This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks:
“What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?
(Of course, a book should have BOTH, but…)”
I guess both are important. A whole lot of beautifully written but ultimately empty imagery never does a book any good. But for me good writing is slightly more important. A good plot can be severely damaged by ungainly language and use of ‘ugly’ sentences. Case in point, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, a relatively good plot marred by the use of some really weird and at times gross language (“licking like a mama cat”, anyone?). Then there’s the ‘wandering off’ (the pool playing scene or when Henry talks about all of the ‘cool’ bands and whatnot). So, even though a good story is important without good writing it becomes handicapped.
A Paperback Life 
I don’t want to think about what may have been licked like a mama cat.
http://nerdbliss.com/wordpress/2012/01/26/rivet-me/
“licking like a mama cat” doesn’t even begin to cover it! There are other gems like a “thin film of saliva” covering parts of the heroine’s body! See what I had to deal with!
Its a hideous dilemma that I feel is unfair for us to have to choose, yet I did it anyway…here is my answer http://newpaperadventures.blogspot.com/2012/01/good-story-or-good-writing.html
Oh yes this week’s Booking Through Thursday has put us all in such great dilemma!
Yes, I think if we distinguish between bad writing and efficient writing, then the story could come out on top. But I love brilliantly executed prose with a good story. Here’s MY THURSDAY MEMES POST and here’s
MY WEBSITE
Ah yes choosing just one is a pain.
Really they are both important but without a good story you have nothing to write about.
Here’s my BTT.
Happy Reading!
Cathy @Addicted to Books
But bad language/writing is much more common (especially among modern books) than a bad plot, IMHO. Most of the modern books I’ve read seem to suffer from the lack of a good editor. But then I mostly read Classics or Mysteries. My opinion may be outdated anyway. 🙂
I agree, good answer.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/booking-through-thursday_26.html
Thanks! Not many agree with my answer. 😉
Since we have to answer with only one choice, I will always take the “Good Story”.
Yes, ‘good story’ seems to be the general favourite but choosing just one is hard isn’t it?
I want both but I do think that bad writing can ruin a good story.
http://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2012/01/good-story-deserves-good-writing-btt.html
You’re right. Of course a lacklustre plot is always a let-down but repulsive language and sloppy writing I just cannot take.
Story would win for me too if I had to choose. Mediocre language is slightly less damaging than mediocre story, but only slightly.
Your answer is the opposite of mine but I see your point. 🙂
Good answer. 🙂
Here’s my Booking Through Thursday post
Thanks! 🙂
‘Like a mama cat’? Um, ewww. In that case I’d have revise my answer and go with writing over story. . . but overall I have to still go with story first. 🙂
Here’s my BTT ~ House Millar series
Áine
Yup, “licking like a mama cat” is just one of the gems from this book. There are many more where that came from. 😉
That’s quite true! But if I had to choose, story would win. I enjoyed The Time Traveller’s Wife too! And the story was good, such that I didn’t really notice those weird stuff you were talking about!
Here’s mine: http://alwaysabooklover.blogspot.com/2012/01/booking-through-thursday-writing-or.html
Ah yes from what I remember you like love stories. The Time Traveler’s Wife would be something you would enjoy. Glad you liked it well enough to not notice the flaws. 🙂