What do you look for in a novel?

I can understand that.

chrissnow - I've been happy to send anyone who has messaged me details of my website, but I don't post it on here because it's quite fun to keep my anonymity to some extent!

Now UQD I have a quandry. Would love to read some of your work purely on the basis 'I know you' (as in MN world have seen you around) BUT that is quite an issue...
a) you would have to give away your real life persona in some way
b) If I hated it I would have to avoid you forever
c) If I didn't understand it I would have to avoid MN forever!!!
I have based a few novel choices on the author being from my very small hometown (and boy was I disappointed!!)

Nothing wrong with second-hand for the reader, but the writer gets nowt!

What's wrong with 2nd hand, UQD? Very environmentally friendly.

Did any one like 84 Charing Cross Road?

Yes i know it's by an american UQD but did you read it?

We have a Kent Haruf on the shelf.
I don't boycott Americans, I limit them!

secondhand, elasticwoman - secondhand?!

I give a book 35 pages to get me gripped, if I'm still struggling to read it after p.35 then I leave it. This only goes for fiction though obviously.

I like to take something away from a book I've read, so like them to have some depth, and not too much descriptive writing, as it bores me and I prefer to make my owm mentail image of everything going on.

I don't know if I look for something. There are things I avoid. I avoid chick lit - I hope not cos of snobbishness, tho prob, yes. Just not my type of thing.

For me and for most probably its about something that touches your own life, or makes you think about life in a wider/different way. I think though if it touches you, if you feel it has the potential to 'speak' sorry to you, then I'd give it a go. Just instinct really, and if you make a mistake, then nothing lost really.

or is it brought

i have just bought the private papers of eastern jewels. loved wild swans.

look for things a bit different really. hope it's a good book

but Pruners all my book group hated one book so much they all took it down the charity shop

I loved it

they were wrong

The best novels are deceptively simple and sound as if they almost wrote themselves.

BTW UQD the woman in the vg 2nd hand bookshop near me had never heard of you. I had to explain who you were and heard myself saying "a young writer - younger than me". If you have any extra copies of your novels, you could probably do worse than give them to secondhand bookshops, then if any one reads them they might think ooh I enjoyed that, and buy your next one.

Just a thought.

I look for some sort of indication that I will enjoy it. So if I've read other stuff by the same author, I might go for it. Or if I know the author from another sphere, eg Stephen Fry from tv. Unfortunately I've been disappointed with that criterion far more often than I've been charmed. The only thing of Stephen Fry's I like is his autobiography Moab Is My Washpot. But I still love to watch him on tv.

If some one whose judgment I respect recommends it or if I read a favourable review. Sometimes if I read an unfavourable review.

Once I've started with the novel, it has to engage me with believable and interesting characters, a witty or clever or just clear style, an unpredictable plot and original treatment of the subject chosen. Don't often get ALL those boxes ticked.

Sometimes you have to exercise outrageous prejudice just to navigate a path through the piles of books.

There is a writer called Crysse Morrison, one of whose books looks quite interesting and whose articles I have seen in magazines. But I won't read her book because she spells her name such a daft way.

Message withdrawn

A lot of writing workshops do attract older people because of a) timing - daytime courses and b) the fact that some people take up writing when they retire!

Mine are done through WEA, Arts Council/Creative Partnerships and various local initiatives, as well as privately. Always had a good mix of people. I've also had people at all stages of experience, from "totally unpublished" to" had a book out a long time ago" and everything in between.

I always found most of Susan Hill's work to be rather depressing myself. I think it's the themes she chooses - ghosts and sad lonely people. Interesting blog though - I'll have to read that.

Susan Hill says 'there is not a bad book among them' (the richard and judy list)

Damn, now have even more books to take up my time

I may give that one a go. Always up for a surprise!!
UQD - one day i will enroll on a writing workshop. I went to a writers club once but had to leave as I was the only person a) totally unpublished and b) under the age of 65!!

chrissnow: No, I'm a writer who also teaches regular workshops and classes to both adults and kids.

laurie: R&J list puts me off but I'm sure there are some good ones on there.

Interesting comment on them by Susan Hill on her writing course blog here

Lol at Unquietdad

I read 3 books a week and I usually pick books up in the shops by reading the review or reading novels by writers I already read.

However i was compiling a Christmas List so picked one people were raving about on Amazon (and it was a Richard and Judy ). I picked it out online without looking at the cover or reading the back flap (obviously) and when it duly arrived for Christmas it looked boring and I didn't pick it up til Monday (and I only picked it up cos I was avoiding cleaning the bathroom ).

I was very wrong, one of the best books I have ever read - stayed up til 5 this morning finishing it. It has opened up whole new areas of interest for me.

"Savage Garden" by Mark Mills - in case anyone wanted to know

UQD, are, you, an, english, teacher. Then?

I feel a bit nauseous just reading that sentence UQD .