I’m shocked and hurt (because I’m strange and take it personally even though I didn’t write it or even know the author personally) and then I prod for answers, needing to know why they didn’t like it. Was it the ending? Was it the protagonist? Did they find the switching POV to be confusing? Did they even finish it?

Listening to their responses lead to the ultimate contemplating question: What makes a book good?

And more often than not, the most common responses I received had to do with one of three things I call the three C’s:

1. Cover: The cover didn’t appeal to them, the image didn’t reflect the storyline, or it led to presumptions that were wildly out of proportion. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but some can’t help themselves. Personally, I tend to lean toward covers that have pink or black on them – it’s a preference thing, and I’m trying to work on it.

2. Connection: They just couldn’t connect to the characters. They didn’t “feel” it. They were always an outsider, intruding in the story, instead of blending in seamlessly. I have read many stories like this, most of which I finished and several in which I didn’t finish. Connections must happen, otherwise you have no reason to keep reading. Lately, I’ve become an abandoner because of a lack of connection; I simply know that if I’m not hooked 50 pages in, it won’t happen.

3. Consideration: There was nothing to be learned by reading the book. Even fiction can have a lesson or underlying theme (eg. when in doubt trust yourself, don’t give up on your dreams, don’t trust your co-workers, etc). If the story told itself in a way that there was no hidden insight, no driving message, or it was confusing, then you become disappointed. When I read a book like this, I feel empty and as if I wasted hours of my time.

So, what makes a book good to me? Possibly the same thing that makes a book good to you, but since we are entirely different beings, we will relate to them differently. And this is a good thing because then authors of all types will have a chance to send their message loud and clear. However, this impasse won’t stop me from trying to pass on what I love.

My current recommendation: The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I recently finished it and found it phenomenal. My official review was posted a few days ago on my blog, Lost In the View!.

Come visit anytime to talk books or writing at Lost In the View! And thanks to Lisa for having me!