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So, I've been thinking about books lately and their overall purpose. There have been several books I've read in the past few months, where I thought, this part could have been done better or I'd have done it this way (not that I could do it better), but then, I also think, even if I didn't love the book (or even like it), but it brought up emotion in me and made me think about things in some way (even a negative way), did the book do its job? There are certain books I did not love, but I still think about them. To me, so much of our like or dislike for a book is taste, rather than good versus bad writing.
Are there books you've read that maybe you didn't love, but you still think about? Every so often they pop into your head for no reason? Do you think a book's purpose is solely to entertain or to make us think? I suppose, in a perfect world it would be both.
xoxo -- Hilary
I would say to entertain, but yes, if it makes you think, I think it's done something, maybe not its job, but something. Food for thought!
ReplyDeleteI've read some BAD books lately. Purely bad writing. I think self-pubbed e-books have changed the game up a little, even though there are several very good self-published books. If the book is only 99 cents it should be worth the 99 cents. If you stop reading after the first five pages, it's not.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. I think books' purpose, like any art, should be to illumine the truth. That usually happens through entertainment, or sometimes through raising questions... I just read "Brave New World" and while I can't say that I liked it, or even enjoyed it particularly, I found it intriguing, profound, insightful, and well-written. It was just really hard to read, because it seemed like there were so many bad things happening!
ReplyDeleteThanks for raising this question!
To forget, to see, to feel, to think...I think a great book dives into our psyche and rambles things about... in a safe and good way.
ReplyDeleteSusan, thinking is good, though I try not to do it often! It hurts my head. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnon, I read pubbed books from big houses that I can't get through the first few pages, but it's usually a book I wouldn't normally read, so I was just not a good fit for it. Now if it's a good rat book, well, I'm a reading machine! :)
Faith, you make great points. Sometimes, I may not care for a book, but I still take something important from it! I think every book I read makes me a better writer, no matter what the book. :)
Chandara, I totally agree. Very well put. Some books even make you smell, though the one I'm reading is not bringing to mind very good ones, unless you like damp creepy basement smell! ;)
xoxo -- Hilary
I look to books for entertainment. Yes, there are some books that I like more than others, but I think all books have merit because they illicit emotion. Good or bad.
ReplyDeleteAnita, I agree! All books have merit. If you look on my goodreads, my review ratings show that! I just can't knock a book, even if it wasn't for me, because I can see clearly why others would like it! I'm also a big softy! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo -- Hilary
I do agree that whether you like a book or not is based on taste. It is very subjective. I haven't read any bad books lately. All of them have been so good. Usually if I'm reading one I really don't like, I stop reading it. Because I have WAY too many books I want to read.
ReplyDeleteI do think books can raise hard subjects, like SPEAK, and be good. And yes, I do continue to think about those.
Natalie, exactly! There is so much to read. I stop reading too and not because the book is terrible. I'm just not interested. No matter how brilliant or creative a book is, if you're not into it, you're not into it! :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent point! I do have a few books I can think of where I didn't overly enjoy the book but I couldn't stop thinking about it.
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