I know the best combination when reading a novel is to have good prose and a good story. However, in many cases, novels don’t always have both. Most often if a novel has good prose, it’s difficult to understand, takes more time to read, and is hard to get into (e.g. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen). Whereas, a novel with a good story, is usually easy to understand, a “fast read,” very easy to get into, and in many instances has sub-standard writing. (I don’t think I need to name names. ;) ) Which do you prefer to read?
Personally, it all comes down to why I’m reading a particular novel. Am I reading it to gain knowledge, increase my vocabulary, or to become well-read? Or, am I reading it for entertainment, to escape the mundane, etc.? For an everyday read, I would choose a good story over good prose. Although I find eloquently written works to be refreshing from poorly written ones, I just don’t seem to enjoy them as much because it takes more effort to read them. Let’s face it; I’m lazy and I want things to be easy. ;) But, on the other hand, I have enjoyed reading a few “classics” in the last couple of years. I’ve enjoyed broadening my horizons and becoming well-read. I think the key for me is to find a good balance so that reading is more than just entertainment all the time.
I appreciate a good story. I like a book that I can get into quickly and not work at it. I like it when I get to the point where I can not possibly put the book down. Which usually means that I end up making dinner, doing laundry or bathing a child with my book in one and and my other hand doing the task at hand.
Oh I definitely read it for the story. All those books that I had to read for my english classes in college were a snore! I love reading, but most of the books I had to read in college I never finished because they were boring.
Read Goose Girl finally and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also read Princess Academy and liked it, but River Secrets was just Eh.
For me personally, story is more important. I do appreciate and respect beautiful or witty prose, but it’s not what makes me choose to read a book.
I guess you could put me in the middle. It really just depends on my mood. Right now, for instance, I’m into easy books with a good story. Other times I really like a challenge. I like books that make me think, analyze, and discuss–but only if they have a good story to go with it. Sometimes I like to find out why “classics” are really classics. And sometimes, I really like me some Shakespeare, but only very, very sparingly. So on the whole, story wins, but not at the complete expense of prose.
I love a good story of course. But I have been enjoying classics also…I couldn’t get into them at first, because I’m kinda slow. But I love reading how well written they are. If I’m trying to escape I want it easy and quick…so I guess I’m kind of in the middle too. It just depends on my mood.
I’m all about a good story. Books that take too much work, I just don’t have time to read. Maybe when I’m 80 and have nothing but time to kill, then I’ll read those kinds of books more often but right now, I just need the quick escape from reality and not an English lesson.
I’m just like Chrstie. I love reading for fun. I’ve purposefully not picked up heavy topic books recommended to me because I’m just not at a place right now that I care to read that stuff.
I love Fahrenheit 451 because I had to slow myself down as a reader to enjoy his delicious imagery and world. Bradbury is a master.
I compare junk lit (Twilight included) to junk food. Tasty, fun, but not filling. Classics and authors deeply rooted in their genre (Pratchett and Diana Wynn Jones for instance) add a depth and meatiness to their books that is worth it.
Great blog, I’ve added you to my reader. I’ll be back!
Excellent question, Jenni! I will forever love the classics & definitely find myself re-reading Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Louisa May Alcott, L.M. Montgomery, and Edith Wharton books more than any other novels on my shelves. But while I spent my teenage & young adult years reading classic after classic, these days I find myself drawn toward the YA section more than any other.
Perhaps it is partially because heavy prose is difficult to digest when my reading time is constantly interrupted by the category five hurricane of my two small children, but I honestly like YA & think I would prefer it over other genres even if I had more solid chunks of quiet, uninterrupted time to devote to reading.
YA prose tends to be accessible, and there is something of an innocence in novels aimed toward the young adult market that I still really like. This is not to say that YA never tackles dark or serious subjects, it certainly does, and sometimes with more immediacy and elegance than its ‘adult’ counterparts. But in general, I feel that YA characters aren’t expected to be quite as jaded and disillusioned with their lives. That lends an overall element of hopefulness to the genre that I particularly like, and it seems to suit my personality. Anyway, I guess this is my typically long-winded way of saying that these days I prefer great stories over impressive prose.
Your blog post just inspired me to write a question along these lines on my blog today. In fact, I’ve mentioned you with a link to this blog entry. Hope that’s okay. :) You can read my post here —> http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2010/02/question-sunday-what-do-you-look-for-in.html