~Young Adult Enthusiasts~ discussion

What is the perfect length for a book? How much is too much?

I'd have to say that the length doesn't matter as long as it keeps you entertained. Some books are too short and they leave you begging for more and some books are super long and still leave you begging for more. So it depends on if it keeps you hooked or not.

I don't think there is a Perfect length. As Jeanette said already, it's the story that matters. If it keeps you turning the pages and leaves you wishing it hadn't ended... that's when it's the perfect length, and that length is going to vary depending on the type/scope of the story contained within the book's covers.

I'd agree with that. If the storyline is slow going or not that interesting, the book will seem to drag on even if it's ten pages long. If the story is captivating, even the longest books will seem too short. So there really isn't a perfect length, there's only a perfect story.

53, 941 words. Exactly that. Any less and I'm left wanting more. Any more and I stop reading.

@Martin how do you go about finding books to read?

I think the chapter length is the most important. How many times have you said/thought I'll just finish this chapter!

Melissa wrote: "I think the chapter length is the most important. How many times have you said/thought I'll just finish this chapter!"

Waaaayyyyyyy too many!!! Lol

Martin wrote: "53, 941 words. Exactly that. Any less and I'm left wanting more. Any more and I stop reading."

That is extremely specific...

Any book over about 500 pages, and I start to wonder if the editor was afraid of the author : )

Haha that's funny!!

A.C. wrote: "Any book over about 500 pages, and I start to wonder if the editor was afraid of the author : )"

Awesome :) hahaha

I know for some of the Eargon books I was just like "this could be cut, this could be cut, this could be cut. Why is this even in here!?" So yeah I completely agree!!

If the author has faithfully followed Elmore Leonard's dictum of "cut what readers skip", then any length is fine by me. In my opinion, among the tome-writers, George RR Martin is pretty good about this. Neal Stephenson, not so much.

Depends I have read some massive books within days, and thought woah that was quick. Then really struggled with some books that are under 400 pages, so doesn't matter it's the content,that matters.

There really is no length for me. I can read pretty much anything as long as it is not boring or slow. If the book is long and slow then we have a problem but other than that i can read any length.