After I wrote my second reading pet peeves post, I realized I should probably add some positive content about things that I really like to see when I’m reading a book. Sometimes when you’re reading, there are certain aspects or inclusions that will just make you enjoy a book a little bit more than if they were left out. While there are definitely things that peeve me when I’m reading a book, there are also a lot of things that I think heighten the experience. Those are the things I aim to include here. Again, just like the pet peeves, these are just personal preferences of things I like.
- Detailed Maps
If I’m reading a fantasy novel and there isn’t a detailed map at the beginning, something is wrong. I absolutely love the detailed maps that show all the places described and discussed in the book. For one, it helps me picture distances in novels where people are journeying frequently. In general, I have terrible spatial awareness, so it’s really hard for me to picture the locations of cities if they’re only described. Having a map (and a detailed one!) really helps me picture the setting the writer is describing, and that helps me become more involved in the story. - In-depth magical or scientific explanations
This one is definitely a preference that some people will not share. I really enjoy when an author has thought out the explanations for their magic systems or when an author has really put the research into their Sci-Fi novel. Of course, these books are fiction, so the author can say, “It’s that way because I said so.” In that case, the reader requires more suspension of disbelief. It also leaves many unanswered questions that, for me, can leave a book feeling unresolved. When I’m reading a novel and they introduce a type of magic or material that exists only in this world, my first thought is usually, “Wow, how does that work?” To have this question answered in-depth is supremely satisfying. This is also why I like Sci-Fi writers like Michael Crichton who extensively research their topics to make the science (at least somewhat) believable. While the technical jargon may be frustrating to some, I want to know the feasibility of the idea, so I really enjoy the thoroughly researched approach. - Morally complex or ambiguous characters
In life, I think most people fall into the category of morally complex. Some people have very clear-cut values, but whenever I see someone with this staunch approach, I often think it’s because they’ve never experience a situation where those values have been truly tested. I think it’s very easy to sit on a moral high horse when no one is trying to knock you down. For people who have -been through some things- they often have a more morally complex approach to life where each situation is treated individually, rather than having any sort of moral certainty. Reading characters like this feels much more relatable to me than reading a character who has a strict code of ethics, so I really enjoy these types of novels. As for morally ambiguous characters, I just think they’re fun. I like the idea of a character who may not operate logically or morally, but gets shit done. - Witty narration, dialogue, or banter
I’m a really big fan of books that have narrators with a personality. I like the sarcastic narrator who seems to make fun of the characters as he or she discusses them, and I like the narrator who makes quips about society as they’re describing a situation. A great example of this type of narrator can be seen in most of Jane Austen’s novels. While you could argue that it isn’t a narrator, it’s just her own voice (and I think this is probably true), she is still narrator the story of her characters. It’s extremely witty and pokes at the societal stereotypes of the time, which is something I enjoy tremendously. Then, there are books with really witty dialogue or banter. This requires an “a little goes a long way” approach, but when done well I think it’s really fun to read. A great example of this would be nearly all of Neil Gaiman’s novels. I think he is probably a very funny guy. - Rough-edged pages (deckle edged)
This doesn’t have anything to do with the writing of the book itself, but I love the deckle edge style book pages. If you’re unfamiliar with that term, these are the books where the pages don’t line up all the way at the end. It looks like they’re alternating between a shorter and longer length of page, giving a “rough” cut look to the edge. To me, these are just more pleasing to look at than the smooth-edge book pages. I’m glad they’ve come back in style. - Positive examples of friendship and platonic love
I will never not appreciate great friendships in books. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite book series for this reason, specifically. Sam and Frodo, Merry and Pippin, Legolas and Gimli, and so on, are all great friendship pairings. Plus, in general, all of the characters in the novels consistently support and make sacrifices for one another, and there is very slight romance involved all things told. While romance is something many people think about (constantly it seems, oy vey), I wish we put more emphasis on great friendships in books (and media in general). When I read a book where there are strong, positive friendships, and the characters stay friends (rather than get boo’d up), I give props to the author for subverting the “stories must have some kind of central romance” trend. - Slow-burn romances
Speaking of, I’m also a big fan of a slow-burn romance. I try to avoid reading romance in general because that’s usually the least interesting part of the story to me, but if I AM going to read it, I like it to be a nice journey. Unfortunately, I’m not a big fan of the brash, dramatic romances that we often see. It gives me anxiety, actually. I don’t like that. Instead, I like romances where the characters eventually work their way to one another, and the overall plot/action mainly revolves around something external that the characters are dealing with. I have a post about this, but T. Kingfisher’s novels are a good example of novels where there is some slight romance, but it’s not a focal point of any of her books (at least not ones that I’ve read). - Strong setting description
In my last post, I mentioned that I dislike overzealous description, which is true. However, I do enjoy fairly detailed descriptions of settings or areas. My ideal type of description is the type that describes the things your mind won’t automatically fill in. For example, if I say the word “dungeon”, you’re probably picturing a stony, dark, possibly damp area. In that case, I don’t need to spend ages describing that. Instead, I can describe what’s within the dungeon that you’re not automatically picturing. Are there cells? Candles? Lanterns? Chains? Does it smell damp and earthy, or more like prisoner pee? These are the things I need to know! I also like descriptions of nature in general, because nature is pretty.
So, there you have it! My reading soft-spots. These are things that I really appreciate whenever I see them in a book, and I definitely gravitate towards books of this style if I’m not actively seeking out new materials or experiences.
The Lit Wiz