"Book-buyers aren't attracted, by and large, by the literary merits of a novel; book buyers want a good story to take with them on the airplane, something that will first fascinate them, then pull them in and keep them turning the pages. This happens, I think, when readers recognize the people in a book, their behaviors, their surroundings, and their talk. When the reader hears strong echoes of his or her own life and beliefs, he or she is apt to become more invested in the story. I'd argue that it's impossible to make this sort of connection in a pre-meditated way, gauging the market like a racetrack tout with a hot tip."
From On Writing.
From On Writing.
That's an awesome quote that does mostly describe what I look for in books that I buy (the human element and the ability to pull me in).
ReplyDeleteWhen I read a book, if I can hear the TV in the background, the animals playing or fighting, or things said to me... it's probably not my favorite book or one that I would recommend.