As a reader, I look for a story that grips me from the beginning. It maybe the opening line, a well defined character, or an inciting scene. To become quickly immersed into a narrative, means the author has done a good job. We also tend to have certain authors we read as we know their skill in storytelling and the genre they write.

Choosing a book to read is a personal preference and a gift card is a good way to delight the reader in your family. Unless of course you know them very well and their reading likes and dislikes.

There are many ways a book can be defined as a good book.

1. A strong opening. A sentence or paragraph that compels you to continue reading.
2. Well defined and relatable characters.
3. A well written constructed plot.
4. Believable dialogue.
5. The writer’s style absorbs you into the story.
6. Good use of description to let you ‘see’ the location/characters.
7. Great tension in the story line.
8. An original tale.
9. A sense of expectation of what happens next.
10. A satisfactory conclusion.

How do you determine your choice of a book?