I have read books with very little plot which were of an astoundingly high quality in terms of writing (to wit, Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series), and I have read books with very busy plots and very little skill ( eg. Da Vinci Code). Which element of a novel do you think is more important?
2006-09-23 18:15:04 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Quality of writing is more important 99% of the time! As you mentioned it, DaVinci will be my example here. It was complete swill because, although the plot was full, you could tell what was going to happen by page 28.
However, there are times when quality can take backseat to plot. This is when the plot is extremely well thought out and, to use a dangerous word, deep. My personal example of this is 1984. I thought the book was very poorly written (not something I always think of Orwell), but I kept reading because the story was interesting.
2006-09-23 18:21:18 · answer #1 · answered by Esma 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They're equally important. On the one hand, quality of writing is important because let's face it: there are only so many plots. Pretty much everything you read, especially if it's in one genre, is like everything else in the genre. Example: romance novels: boy meets girl, they fall in love, conflict ensues, the conflict is resolved, the end. Every single love story is a variation of that plot.
On the other hand, a busy plot could be said to have more importance, because hey, it doesn't matter how fancy your prose is if you don't have anything to say.
2006-09-24 22:39:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely, what is more important is the quality of writing. A busy plot, no matter how exciting, will leave you with nothing significant after reading it (ex. The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter, etc.). But beautiful writing from an author will remain alive in your memory and inspire you (ex. Marquez/Hemingway/Shakespeare, Steinbeck, etc.).
2006-09-24 02:04:59 · answer #3 · answered by WWMD 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Quality of writing. Hell was having a non-stop 20 hour road trip and only audio book in the car was Da Vinci Code.
2006-09-24 01:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by larry n 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A mixture of both would be ideal...
...but if I had to chose one over the other, I would go for quality of writing. I, too, have read poorly written books with busy plots. I mean, I was entertained enough to finish them, but I otherwise I wasn't all that impressed.
However, with books such as "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf--they're not exactly "busy," but the style of writing is so elegant and amazing that it stays with me much longer than a poorly written book would do.
2006-09-24 02:16:01 · answer #5 · answered by willow oak 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A combination of both:
A progressing plot with progressive charecters
A plot that is written well.
Combine those and you have a good book.
Laurell K Hamilton - Circus of the damned or Blue moon or Micah - Danse Macabre
Anne Rices - all her work in general but mainly the vampire chronicles
2006-09-24 01:33:27 · answer #6 · answered by Te In Lamia contactus me placere 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you ask me to choose, I will choose quality of writing, that busy plot will keep the story fast paced but it definitely hook the readers in. The main importance is the story consistency is the quality of writing is a major role of an author.
2006-09-24 01:29:18 · answer #7 · answered by Eve W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as a writer... I feel that the plot may be good, but you want the characters to grow, and ther high quality or writing is OK, but if there is no plot,no idea in which to carry the plot,no life to the story, no amount of high quality of writing can save it. point in case: " gigli" that movie with ben and JLo. plot was ok, writing was ok, and did it get off the ground? No, it was rated one of the worst movies in history! So, I say plot. If the plot is good,the story will practically write itself.
2006-09-24 01:27:32 · answer #8 · answered by Dragonflygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I can go either way. It all depends on my mood.
When I want to read something funny, I go for David Sedaris.
When I want to read something gritty, I go for some Nikki Turner or a gangster book.
My most recent read was Geek Love. The book was narrated by a humped back, albino midget, the sister of the clan. She was the normal of the family and therefore the least loved by her normal parents. The parents took doses of medication during conception to successfully breed children who would star in their own carnival. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, most interesting book I've ever read.
2006-09-24 01:34:38 · answer #9 · answered by Marleaux 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quality in all things.
Although an easy read and certainly not literature, I don't feel like Da Vinci code lack quality...until the end anyway.
I have had two items published.
2006-09-24 01:16:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋