Character or Plot?

[Kim Dale]

Character! I have to have someone I can relate to or at least admire. I find plots are second on the NB list but quite honestly if a pathetic squib of a person is walking away from an epic hand-to-hand combat ending in an explosion - I honestly could not read another word.

[moderntimes]

Frankly, if a book is good, the characters and plot and all the other elements will be there and well defined.

It's highly unlikely that a book will have top quality plot and poor characterizations, or vice versa. A good writer will provide all the aspects of a fine book, and although all books have maybe a little better plot than a character, overall all the points will be well done or close to that.

[LivreAmour217]

I prefer to have both, but I might lean toward having a good plot over amazing characters. A boring or poorly written plot makes for a tortuous reading experience.

[jandsmommy2611+]

I believe the plot strengthens the character. The two go hand in hand.

[DAbb456]

A successful book has to have both. Memorable characters and a plot that keeps you turning the pages.

[TrishaAnn92]

Honestly I prefer both in a story. When you have a well written plot and well developed characters the story just holds you and doesn't let you go. At least that is how it is for me. In a story like that I can easily become absorbed in the book and feel more for the character's situations.

[Bookaholic14]

Both! One without the other still leaves the novel feeling "flat" in my opinion. A novel without a good plot often leaves the story dragging, and I find it difficult to get through it. A novel without good characters usually won't draw me in as much. The connection to the characters helps drive my interest. A good plot helps hold my interest. As with many other comments, I fully agree that a good novel has many aspects and dimensions. They are all parts of the whole.

[BreannaCamp9413]

I think both are needed in a good story, but it is hard to read anything where you can't identify with the character.

[Mike_Lang]

I agree with what everyone else has said, ideally I would like both character and plot. But, sadly, that isn't always possible. I've rarely read a book that is terribly unbalanced in that respect - generally a great character will have a somewhat decent plot and an amazing plot will have a character that is, at the very least, moderately developed.

I think that a great character can ease you through a substandard or weak plot better than a weak character can get you through a great plot. As a reader, when I make some kind of connection with a character I will stick with a story that isn't the best simply so I can continue to "hang out" with that character.

[MsMartha]

I think you have to have a good character and a good plot to make a good story. I've read books that have one or the other, and that always disappoints me.

[bekkilyn]

I guess my response would be characters, though I also think at least some sub-plots would be needed if a main plot did not exist. Otherwise, I'm imagining some sort of "character encyclopedia" and am having trouble figuring out how good characters can be developed without a plot.

[CCtheBrave]

I guess I'd have to say that plot is more necessary to move the story along and it can definitely save a book with crappy characters. however, junkie characters are harder to forgive and forget. Poor characters will come to my mind before anything else, even if the plot was amazing.

[cogarae]

I think that they both go together. You could have a great plot but not so good characters or vise versa and it could throw off your whole rating of the.book.

[Dyslexic-Superhero]

They are like macaroni and cheese. To have a great story you need to have a plot and great characters.

[cranej80]

Character for sure. I love being able to relate or understand and see the characters develop throughout the story.