Shellhead
07-14-2008, 08:02 AM
Yesterday, I read a trashy paperback crime thriller, as fast as I could. The book was "The Guilty" by Jason Pinter. It wasn't a particularly good book. The writing was pedestrian. The plot was somewhat predictable. The characters were shallow and somewhat unrealistic. But it was a page-turner, and I couldn't stop reading. As I ended each chapter, I would briefly consider setting the book aside and getting back to it later, then go ahead and read the next chapter anyway. I did take a break mid-book to run some errands, then came home and finished it off.
What is it about these page-turners that makes them so hard to put down? There is definitely an exciting enough plot that moves forward at a good pace, but that can't be the only reason. My theory is that these books tend to make for fast reading because they have so many familiar elements that immersion is easy.
Specifically, there are a lot of cliches in your average page-turner. The setting tends to be modern and familiar, a well-known American city or maybe the suburbs. The characters are shallow enough that you can get to know them quickly, but have a few familiar quirks shared by either the reader or someone the reader knows. But the cliches really seal the deal, enabling the reader to glide through the plot without pause for reflection. A more challenging read might knock the typical reader out of the story, slowing the momentum of the reading.
What is it about these page-turners that makes them so hard to put down? There is definitely an exciting enough plot that moves forward at a good pace, but that can't be the only reason. My theory is that these books tend to make for fast reading because they have so many familiar elements that immersion is easy.
Specifically, there are a lot of cliches in your average page-turner. The setting tends to be modern and familiar, a well-known American city or maybe the suburbs. The characters are shallow enough that you can get to know them quickly, but have a few familiar quirks shared by either the reader or someone the reader knows. But the cliches really seal the deal, enabling the reader to glide through the plot without pause for reflection. A more challenging read might knock the typical reader out of the story, slowing the momentum of the reading.