Armchair Book Expo is an online book conference that takes place this year from May 31st-June 4th. Every day bloggers take part in different discussion posts, twitter chats, and even an Instagram challenge. Today we have a choice of topics between What Do Readers Want? & Let’s Collaborate & Listen. I’ve elected to take part in the former.
What Do Readers Want?: What makes or breaks a book? How do we rate the books, or determine if it is good literature or a good story? What do we want from an author event? How does diversity representation fit into all of this?
My own wants when it comes to books have been very fluid since joining the book blogging community. What I may have liked a couple of years ago, may not satisfy me today. I think it’s safe to say that my standards have risen. I expect more from books in terms of characterization, world-building, and diversity. I personally like character-driven novels and feel that I’m more likely to forgive a lack of good world-building if I find the characters truly engaging.
How a book makes me feel is also a factor in how I consume books and rate them. Do I read with my head or my heart? I think it’s a little of both. When I read a book, I think about characterization, storylines, the writing, and world-building. But any book that doesn’t make me feel something, won’t end up as a five-star for me. I want authors to move me with their stories, I want to agonize over what happens next, I want to feel emotionally invested in the characters.
There’s a huge arbitrary component to answering a question like this and for every reader, their expectations for a book are different. What may ruin a book for me could be dismissed by another reader and vice versa. What makes or breaks a book really depends on the reader: what they expect to get from a book, how they interpret what’s on the page, their tolerance for certain shortcomings, as well as other factors.
What the most important factor for you when you pick up a book? Do you read with your head or your heart? Is one more important than the other? Let’s discuss in the comments and leave a link to your own Armchair Book Expo post in the comments!
A Kernel of Nonsense 
This is so cool! I wish I had heard about this sooner or I would have participated. Great discussion post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I joined last year and this year and it’s a really fun experience. Hope you can join next year. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too want to feel something, even if it’s as simple as a lightness of escape for awhile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, sometimes a simple escape is all I need from a book.
LikeLike
It’s funny how the more you read, the higher your expectations rise. I try to stay away from books I loved years ago after being disappointed with a reread. Tastes change so guess it’s better to move forward instead of looking back. I think that I read more with my heart, but my head does jump in every now and again if something is illogical or there’s obvious errors. Darn head! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I go back and forth between wanting to reread old favorites and having that nagging feeling that it might not live up to my expectations anymore. Haha, it’s always one or the other that spoils things for you.
LikeLike
Since I’ve started blogging, I’ve definitely become more critical as a reader.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I’m a more critical reader as well, but I also feel like I get more out of reading as a result.
LikeLike
Hi Alicia. So much fun to be paired up with you for the comment challenge!
To react to your discussion post; I love a good Fantasy novel with a totally new world, new people and a very thrilling plot! I also love books like Me Before You and thrillers from writers like Karin Slaughter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Esther, I’m so excited to be partnered with you. I love a fantasy that takes me to a different world, but emotional books are a definite fav and who doesn’t love to be scared every once in a while?
LikeLike
Every book definitely needs to make me feel the feels for me to enjoy it. It’s hard to like a book you have no emotional investment in. I try to judge a book with both my heart and my head, but my heart always seems to win the battle of which will have more influence. 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, it can be so personal. Here are my answers: https://wordsandpeace.com/2017/06/01/armchair-book-expo-day-2-what-readers-want-collaboration/
LikeLiked by 1 person
And it always changes overtime because people evolve.
LikeLike
I think I read primarily with my head. I’ve been called nit-picky, and I was an English major, so I think I have a tendency to look at books from an academic standpoint. That said, though, it takes a lot to make me cry, so if I get emotional reading a book, I almost always give it 5 stars. Here’s my post about what I want in books: http://www.readathomemom.com/2017/06/what-do-i-want-from-book.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find that so interesting. I think there is something to be said about being objective when you pick up a book, but it’s hard to discard that emotional factor when it really pulls at your heartstrings.
LikeLike
Since I’m mostly a mood reader, I read with greatly with my heart. I have to be feeling it. But that doesn’t mean my head won’t ruin the book for me. If I can’t wrap my mind around the universe or there are too many technical problems, I won’t be able to get into the story. I read largely to escape life for a while so if I can’t lose myself in the story then I’ll probably not rate it at the top. You can read more about what I want and ways I collaborate
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, sometimes an emotional component isn’t enough to overcome questionable world-building, for example. I read to be transported somewhere else as well.
LikeLike
Well, you totally got me thinking. I believe I read with my heart, because I can be very forgiving of plot holes and whatnot if I love the characters and feel invested.
Sam @ WLABB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who can beat engaging characters? I’m reminded of the review you just wrote for The Unlikelies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just pick up what sounds good. But when making purchases, I sometimes only go by the cover which so far has only benefited me. Fingers crossed I never get burned by a gorgeous cover. Thank you for sharing. Happy ABEA!
Gabriella
Gabriella M Reads
My Armchair BEA post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you never get burned by a gorgeous cover! I can’t say I have had your luck, but I will cross my fingers for you. Happy Armchair Book Expo to you!
LikeLike
Its rare for me to be emotionally involved in a book. I’m usually pretty analytical when I’m reading, even if my reviews don’t always reflect what was going on in my head at the time.
Armchair Book Expo day 2: What do readers want? and Collaboration
LikeLiked by 1 person
How interesting. Can I ask what genres you usually read? I think I’d be a much more analytical reader if I picked up more mysteries.
LikeLike
Great post, Alicia! This = AGREE! “How a book makes me feel is also a factor in how I consume books and rate them.”
Loving the characters or connecting to them is always a must. It’s the characters that keep us reading, or it is for me. 🙂
You sum everything up wonderfully in that last paragraph! We all like something different and what bothers me as a reader, you may find perfectly fine. So true. And thank goodness there are so many authors with varied styles who invite us into worlds that enchant. 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland, Alicia. Always great to chat with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Feeling that connection with a character makes me feel more invested in the story. Yes, I’m so glad we have so many different books to choose from because we can’t all love the same book.
LikeLike
So glad I am participating this year! This is so fun!
Armchair BEA Cafinated Reads Day 2
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is my second year and I’m having such a fun time this year!
LikeLike
Wonderful post! I really love your point about preferences changing over time. I have found that my preferences have been changing recently too. I’m much less into YA novels than I was just a few months ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that different genres can appeal to us at different times in our lives. I always find it interesting when you read a book you haven’t picked up in years and find out it’s no longer the kind of book that speaks to you. Kind of sad in a way, but people don’t stay the same, you know?
LikeLike