NOW CLOSED Tell us what makes a book 'un-put-downable' and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Figleaves voucher

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

The folks at Random House, the publisher, have got a new book coming out
that they think is going to take the country by storm and get everyone
talking about it. It's called Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James. You may
have heard about it or read it (it's been a massive hit in the US already),
or this may be the first you've heard of it. Either way, Random House would
like to find out what makes a book a riveting read - there's a few
questions below to get you started but please add any other comments you
have as well.

Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a
prize draw where one winner will get a £100 voucher for
Figleaves.

Here are the questions:

Every now and then, a book comes along that gets everybody talking (think
Harry Potter, Twilight, The Da Vinci Code or One Day). Fifty Shades
of Grey by E L James is doing just that in the US. What do you think it is
about a book that makes it such a huge success? What are the key elements
you think a book like that has to have to give it the mass appeal to get
everyone reading?

One of the reasons Fifty Shades of Grey has captured so much attention,
is its open portrayal of the erotic experiences of its main characters. What
was the last book that you read that completely gripped you so you couldn't
put it down? Have you read any books recently that have changed the way you
think about something? Or changed the way you actually feel or act in RL?
Please do share!

Fifty Shades of Grey is already a bestseller in the ebook charts. If you
have an ereader (e.g. Kindle), do you think it has influenced what books
you choose to read? Is there anything you've read on your ereader that you
don't think you would have done if it was in hard copy? If so, what was it
and why? Have you ever been put off reading a book because people around
you will be able to see what you're reading? If so, what was it? (we won't
judge you, promise! :))

Just one last quick Q for anyone who has read Fifty Shades of Grey - the
screen rights have been acquired and it is going to be made into a film -
who would you choose be the the main parts (Christian Grey and Ana Steele)?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

And i completely forgot about The Help - my Summer Holiday read last year and certainly unputdownable for me.

I like suspense in a book and strong character portrayals which really make me see things from that person's perspective, even if I hate the character and particularly if you get the feeling that the character isn't what they seem.

Books I've read recently which I haven't been able to put down include: Gillespie and Me and Before I Go to Sleep. With both of these you get inside the mind of someone who you are completely unsure about. Before I Go To Sleep did make me think a lot about memory and identity. It also made me want to keep more of a diary or personal record of my life in case I ever lost my memory.

I have a Kindle but I do tend to go and buy a hard copy of the books I've really loved rather than just have the Kindle copy. It hasn't influenced what books I read and I wouldn't feel embarrassed about what I'm reading because even with an ordinary book people can see the cover etc.

Don't confuse 'unputdownable' with hype.

Anyway, draw me in, intrigue me, stroke my brain with your alluring imagery, shock me, make me care, and wrap it up at the end without too many co-incidences.

Make me laugh as an optional extra.

But please, not too many of those co-incidences.....

For a book to be unputdownable, I think you have to really believe in and care about the main protagonist. So much so that you desperately want to find out what happens to them. No bland stereotypes or cliches as they're just not that interesting to read about. A bit of intrigue in the story helps too, so that you have to read on to find the answers. I also love to read a story set in a different world, whether that's a different period in history, country, culture, or a completely fantastical place, so that I can forget about reality for a little while.

Mass market appeal is something different though! To appeal to lots of different people, I think a book has to flow well, be fast paced with a few twists, have a bit of sex and some romance, and not be too divorced from reality!

Never heard of "50 shades of grey" but I did recently read a book called just "shades of grey" that was very gripping! Other books I've recently read snd couldn't put down are 1Q84, Harry Potter, Wild Swans, Snow Falling on Cedars and the Northern Lights trilogy. All have strong, believable characters, they transported me into their worlds entirely, and a bit of mystery kept me hooked.

A good book for me creates a believable alternative world. Books that attract popular attention usually have tempo and strong characterisation; I also like an evocative setting, personally. I'd say a thoughful theme that happens to tap into current zietgiest (sp?) would make it a winner - there's an element of luck here, and books that rely too much on fashion can go out of it ...
Kazuo Ishiguro has made me think a lot about the world, I recently re-read Never Let Me Go and the issues are scarily topical.
I don't have a kindle and they don't attract me, I am set in my ways and like to turn a page. I don't think I'd like the Grey book from the lengthy plug, it makes me think of Alan Titchmarsh

Only two things, well written and a story that makes me want to turn the page. I read across all genres and am always amazes that some of the hyped up books are neither of the above and they go after a chapter in my 'to go to Oxfam books pile'.

There have only been a couple of books that I have been unable to put down and had to finish but they were in a series so it was more to do with an interest in the characters and what was going to happen to them next (Patricia Cornwell and Jeffery Deaver are 2 authors that I love to read!)

I think there is a difference between good books and successful books. The Da Vinci code was successful due to the word of mouth thing and the intrigue into the story. I read it simply due to the intrigue and the theories within it but I didn't enjoy the book - thought it was very badly written and only finished it to find out the full theory. I think the same could be said for many books that have been made into big films - many people will assume that it was a good book but have never read it, they only assume because of the film but the word of mouth still gets round that it was a good book (if that makes sense)

Personally, I feel there has to be good characters that I can believe in and the story has to start quite early - even starting in the middle of a story rather than taking chapters to set the scene. I need to get hooked quite quickly - I'll always finish a book but if I'm not hooked early then I just don't enjoy it and get annoyed with the author.

I think the key to a good book is believable and well written characters. Whatever the genre, if you don't believe them you don't enjoy the story. There seems to be a critical mass with the most popular books, once it has enough coverage even the terrible ones seem to become bestsellers. I have read many bestsellers and maybe 10% have been good.

I haven't had time to read a whole book at once for a long time, the last one I remember which I truly couldn't put down was The Time Traveller's Wife. Books generally grip me when I can't see the whole plot at once, I like to be intrigued and confused and if there's an element of surprise then all the better.

I just read Breaking Dawn. I hadn't expected to like the Twilight series at all but they were well written and I found myself really wanting to know what happened to the characters at the end.

DH and I had a child-free night and went to the local pub. All I wanted to do was get back to my book, bless him.

I love my kindle because I can be reading all kinds of chick-lit and no-one can tell. I find many of the new books I want to be a bit over-priced tbh, as I usually go for offers when buying books, or scour charity shops, then pasiing on to friends.

What do you think it is about a book that makes it such a huge success?
the storyline. harry potter created a new world, no one knew what was happening next; so we were hooked.

What are the key elements
story
characters you think a book like that has to have to give it the mass appeal to get everyone reading?
each character has to have something identifiable in it. if he's going to be ridiculously rich then he should have personality flaws, if he's good looking then he better be broke :)

One of the reasons Fifty Shades of Grey has captured so much attention,
is its open portrayal of the erotic experiences of its main characters. What
was the last book that you read that completely gripped you so you couldn't
put it down?
Before I Go to Sleep.
Have you read any books recently that have changed the way you think about something?
50 shades changed my opinion on erotic literature !
changed the way you actually feel or act in RL?
50 shades saved my marriage :)

Fifty Shades of Grey is already a bestseller in the ebook charts. If you
have an ereader (e.g. Kindle), do you think it has influenced what books
you choose to read?
Yes. Firstly, I would never ever have touched 50 shades if it wasnt the privacy of my eReader.
Secondly the books are so much cheaper ( or appear to be) to i no longer rely only on known authors, the 'risk' is less so i experiment a lot more.

Is there anything you've read on your ereader that you
don't think you would have done if it was in hard copy?
Yes
If so, what was it and why?
Have already answered this above.
Have you ever been put off reading a book because people around
you will be able to see what you're reading? If so, what was it? (we won't
judge you, promise! )
as above.

Just one last quick Q for anyone who has read Fifty Shades of Grey - the
screen rights have been acquired and it is going to be made into a film -
who would you choose be the the main parts (Christian Grey and Ana Steele)?
Jonathan Rhys Myers & Emma Watson

I have to be able to engage with the lead characters. I lose interest pretty quickly if I don't manage this.

I tend to prefer books that are heavily based on relationships between people, and I don't necessarily mean romance. I tend to like authors like Diane Chamberlain where the heart of the story tends to be about the dynamics of relationships between people.

I also prefer realism. I must be one of a minority who tried to read the first Harry Potter and couldn't even make the first half. That said, a friend has encouraged me to read Twilight and I am enjoying that, despite not a hint of realism. I also think Bella is a bit of a sap and Edward a control freak but it hasn't stopped me enjoying it. I do like to read thought provoking books but every now and again I do enjoy something that doesn't require you to be as involved.

I am resisting e readers, mainly due the fact that I like to read in the bath! I do like to hold a physical book too. I like the act of perusal in a book shop or library. It isn't the same on amazon, though I do use it for convenience at times.

I have to care about the characters and enjoy the story.

I also love a bit of intrigue, especially when you are desperate to find out either where the story is going, or how the situation in a story has got to that point.

The last book I devoured in one day was 'Room', firstly because I wanted to know how the characters were in their situation, and secondly because when I got to that point I cared about what was going to happen to them.

Detailed and well constructed character development is crucial for me - I do like the sense that the author really knows who his characters are and you can get to know them, love them and hate them too. I have to say, my favourite type of character is the anti-hero, especially 'Glokta' is Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy, and even 'Snape' in Harry Potter. I can't stand weak. floppy female characters, unless they serve a purpose in the plot.

High Fantasy is my favourite genre - I like to get away from the real world! That said, fantasy writing is only credible and engaging when the world it is written in is well thought out and properly planned. You can't dash out a good fantasy book otherwise it comes across in the writing.

I do like unexpected twists and red herrings in a story, and whilst it can be hugely frustrating, sometimes ambiguity in a character's nature or actions, or in the outcome or ending.

I'm not sure what makes books develop into best sellers, I found with twilight I had read it before the hype, same for Harry Potter as well, books that get made into films seem to get the hype back (if that makes sense) so a lot of people like it, but then when film number one comes out, everyone else rushes to buy books two, three, four etc.

For me I have to have characters that are believable, I cannot stand, He said "........ blah blah" and then she said "....... blah blah" and she said "... blahhhhhhhhhhhh" I find that really off putting, generally books have to well written, but nearly every book I start ends up being a page turner and I keep going until the end (six books read last week on holiday )

For me I like books that cover most genres apart from Horror (although I don't mind Stephen King) and I can literally read anything, I haven't seen Fifty Shades of Grey on the kindle list yet, but mostly I stick with Authors I know, so I'm a huge fan of Nora Roberts, Lee Child and Sophie Kinesella.

As books are expensive I tend to search free books in kindle, if they are good I buy more from that Author. I also prefer a series of books where characters develop over time but are excellent in their own right. (JD Robb "In Death" Series in particular).

As I read most books from start to finish, it's hard to pick out some for me that have been really unputdownable, but Sophie Kinsella Can you keep a secret still tops a list of literally thousands of books I've read.

Finally, am I embarassed by any books I read so it is more acceptable on Kindle as no one can see what I'm reading - Nope, not at all, my Husband doesn't care what I read (it means he can watch TV in peace) and to be honest as ereaders are still newish, I find people are more interested in what I'm reading and could they look at the kindle to see what it's like than they ever were when I was sat with a paperback.

What do you think it is about a book that makes it such a huge success? What are the key elements you think a book like that has to have to give it the mass appeal to get everyone reading?
As someone who works in a library, I would say publicity. And a good cover is vital. Films have a huge influence obviously - recently we've had vast request lists for Hunger Games, previously it was War Horse, last year The Help and One Day.
Book prizes are influential although I just read "The Sense of an Ending" and spent the entire time thinking why the jeff did this win the Booker Prize? Can't help thinking sometimes that someone somewhere makes arbitrary decisions about what everyone should be reading, the media follows, and then the Internet, and then the public (myself included!) read it. MN has a big influence on what I read, as do RL friends.
I do think though that more than anything I am guided by the cover and title. I handle hundreds of books a day so the quirky ones stand out. I get rather distracted sometimes.

What was the last book that you read that completely gripped you so you couldn't put it down? Have you read any books recently that have changed the way you think about something? Or changed the way you actually feel or act in RL?
I recently read Cuckoo by Julia Crouch and that was very compulsive reading. Books tend to have to be quite easy to read - I have a few processing issues - and be fast moving, in order to keep me reading. Classics take a massive amount of effort and I rarely try. I like books that get under my skin and make me feel uneasy - nothing light and fluffy. I agree with other titles mentioned on this thread. For example, The Time Traveler's Wife got to me so much I actually planned jumping along my own timeline.

If you have an ereader (e.g. Kindle), do you think it has influenced what books you choose to read? Is there anything you've read on your ereader that you don't think you would have done if it was in hard copy? If so, what was it and why? Have you ever been put off reading a book because people around you will be able to see what you're reading? If so, what was it?
Yes. The Daily Deal and sale periods have definitely increased my range - I end up spending too much money seeing titles that I wouldn't have looked at twice, read the description and if it's 99p and sounds decent I'll often get it. Also, because it's digitally stored, I can get as much as I want without worrying about it taking up space - whether physical space or space on my library card. I have so much on my kindle that will last me for ages! I wouldn't get around to half of it if I didn't have a kindle, I think. And yes - one of the first things I read on the kindle was Lady Chatterly's Lover! We had a Banned Books display and some colleagues were talking about it - perfectly unjudged at work, but I didn't fancy reading it on a bus with sniggering teens of a morning :o

Gets started quickly and remains fast paced.
Plain English without any flowery language,and without being overly intellectual.
I think these are the key elements as to what makes a book a success.

The last book I couldn't put down was Last Light by Alex Scarrow.It really got me thinking about our dependence on oil.

I don't have an ereader.I think if I was reading,for example,self help books,I would prefer to do it by ereader so people couldn't see what I was reading.

The only completely 'un-put downable books' I have read were 'Remains of the Day' and 'Fortune's Rocks' - both of which were beautifully written with characters, situations and emotios I could totally understand and relate to.

I also found 'We need to talk about Kevin' totally rivetting and challenged my view of many situations.

The thought of 'sex scenes' in '50 Shades of Grey' is totally off putting, I loathe reading about sex in detail. . I have never heard of this book despite regularly reading the Book Sections in the Sunday newspapers.

I don't have a Kindle, and have no wish to have one, so can't answer that part of the question.

for me a great read needs to be fast paced, believable characters but more importantly believable dialogue, there has to be a mystery running through the whole thing, or some suspense. A great series of books needs characters that go through changes in themselves, but not too many changes in the surrounding characters (a core group that can be followed through out). I love my kindle and most of the books i read are free to download, this is how i find many authors i enjoy, download the 1st in a series because its free then pay for other/future books. im also not a huge fan of sex in a novel because it never feels realistic, which in most books jarrs against the general desire of the author to make the whole story feel authentic.

A book that is unputdownable for me does not necessarily have mass market appeal, so you may be asking the wrong person!

The last really gripping memorable book I read, which I recommend to everyone I can, is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke. Totally original, not in any way predictable, and I had to keep turning the page as I had no idea what was going to hapen next!

Another type of book that keeps me reading is stuff like the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall. A totally different type of book, a light and easy read, but something about the end of each chapter makes me want to read on to the next chaper, and so on, and so on...

I really like chapters which close on a hanging point of excitement. I know it's an old trick and not terribly sophisticated, but it makes you turn the page, doesn't it?

I also like a fast pace, being physically 'pulled' into the action, and an intelligent, knowing way of writing for an educated audience. And ponies. Ponies are great.*

• please refer to disclaimer above about not being a 'mass market' kind of reader.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - I loved that too! Not my favourite books ever but recent books I found it difficult to put down - Tinker, Tailor and Monstrous Regiment (Terry Pratchett). For me it's stories which are well written with turns of phrase that stand out and make you really see something, plus interesting plot and not depressing. Hate books that are depressing.

I think when you recognise yourself or how you would react within the plot you make a connection that hooks you. Once I am embedded in the story all the characters somehow 'become' my friends and family and I am gone for as long as it takes to finish it.

I like to get involved in a book, for me that means believable characters who I care about, and a story where I'm dying to know what happens next. I suppose for a book to have mass appeal it needs to do that for a broad spectrum of society.

The last book I read that I couldn't put down was "The fall of Giants". I loved seeing how the story unfolded and I was really interested in the history behind the story. I love it if I can learn some History whilst enjoying a good yarn!

I do have a kindle and it has changed the books I read. I read "How to be a Woman" because I saw it recommended in a mag so just downloaded it and gave it a try. I wouldn't have bothered if I needed to go to a shop or even order it online. I now prefer reading my kindle to paper books. I love that if I finish my book while I'm out and about, I can just go onto the next one there and then.

I have not read "fifty shades of grey", but will look out for it!

Superglue [bugrin]

When a chapter ends with one question answered and another question asked.

Usually the books I cant put down are ones that are so well written that you dont notice the writing- you sort of mainline the story straight into your brain.

I personally need at least one character I like, and a reasonably fast pace. I do like a saga where you get to find out what happens to characters over an extended time period- I loved House of Spirits in my teens.

I enjoy books set in a different time or place (I have just raced through The Children's Book AS Byatt) which means I also like science fiction such as the culture novels by Iain M Banks or if I am feeling fragile any Terry Prachett for comfort. The last book I really didnt want to finish as it was so good but also couldnt put down, was Wolf Hall.