Appeal Characteristics: The Art of Finding a Good Book

Have you ever had that awful moment? 

There's nothing worse than finishing an excellent book, and finding you’ve become so attached to the characters and immersed in their story that any hope of finding something equally as gripping seems dashed.  Don't despair: something truly liberating that I have learned to appreciate while working in a library is that there is always another great book to read. Being taught to think more about what appeals to me about the books I enjoy has allowed me to let go of mediocre plots and expect more.

Newly-appointed library staff attend courses on ‘Reader’s Advisory’, where we learn to help you find good books by considering the notion of ‘appeal characteristics’, the elements of a book that determine why people enjoy reading them. Understanding what appeals to you personally will aid you in your search for your next great read. Such characteristics might include storyline, tone, pace, setting, characters and writing style.

For example, I was drawn into Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See by its character-driven storyline, the emotional intensity and building momentum. The WWII setting was also important to me because it gave the book a historical context and allowed me to experience vicariously the emotional cost of war through its characters. Doerr’s lush, descriptive writing style was key, and I was not at all surprised when he won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize. It’s the sort of book that appeals to a lot of people, hence the award, but not everyone's reading tastes are the same.

You might prefer something fast-paced, plot-driven, and action-filled, or something quiet and contemplative. Often it’s satisfying to escape the cares of the present by reading a series written with a complex world-building storyline and a large cast of characters. There are endless possibilities and ways to describe a book’s appeal, and the sheer variety of books on offer can often be a bit overwhelming.

Keeping a reading journal is a great way to pinpoint the elements of a story that appealed to you, and to note down books to recommend to your friends. Being a visual person I like to keep a board of ‘favourite book worlds’ on Pinterest, which I can view whenever the mood takes me. There are lots of websites that can help you match your reading tastes with lists of books, such as Whichbook. And if you’re enjoying a particular author Fantastic Fiction puts authors’ works into series order and lists books that authors themselves recommend.

If you're short on time don’t forget that our staff are always happy to help in your search. Librarians live for this sort of challenge. Just browsing the shelves and reading the back covers will also give you some clues. Publishing companies provide hints in their choice of fonts and artwork and most will include quick descriptions using appeal characteristics on the back cover, such as ‘a suspenseful page turner’ or ‘a heart-warming story about family’ to allow you to choose at a glance.

No matter how you go about laying your hands on your next great book, taking the time to consider what you actually want from it will make the process all the more rewarding and the idea of moving on from the last book a lot less daunting.

Fiona Knudson   |   Lending Services Supervisor