Books Which Work and Those Which Don’t by Allison Symes

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

There are few books which have flopped for me. There are some I won’t read due to personal taste, my faith etc., but everyone has likes and dislikes.


What I dislike is finding a book that looks promising, I read, and it falls flat. Life is too short for wasted reads! In these thankfully rare cases, I realise fairly early this will be a dud and I stop reading it. 


The books and stories which work take me to other worlds, show me things about this one I hadn’t considered before, inform me, entertain me, and remind me of why I love reading. I adore books and stories like that. My tastes include non-fiction, historical, crime, as well as flash fiction and short story collections, novels, novellas etc. 


Those which don’t work turn an interesting subject matter, such as history, into a dull list and too much academic jargon for non-fiction. For fiction, characters which fail to engage me means I’m unlikely to read much of their story. I have to understand the character and where they’re coming from. Once I’ve got that, I will follow the story.

I am deterred by too much swearing (as it can become boring). I have no problems with swearing where it is necessary to the story and character but I have come across those tales where every other word is of this ilk. If you’re using that kind of language when your character isn’t under stress, what words would you use when they are in deep trouble? 


Occasionally I can see this could be part of a character portrayal but I think even that is limited. I wouldn’t want every character in a book f-ing and blinding all the time. I might see the point of one or two doing so.

The novel The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey (1951) changed my mind about Richard III. Do check it out. It’s a slim book but wonderfully written. It lays out the case for Richard III’s innocence (in the presumed murders of the Princes in the Tower) as part of the overall story arc. It is the only novel which has changed my mind about someone, ever. Now that is a book which works!


Working out what makes a book fail or succeed is a challenge to me as a writer but I can take these points and apply what is good to my work. The books which fail will show me what not to do. That is more useful than it might sound. If I’m not gripped by a character, I can work out why. Then make sure my characters aren’t guilty of the same thing. 

I don’t want to be bored by my writing or reading. It is only courtesy (and sensible) to make sure I don’t do what the “failed” books have done for me. I have no wish to inflict that on anyone else!


Comments

Nick Garlick said…
Excellent post. Agree totally about The Daughter of Time. A very convincing argument. And a good story too.
18 July 2023 at 11:26
Allison Symes said…
Many thanks, Nick.
19 July 2023 at 17:46
Peter Leyland said…
Truth is the daughter of time, I remember that quote from somewhere. I too love the book and the way Adam Grant solves the puzzle from his sick bed. Josephine Tey's stylish crime novel is wonderful. Thanks for the post.
20 July 2023 at 09:24
Allison Symes said…
You're welcome, Peter, and many thanks.
20 July 2023 at 09:40
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