What do you most want when you read fiction?

[Hearse Pileup]

Inspiration, and interesting story. Something evocative and engaging. Something that helps me feel like the author can enrich my understanding of the human condition. Failing that, a nice turn of phrase, a new perspective, or a compelling narrative.

I am of an artistic persuasion, but even if I wasn't I think really what I'm looking for is to be affected. For the story to resonate with me on some level, and hopefully influence how I see things in some small way.

I often resort to Project Gutenberg when I've thought of fiction I want to read.

 

[sojourner]

Well written, well structured, imaginative, poetic (think Ray Bradbury), tight prose (not rambling nonsense taking up 3 pages when 1 would suffice), and just a really good story, that doesn't insult my intelligence, spoonfeed me, but isn't so far up its own arse that it's unreadable.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

I don't want to see books open with lines like 'it is a truth universally acknowledged...'

But what Poot and maomao said

Mind you, I can only think of one book which starts in exactly that way.

 

[Pickman's model]

Mind you, I can only think of one book which starts in exactly that way.

there is another one as well as pride and prejudice and zombies

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

there is another one as well as pride and prejudice and zombies

Well that's my Christmas present list sorted.