tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post7248431266512275104..comments2024-03-26T07:33:18.502-04:00Comments on WordWranglers: What I love in a book...and what I don'tMargiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-81030785996555790582016-07-26T11:07:26.691-04:002016-07-26T11:07:26.691-04:00Thank you! Humor definitely draws readers in, does...Thank you! Humor definitely draws readers in, doesn't it?Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-3663498297109668282016-07-26T08:49:21.102-04:002016-07-26T08:49:21.102-04:00Humor is the thing I need to see. If the character...Humor is the thing I need to see. If the characters are deadly serious all the time, I get bored. On the other hand, if the jokes are forced or just plain dumb (and not in a funny way) then I will close that book and move on. I get hooked by a character I can care about or a plot that surprises me, too. You nailed it with your lists!S.K. Duboishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07267960400717300861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-39019112093245388622016-07-25T21:06:17.991-04:002016-07-25T21:06:17.991-04:00Oh, Laurie, you most blessed of readers! Telling w...Oh, Laurie, you most blessed of readers! Telling writers what you want to read and feel is such a help.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-62868827796133982572016-07-25T21:01:33.554-04:002016-07-25T21:01:33.554-04:00I loved this post Liz!! I like unexpected humor i...I loved this post Liz!! I like unexpected humor in a book - that one liner that you didn't see coming and cracked you up. I love it when a presumed jerk does or says something that makes me feel that there's hope for him yet. Or when little gems of wisdom are inserted that cause me to pause and reflect. If an author brings me to tears, well now that's talent right there. I don't like it when there are too many obstacles keeping a romance from happening. At some point I'm like alright already. Laurie Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05251033150576051700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-39179254656474090752016-07-25T20:45:06.652-04:002016-07-25T20:45:06.652-04:00I'm with you there. I think Sophie Kinsella...I'm with you there. I think Sophie Kinsella's funny. The only ones I've read have been Shopoholic ones, which, like you said, I couldn't relate to. I'd like to read something else.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-1303747637815706292016-07-25T20:31:11.036-04:002016-07-25T20:31:11.036-04:00I love humor in a book! Sophie Kinsella is excelle...I love humor in a book! Sophie Kinsella is excellent. I haven't read her Shopoholic series because I couldn't relate. I've Got Your Number had me rolling. <br /><br />And for what I don't like, when the conflict depends on lack of communication--when the two characters--usually in a romance--would resolve their conflict, if they actually talked to each other instead of assuming they *know* what the other one wants or how they will react. Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-23461501652145183392016-07-25T13:03:04.944-04:002016-07-25T13:03:04.944-04:00I agree with you in theory, Sandy, but in reality ...I agree with you in theory, Sandy, but in reality I like nothing better than a comfort read, when I can almost guess what pages certain things will happen on. I still want the people to be different, but the events? Not so much. Isn't it great how different everyone is?Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-27392240444250340062016-07-25T11:42:32.826-04:002016-07-25T11:42:32.826-04:00I love to be on that roller coaster of emotions. I...I love to be on that roller coaster of emotions. It doesn't matter what genre I'd reading. The thing that reaaaally irritates me is predictability. If it's not new and surprising I feel like I've wasted my precious reading time.Sandra Daileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096003641160112825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-59585499604410194882016-07-25T11:37:45.441-04:002016-07-25T11:37:45.441-04:00Thanks, Kristi!Thanks, Kristi!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-69925728013079317582016-07-25T11:17:22.556-04:002016-07-25T11:17:22.556-04:00humor is a must have for me, so is emotion...great...humor is a must have for me, so is emotion...great post, Liz!Kristina Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13674920511835640874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-23710772834677775552016-07-25T10:36:43.140-04:002016-07-25T10:36:43.140-04:00Oh, they do, don't they? The good discussions,...Oh, they do, don't they? The good discussions, I mean. And I feel bad because I DON'T finish so many books anymore, like I'm not giving other authors a fair chance. In my own defense, I don't talk about those books, either. (Though I probably would in a book club.)Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-64932145606980592022016-07-25T10:34:30.210-04:002016-07-25T10:34:30.210-04:00Oh, I love great first lines! And I USED to finish...Oh, I love great first lines! And I USED to finish, like you said, probably 95% of what I started, but now I'm at the "life's too short" stage, and I honestly don't. Even books I love, I occasionally find longer than the stories call for (I blame publishers for that) and will skip chunks out of the middle.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-11033723468936488392016-07-25T10:32:40.184-04:002016-07-25T10:32:40.184-04:00I'll bet it is harder. I don't know an edi...I'll bet it is harder. I don't know an editor reads anything!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-89991175103349559042016-07-25T10:29:35.033-04:002016-07-25T10:29:35.033-04:00No, I'm not sorry--I loved your answers! One t...No, I'm not sorry--I loved your answers! One thing you mentioned: when characters do something that doesn't make sense to the storyline. That's true and I don't like it, either, but I've sure seen writers who are able to pull it off. I think maybe they're better than me. :-)Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-90313947871713921332016-07-25T10:04:35.143-04:002016-07-25T10:04:35.143-04:00On point, Liz! I like books with humor too. And bo...On point, Liz! I like books with humor too. And books that tell a story well. I usually read every book I start because I feel I learn from bad as well as the good and I appreciate the good more. In book club, the bad ones always have the best discussions. lolVicki Batman, sassy writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-76811143307795295412016-07-25T09:56:45.884-04:002016-07-25T09:56:45.884-04:00Liz, I like to be snagged by the first line of the...Liz, I like to be snagged by the first line of the book, hooked and intrigued. If you can get me with that first line, I'll probably read on through just about anything. Like you, I love humor--witty and understated. Most of my characters are flawed because, well, so are we.<br /><br />Once I pick up a book, I will finish it 95% of the time even if I'm not enjoying it. I've committed and, darn it, I'm gonna see it through. But incomprehensible plot lines make me suffer and long pointless descriptions are the most likely thing to make me throw the book at the wall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-85529447802131564642016-07-25T09:15:49.038-04:002016-07-25T09:15:49.038-04:00Great blog, Liz--I love your lists and I agree who...Great blog, Liz--I love your lists and I agree wholeheartedly! Reading is so much harder now that I'm doing fiction editing almost exclusively, so when I do get lost in a story, it's a win.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-6417323185882092932016-07-25T08:21:06.213-04:002016-07-25T08:21:06.213-04:00Being a writer has made me such a picky reader, an...Being a writer has made me such a picky reader, and the really good books stand out to me. What makes me speed read through to the end and sigh when it's over? Emotion and realistic characters. Make me care. If you can make me cry, I’m yours. <br /><br />What makes me slam the book closed or want to hurl it across the room? Oooh, so many things. lol In no particular order…The hero who’s what I call the “alpha jerk.” Aka he treats the heroine like crap and she fawns all over him and takes it because he’s gorgeous or rich or whathaveyou. Too-stupid-to-live characters. And plot devices. Aka where the characters do something that makes no sense to the current storyline, they have no reason for doing it, but it creates conflict. Oh, and misunderstandings. <br /><br />I can handle poor grammar and/or typos up to a point. I’m guilty of missing things. I don’t expect people to be perfect. But if an author can’t be bothered to make sure the really simple things are correct, and it's happening over and over, then I’m out, because then it’s just sloppy. <br /><br />Gee, Liz. Sorry you asked?! lol Seriously, great topic.<br />Joanne Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17708364499624604625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-18042757378385162232016-07-25T08:13:47.588-04:002016-07-25T08:13:47.588-04:00I'm with you on TSTL, Ashantay!I'm with you on TSTL, Ashantay!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-76269237959123516222016-07-25T08:05:38.164-04:002016-07-25T08:05:38.164-04:00Ah, yes, Mary Balogh's Survivors Club. Loved t...Ah, yes, Mary Balogh's Survivors Club. Loved that series. And Kristen Higgins is one of my faves, particularly as I've been privileged to meet her several times and she's delightful! I agree with your lists and can't think of anything more to add other than disliking the "too stupid to live" characters, or those arguments that could be easily settled with a discussion. Or the conflict that could be resolved by taking a common sense action. Otherwise, you've nailed the coin toss!Ashantayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122891967983778466noreply@blogger.com