So I stopped by Book Daze a few days ago and was fascinated by Li’s post on reader doorways, a concept by Nancy Pearl of Book Lust fame. Pearl defines reader doorways as the appeal characteristics that make a book appealing to the reader and which (naturally) serve as the doorway to the book. She divides these into four categories:
Character
Language
Setting
Story
If a reader’s doorway happens to be character, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the reader will have no interest in the language, setting, or story. Some books (I would assume only the finest) may be equally strong in each category (The Demon’s Lexicon comes to mind). Most of the time, though, one doorway will predominate either in the book or for the reader. Identifying it is the key to figuring out other books you or others (when giving a recommendation) would like. One way of doing this is noticing how you usually describe a book, either verbally or in writing. What you choose to talk about first is often your main doorway.
Some interesting points came up in the comments. Can your doorway change over time or change according to the genre? For example, scifi/fantasy relies heavily on the setting (worldbuilding) so that may be your main doorway in that genre, whereas character may be the doorway to a contemporary romance, as the story is to a mystery and language is to literary fiction, etc.
To the first question, I would say yes, your doorway can change over time, because mine sure has! When I was a teenager I always read for story. I didn’t think I was at the time but looking back I’d say I fit the description of a RR (Reluctant Reader), so I only read books that were quick to hook me and fast-paced, exciting, and interesting enough to hold my attention.
As I started to get back into reading after university I slowly morphed from a story girl to a language girl (reading a lot of Jane Austen, Bronte sisters, nineteenth-century British fiction and classic/literary fiction). During this period you could either give me striking prose, then a lush setting, and finally respectable characters and story. Seriously, the plot could drag in the middle or have characters to which I felt ambivalent and it would still be appealing.
Now as a book blogger I think I’m more drawn into a book by the setting and the characters. I’m not always sure which one is more dominant. Characters I can’t connect to fairly quickly in any genre, though. is a deal breaker in ways that a far-from-perfect setting, story, and language are not. For fantasy I think my main doorway is setting, with character a close second. Doesn’t reading a fantasy that has a world that you don’t care for defeat the purpose of reading fantasy? This is what is so appealing to me about books by Juliet Marillier and Ilona Andrews: the intricate worldbuilding. Otherwise my doorway for contemporary romance, chick lit, and contemporary YA is character.
Enough of my rambling. What about you – what is your reader doorway, has it changed over time, and does it depend on the genre?
I think that the beauty of writing is my “in.” Like you, I was a storyline reader as a child and young adult as I learned to read fluently. Then, I took the classics challenge and read voraciously to learn the culture of reading. When I began teaching at the Y my reading tastes included many of the reading theorists such as Umberto Eco (Six Walks in the Fictional Woods), Now, I read to relax (gasp) as well as to learn. I find myself reading many genres including a lot of nonfiction. I love the challenge of ideas and interesting characters but think that while our doorways may change as we grow intellectually, lucky for all of us, books have enough variety so that each of us can find the “right” read for our age and stage, as well as for the moment.
What a thought-provoking post, Holly. I really enjoyed this one.
Why am I not surprised?
Thank goodness for all that variety. There truly is a book for every person, moment, age, and stage.
I’m glad it was at least thought-provoking. That’s what I was going for realizing that it definitely could be said better than I did.
That’s a really interesting way to describe what readers like best about a book. Looking back on all the books I’ve read, I think my “in” has to be the characters. I have to like them in order to keep reading otherwise I might not finish the book; although I do value a story’s plot and world-building. I do believe, though, that a story could have a very basic plot but as long as the characters have strong/vibrant personalities, they can make it work. I haven’t read in many genres so I don’t know if my preferences would change but I am attempting to branch out . And I do admit that the WAY a story is told is important to me as well. I love gorgeous, imaginative writing styles and sensory-heavy prose so books like Janet Fitch’s WHITE OLEANDER & Francesca Lia Block’s WEETZIE BAT series have always had a special place in my heart
Yes, characters make or break a book for me as well. If you don’t care about them, you don’t care about anything else.
Ooh, I like how you described the kind of prose you like. Must check out those books.
Very interesting post! I’d have to say that my doorway is probably be the characters. I tend to talk about characters in most of my reviews and when I look back at my favorites, it looks like I fell in love with them because of the characters. Whenever I have a lukewarm reaction to a book, I think it’s because I can’t connect to the characters and I couldn’t empathize with what they’re going through.
I think story is a close second though because whenever I’m trying to decide what to read next, I always go for the story that I’m in the mood for.
I know! Characters are so crucial. I think all of my all-time favorites have excellently-drawn characters. It’s how you resonated with the characters and the story that will really stick with you. If I decide to add a book to the TBR based on a blogger’s review, it’s usually because I liked how they described the characters.
Premises, also are great for choosing what’s next to read.
My doorway is definitely the characters. Since I read a lot of contemporary fiction, I rely on characters a lot to make the story interesting. I can only read so much about school problems, body image or family issues and I usually rely on the characters to make each story different for me. It carries over now to when I read other genre books, too, although sometimes it’s the setting that hooks me in, or the story. I think that only works for me if I can’t find anything I can relate to with the character.
Loved reading your take on reader doorways! I don’t think “language” has ever been my dominant doorway – not to say I don’t appreciate beautiful prose, but lack of it has never been a deal-breaker for me.
I’m with you on setting and character, now they can be deal-breakers. And story is more of an ambiguous one – I read some books knowing that story is the dominant aspect, but they’re more like candy for me, fun while I’m reading but not something that sticks with me.
I understand exactly what you’re saying. Writing has never been a deal-breaker for me either. At one point thought that was the first thing I was looking for in a book. I think it helps that most poorly written books (in regards to language) don’t get published, at the least in the traditional sense (self-publishing can be entirely different).
Everyone needs a story dominant book once in awhile that may be forgettable but totally worthwhile at the time.
My doorway is currently the setting, I love really strong world building in books. Probably because I’m reading lots of fantasy, adventure and alternate reality type fiction. If I suddenly developed a need to read classics or crime thrillers, then the story would be of the upmost importance (especially in crime fiction where a good twist in the last act is pretty much obligatory).
Thing is, a good strong recommendation will always get me reading out of my Comfort Doorway and lately I’ve discovered quite a few books I’ve really enjoyed that way, and those have led on to others by the same or similar authors and so on.
It’s never-ending succession of Reader Doorways, like in those Scooby Doo chase scenes.
Comfort Doorway. I like that. You’re right about a strong rec getting you to switch things up. It’s a healthy reader thing to do.