Ottawa Library

recipe card

INGREDIENTS OF BOOK APPEAL pizza
Books are to the mind what food is to the stomach. In choosing the right book to satisfy your hunger, it helps to compare reading to eating. Books available in many different flavors appeal to various tastes, so this can be a complex task.

To further complicate matters, reader moods are continuously changing. Sometimes fast food satisfies your appetite, while at other times you may desire a really classy atmosphere or a meatier taste, something you can really sink your teeth into. At times you may be ravenous for a high-calorie meal, while at others it’s best to eat light.                        


Just as there are various types of restaurants, there are various genres of books. Perhaps you’re in the mood for Italian or Mexican cuisine, maybe a mystery or western sounds good. How a dish is presented can greatly contribute to your enjoyment. A talented author combines various ingredients in unique ways to cook up a book you can’t resist.
CHARACTERS
PsychologicaldiamondInteriordiamondComplex motivationsdiamondFully developed people
FOCUS
STORY
Exterior SituationsdiamondEventsdiamondAction
LIGHT
HumordiamondRomance
STYLE
SERIOUS
DarkdiamondDramaticdiamondViolence
FAST
Moves quicklydiamondShort chaptersdiamondLots of dialogue
PACE
SLOW
Complex plotdiamondDeep themesdiamondLots of description
PAST | HISTORICAL
Interesting location
SETTING:
TIME | PLACE

PRESENT | FUTURE
Location not essential
GENTLE | Clean
LANGUAGE
GRITTY | Strong