What makes a good book for most?

History,the Civil War,and Bible.

teaching life skills in an entertainig way

Different things for different folks. My favorite genres are science fiction, historical fiction, alternate history, historical non-fiction, biographies and suspense (fiction).

@rahm_sahriv – mind giving me a few titles?

When it transports me to a differnt time and or place.

Any book that makes a world in which a story can take place without relying on “Good vs Evil, Light vs Dark” bullshit. That pretty much negates your preferences, @YoH . . . lol

Anything that proves to me the author gave a shit about humanity, and respected the audience enough to share that faith.

@zophu – have you read anything like this?

lol, not yet. still looking

@darby_shaw Sure- MOAB is my Washpot by Stephen Fry, World in the Balance series by Harry Turtldove (anything by Harry Turtledove for alternate history), The Green Flag (forget the author but it is a history of Irish rebellion), Dies the Fire by S.M Stirling (anything by him as well), A Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin, The Last Lion (biography of Churchill, here again I forget the author, don’t have my book shelves handy, sorry), Lord of the Rings series by Tolkien and anything by Tom Clancy (particularly Patriot Game and Hunt for Red October).

A good book is one that sits on my night stand and never gets read!! ;)

Fantasy, The Bible, Thriller

The Bible is a pretty great work of fiction, I think it gets a bad rap from holy rollers and it definitely worthy of a read. It has a little bit of everything in it.

I tore a crappy fantasy book in half the other day because I felt it had me trapped in its shitty little fake world. I get offended when I’m presented with anything that I’m supposed to care about more than the creators did, as people should I think. Probably why I haven’t payed my cable bill in like 3 years.

@rahm_sahriv – thanks, let me check out harry turtledove.

@Cruiser – haha! what’s currently sitting on your nightstand?

@zophu – so you want something real, something that could really affect you. what’s your favorite book?

I don’t really know. Haven’t tried many books in the past few years. All the books that have really effected me, I read when I was too young to understand that the authors were fucking with me. Maybe what I want can’t come from a book. Maybe what I want . . . is love. . .

meh, I don’t know. Dune was pretty good the first time I read it, before I understood how nerdy it was (I was 15 and didn’t know anything about it, just found it in a box of a neighbors old crap.) It’s harder to browse for books than it is music, movies or tv shows and I get let down too easily, hence the book tearing. I’ve been checking on new releases for the past few months. reading Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Which is boring, but complicated enough to keep your mind busy. Probably wont destroy that one.

@darby_shaw “Blink” One chapter to go!;)

@Cruiser – Gladwell’s books are good. I like the Outliers. :)

@darby_shaw Very nice!! That is next on my list

Character development is the most important element of literature for me. The genre can be anything from historical novels to scifi to mystery or fantasy, but I want characters who are believable. By that I mean they have had experiences and reactions to experiences that are understandable, passions and quirks that I can react to or identify with, and values that become evident in their actions and passions.

@lynfromnm – right. a character that is almost real you might wanna have coffee with him.

@darby shaw Yes, and when you’ve finished the book you wonder how that character is doing now.