Last week the New York Times Books section profiled Charles Frazier (who apparently has a new book coming out). The format of these profiles is that the author responds to a series of questions. Here was one question and answer:
Q: What moves you most in a work of literature?
A: Language and sense of place, always.
I agree. As I've begun evaluating books I read based on the Four Doorways I've learned that not only do I look for language first in evaluating a book, I also really love books that have a strong sense of place. I'll give books a pass on plots and characters that I don't think are wonderful if I love the language and the sense of place. I won't love them, but I won't completely pan them.
