How do you get hooked to a book?

[Meela]

It depends on the genre. I get hooked to fantasy books either if they have a plotline that appeals to me, or if they feature an appendix (as Lotr does) or any additional maps/information.
The appendices are the only part of Lotr that holds any interest for me, apart from the Council Of Elrond chapter.

I get hooked to historical novels that feature a particular character or historical event that I have an interest in. For example, I would read a book based around the French Revolution, but not a book based around the American Civil War. I would look at a book about Anne Boleyn, but not one about Mary Queen of Scots.

Once I begin reading a book, I suppose the plotline and dialogue does come into it. But I never usually stop reading a book, because I only pick up books that I know I am going to enjoy. But I have encountered a few books that I have stopped reading before the end because the plot didn't interest me, or I couldn't stand a character or the way it was written.

[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Meela ]