Discussion Best novel ever read

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by heartentice, Apr 27, 2019.

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  1. Wu Jizun

    Wu Jizun Well-Known Member

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    係一部标准水文,乜野都“竟然啥啥”,夸张形容词只有多,绝对唔少
     
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  2. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member

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    Try Lord of the Mysteries.
     
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  3. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    Hah! That doesn't surprise me. It's odd to me that books like this often get praised as one of the greatest when there is so much more interesting material out there.
     
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  4. Bright_Lucky_Star

    Bright_Lucky_Star [Previously Known as OrdinaryUser] The Blessed One

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    Zhu Xian
     
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  5. Deleted member 155674

    Deleted member 155674 Guest

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    Okay, may I know what those interesting materials you are so proud about?
    Illuminate us, wise one :blobpopcorn_cool:
     
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  6. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    Pride is exactly the problem I'm seeing: I'm just a person reading a book - there isn't anything to be proud of because I'm not the writer. But I get the feeling that some readers put way too much value into their personal tastes. And the association gets made that what they personally like is also what is good and vice versa. I don't think that this is the case at all and that there are plenty of books that I like that are just trash while there are plenty of good books that I don't have any interest in.

    So what makes a book good? In my opinion it would be books that have the following:

    - good writing
    - strong characterization
    - good use of themes and the ability to consistently maintain the mood
    - good world building
    - fun action
    - good plot
    - and the other elements that go into good fiction

    If a book doesn't score highly on these, then there's a question to be asked whether it's any good at all. However, it's still possible for such a book to be entertaining; it just can't be considered one of the best. Note that in this case I'm not specifically calling out "Reverend Insanity" as I haven't read the book, but nothing I've heard about it indicates that it's particularly good at any of this. And so the idea that it is a tough act to follow doesn't seem to hold much water.

    If you want an example of a book that actually is really good, I already suggested "the Deer and the Cauldron" earlier. It's literally so good that the majority of Chinese web novels copy major ideas from it. Hell, the writer was even aware that readers might not understand the symbolism of the title so he went out of his way to explain exactly what it meant. It's tidbits like this that separate good writers from great ones.
     
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  7. Deleted member 155674

    Deleted member 155674 Guest

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    I see your point and I respect it but I can't agree with it, these elements
    - good writing
    - strong characterization
    - good use of themes and the ability to consistently maintain the mood
    - good world building
    - fun action
    - good plot
    - and the other elements that go into good fiction
    are important, do make a good read but not a good novel, in fact, I read chapter 1 from the novel you recommended "the Deer and the Cauldron" and it lacks few things and this is just my opinion as a reader, now I don't know about the good writing (since I read the translated version and found some errors and typos perhaps because of the translation), secondly, I don't know about a good theme since I only read one chapter as I said but it doesn't really have the ability to consistently maintain the mood, in fact it doesn't, as for the other elements you mentioned they do exist but in degrees (I am just saying this based on one chapter so my judgement is subjective)
    Now, what makes a good novel as you said (perhaps, "elements that go into good fiction" but saying that is too vague and general), it is none of what you mentioned but one (aside from the "good plot", the other elements only help in a good read meaning something that makes the reading enjoyable, so to say, entertaining and not a bore), so what does make a good novel, the answer is simple, it is the story(the good plot) problem is when people say good plot, each means something different, lovers of wuxia wouldn't ecessarily love other kinds of drama and fantasy, in fact, I get what you meant, what you meant by a good novel is probably something with consistency, history and feeling as if it was poetic or should I say the kind that give the feeling of an ancient literature (more or less) however, that doesn't necessary means it would be the case to all people as that kind of books/novels tend to be wordy or should I say, plenty of words and hard description that many people might not enjoy, you see, there are lots of people who likes to read but many of them doesn't have the 'literature set' and the mentailty to enjoy such books/novels that those with 'enlightened vision' does enjoy not to mention many people don't like the metaphor in novels especially if they are hard to comprehend, and to tell the truth usually I don't like that sort of books but I do have exceptions such as "Nightfall".
    PS: Many people who judge books/novels by reviews are the same kind of people that judge a book by the cover, that is why I don't do that, and give any and all books that might pick my interest (by synopsis and tags) a chance and give them a read(after the first chapter and in some cases the prelude and the first chapter, I decide whether I would like them or not, of course if they are so boring and not up to my standards I wouldn't even continue reading them)
    And honetsly, after your comment about not liking reverend insanity, I thought you would recommend something a bit more intersting, but I suppose I might have expected too much :blobsweat_2:
    Thanks for your insights anyway
     
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  8. Darius

    Darius Active Member

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    The Grandmaster Strategist - properly epic story

    Lord of the mysteries - my current favourite

    Enlightened Empire by Sociable Hermit - very promising original story with a very Asian influenced setting
     
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  9. GoldenGoddess

    GoldenGoddess ^.^

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    I have never been a fan of Male MC storyline, i find that it lacks a certain feeling. This novel was just recommended to me and i really loved it.
    Sansheng, Wangchuan Wu Shang
    It's short and the MC is badass..
    If you want transmigration, reincarnation and food porn..you can try Transmigrator meets Reincarnator.
     
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  10. jihadjoe

    jihadjoe Well-Known Member

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    Villainess Noble Girls novels are usually pretty good. (y)
     
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  11. bkwusa

    bkwusa Well-Known Member

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    Half Prince is still one of my favorite novels!

    Epic by Conor Kostick is a close second.
     
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  12. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    This I agree with. What makes a plot good is going to differ quite a bit from person to person. It's very much about what entertains a particular reader and is supposed subjective. However, my list is in order of importance, and the plot is generally the least important element of a good book.

    Indeed. This subjectivity is exactly why it can make sense to like a bad book or to dislike a good one. However, it also means that there's supposed to be a separation between what one likes and whether it's good or not.

    You seem to have the mistaken impression that I dislike "Reverend Insanity". For the record, I have never read the book so I don't have any actual impression of it, positive or negative. However, based on what other people have been saying about it, it just doesn't seem like it's a particularly good book. I'd read it for myself to find out, but it doesn't sound like my kind of thing, hence my question.

    As for "the Deer and the Cauldron", I said it was an excellent book; not that it had an amazing opening chapter. If you want to see why it's good then you sort have to read the whole thing, or at least a decent portion of it.
     
  13. Snipetress

    Snipetress [Editor, Typesetter, and PR at House of Rain]

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    Release that Witch. An Isekai without an overpowered protagonist that still carries itself well.
     
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  14. Causal Reader

    Causal Reader Well-Known Member

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    Best translation novel I've ever read would have to be "Praise the Orc" from wuxiaworld a great novel!
     
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  15. Causal Reader

    Causal Reader Well-Known Member

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    Did you read the translation novel from wuxiaworld "Praised the Orc"? They all hit the top marks that you mentioned above. Thanks! For the heads up! I'll definitely check out that deer and caldron novel sounds like a great read. ;)
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2019
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  16. Insanityplea

    Insanityplea *Head Tilt*....*Fart*

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    the instructions on how to use my new toaster. Its a basic simple toaster with 2 bread slots that can also toast bagels and waffles. It had four images and was in (from what I can discern) 7 languages and simply said "plug it in, insert bread, bagel or other desired toasted object into open slots, push button down." It was short, sweet and to the point with artistic flare (images) to boot!

    10/10 would read again.
     
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  17. Hanten

    Hanten Well-Known Member

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    World worth protection by er gen
     
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  18. leprosus

    leprosus Well-Known Member

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    Maybe not the best, but "Throne of magical arcana" is a really good hidden gem
     
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  19. ZeroBlink

    ZeroBlink Well-Known Member

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    The only ones that come after Revrant is The Charm Of Soul Pets, Swallo Star and Magus. Otherwise I haven't read anything that would be on the same level. Other than Evil protagonist I enjoy stuff like This Tutorial is To Hard,if it was good that is.
    I wish someone wrote Disgaea fanfic.
     
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  20. Akira Ryuji

    Akira Ryuji Well-Known Member

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    Grasping Evil
     
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