Me and Critiquing books

So I often am invited to read a book that one of my friends liked. I'll read it and when asked say "It was okay; I liked parts of it." When pressed I will add," The characters were stagnant. I didn't believe this character's motivations. It wasn't that great really." Often my friends are slightly taken back. They shouldn't be. I haven't written anything I consider to be good or even okay. But how to come up with these impossible standards? Well I have read good fiction. Just like eating really good chocolate it takes most the fun out of mundane american chocolate, reading really good books only whets your appetite for more.

So here are some books/series I consider really good:

Song of Ice and Fire- George R.R. Martin

This series has not be completed and if made into a movie it might be NC-17. But the characters, there are a lot of them, are beautifully conceived. Bad things don't happen for no reason, they happen because the people that live in this world are sometimes greedy or their intentions go awry or they are just crazy. Each character moves inside a interesting world, growing, interacting and changing the world around them. I hope to some day be able to create a world as engrossing as this.

Dune- Frank Herbert

These books are excellent. At the surface it is a SciFi series with a subtle plot with beautifully drawn characters, underneath it is the philosopher's repose were social commentary and insights abound. I find I have to stop and think about the moral questions Mr. Herbert raises. Good for Young Adults.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant- Stephen R. Donaldson

Enter the world of Thomas Covenant-the rejected, the despised, the leper. This is probably the deepest characterization I have ever read. The world isn't diverse as other fantasy but Covenant's pain, growth and decisions have a raw intensity that is astounding. Read it. (Again probably okay for Young Adults, not for children.)


Hmm I'll more later. I am too tired for now.