What is the most important part of a book?

All or none of the above, as long as it's interesting.

ANinfinity said:

How can it be all if some of the options are conflicting and opposites?

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Because different writers do different kinds of stories in different ways. And it all depends on how each option is written.

The spine. You don't have that, the pages fall out.

page 40.

Option 8 - A well-written, character-driven story with good plotting, solid world-building, and the ability to keep me up long after bedtime turning pages.

The cover. That's how I judge a book.

Option 1 and Option 2, though neither quite nails it. Good characterization, but not necessarily deep.

My expectations of it and whether or not they're fulfilled at the end.

None of the above. The most important thing about books to me is whether they make you think. I love it when I think back about particular situations/themes even months after I've finished the book.

Huh? You described kinds of stories, not parts of stories.

It really depends. I read a wide variety of literature. Next on my reading list, once I complete Incriminating Evidence,by Sheldon Siegel, is a novel translated from Japanese into American-- The 210th Day by Soskei Natsume (1915). It could be a combination of any of the options, or none at all.

kuwisdelu said:

Huh? You described kinds of stories, not parts of stories.

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+1

The poll describes various kinds of stories, any of which might be interesting or ghastly.

The thread title asks "What is the most important part of a book?" The title above the poll asks "What is the most important aspect of a story?" These are not the same thing. Which do you mean?

I'm sorely tempted to respond "the reader" for without readers you have the proverbial tree falling in the woods with no one to hear it. But that's probably a cop out.

The most important aspect of a book depends entirely on what type of book it is. If it's a coffee-table book, the most important part of the book may truly be the images that it contains, rather than anything contained within the actual text. If it's a textbook, one hopes that the words will convey accurate information to the students who are reading them.

But if you really mean "story" rather than "book", well, it depends on what kind of story it is. Some stories are character-driven and those stories had better have interesting characters. Others stories may depend on plot or action or whatever; there's no one answer to your question.

Except that, there is, in a way: every single written story communicates a tale to the reader. Every single one uses words to communicate with those who are reading it. So I think that, in the end, the most important aspect of a story (and also of a book) is that it be well-written, that it's author has chosen its words carefully and laid them down with care.

The words making it up.
Without them, there would be no story.

The mud flaps, or whatever those things are called. I love using those as bookmarks.

Everything good about options 1 through 7, plus free ice cream.

I vote "Other" for no reason

I'm not so interested in plot formula or genre. I really don't want to read a whole stack of books that are variations on a theme.

the part that i can inject myself into and forget about myself




page 40

I lose interest quickly.

I vote for strong characterisation and strong story.

A good literary style is always a bonus.

ChaosTitan said:

Option 8 - A well-written, character-driven story with good plotting, solid world-building, and the ability to keep me up long after bedtime turning pages.

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I voted for 2, but the above is more what I look for, without the world-building. I like stories set in this world.