Things I Like/Dislike in a Book

In response to "Writing about something you like, and then what you dislike."

Books should be able to take you somewhere, at least I think so. They should be able to transport me into Narnia or Germany or Hogwarts. A place where I can smell the chicken and rice or birthday cake. Some other universe where the crashing waves or wet grass is more alive to me than the smell of vanilla frosting in person. Where it's descriptive enough to explain sensory details like the harsh white of the sun or the taste of the moisture in the air, but vague enough that the hero can have black, brown, or great hair. Where the speaker has a voice similar to mine. Why live in the real world when you could live in a literary one?

Nothing can kill a story faster than lack of detail in setting. Are we in geometry class or the Anne Frank's house? Is it windy? Humid? Snowing? It's impossible to tell. When the Steak is just steak. Not Peppered or Juicy or Rare. Just steak. What kind of fun is laying in my room and reading if I stay there? Where every character is the same and the story line isn't climactic. What kind of story doesn't end in love or tragedy? I don't want pictures or any images from the movie, I want my imagination running at full racing force. Driving my continuing. And if I can't have that, why read at all?

Author's Note

Thank you.
-E.M.Ernst