World, Writing, Wealth discussion

What, after you finish a novel, makes you think 'that was a good/great/amazing book?'

Does it simply have to be entertaining, or impactful, or both?

Entertaining and memorable for fiction, helpful and thought-provoking for - non..

It has to keep me wanting to read it. I think that's the key for me.

For fiction, it has to be entertaining, but when I have finished there was something there to think further about.

One major thing I look for is that the writing is succinct. Edit and then edit again. Don't make me wade through extraneous stuff.

Scout wrote: "One major thing I look for is that the writing is succinct. Edit and then edit again. Don't make me wade through extraneous stuff."

succinct is a good word, it is succinct.

Succinct is not how you would describe either Gravity's Rainbow or Anna Karenina yet I enjoyed both very much. Entertaining? No, but very moving and both impacted me deeply. So that is my answer. I like a book to impact me at the end of it not necessarily entertain me throughout it. Of course when I read noir fiction like that of the master, Richard Stark, succinct applies very aptly and those type of books do entertain.

That would also apply to Moby -Dick. I think all could have used some editing and still have had the same impact. Russian novels especially.

Entertaining.