I give a workshop called Booklovers Seminar, and it occurred to me that you might be interested. The subtitle of my talk is How To Get The Most From Your Reading Experience. The questions that follow are used in my discussion, and they can be springboards for your own analysis.

Let’s start with a recent book you’ve finished.

When you put the book down, were you smiling or sad? Did you feel a sense of satisfaction?

If you liked the story, what elements appealed to you: The setting? The writer’s style? The fast pace? The memorable characters? The things you learned from the story? The emotional depth? The real life issues? The escapist element into another world? The happy ending?

If you didn’t like the book, why not? Did the characters not engage you on an emotional level? Was the pacing plodding? Not enough action? Inaccuracies in research? Long descriptive passages that put you to sleep? A setting you found distasteful? You couldn’t relate to the characters or concept? You don’t like the genre? Your friend or book group made you read it? Would you try a book by that author again?

Now let’s look at what makes you buy a book.

The author? The book cover? The endorsements? The cover flap copy? Recommendations by friends or booksellers? It’s on the Bestseller List? A particular story element appeals to you? The opening hook?

What are some of these story elements? Identifying the ones you like will help you choose the right book each time.

Characters

Do the characters seem real?

Can you identify with the hero/heroine?

If they’re not capturing your interest, why not?

Can you distinguish between different people in the story? What makes them distinctive?

Does the protagonist grow and change by the story’s end?

Setting

What is the novel’s setting?

Does it appeal to you? If so, why?

How does the author convey a sense of place?

Would you want to visit the location in the story?

Are there certain settings you avoid?

Plot

Does the storyline develop logically?

Is the plot linear or wrought with twists and turns?

Are elements of mystery or suspense included? Are they important to you?

Is the pacing too slow, just right, or so intense you can’t put the book down?

Is there a balance between action, exposition, and dialogue?

Subplot

Is there a subplot? How is it related to the main plot?

Voice

Is the story in first person or third person? Multiple viewpoints?

What would you say is the protagonist’s attitude?

Does a sense of humor shine through?

What makes this author’s voice unique?

Style

Is the writing didactic or breezy? Wordy or clear? Poetic or simple?

Theme

Can you identify a central theme? (i.e. sibling relationships, coming of age)

How does the theme relate to the story?

Does the theme have symbolic references?

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As an author, these are very helpful. As a reader, they scare me. High School Book Report Panic Attack! :) But all those factors, whether a reader can identify them externally or not, do play a part in whether or not someone enjoys a book.

What a great entry. Thank you, I know that it will help me.

I know I will like a book if I enjoy the author's voice and the charcaters, after reading a few pages.

Another thing I may bring up in a group discussion are archetypes. We all favor certain themes and know we'll enjoy a book using them. i.e. I like people in disguise stories, such as a woman disguised as a man, or a princess disguised as a farm girl. If I see this on the cover copy, it may induce me to buy the book.

Usually I just pick up a book and know in a minute from the blurb, cover, and first page, if I want to read it.
But I have picked books up that I couldn't read no matter how I tried. My brain shuts down and will not allow it. Kinda strange but true.