Reading in Public No. 35: Five tips for discerning what a book is trying to do

Questions and strategies for getting more out of the books you read

Apr 02, 2024

If you’ve been around here for even a little while, you may have come across me writing or speaking about the way I approach reviews. One of my first Reading in Public essays, “Three questions I ask about every book I read,” was about this very topic. While I definitely read to find books I love and am, of course, thinking about whether or not I like a book, I also strive to tap into my literary criticism skills and evaluate a book for what it is. So whenever I read a book, especially if I’m going to review it, I try to consider what the book is trying to do.

Probably the number one question I get asked is how I determine what a book is trying to do, and there are lots of ways to go about thinking through this topic. This is not something you have to do in your reading life! But if you find yourself wanting to think even more critically about books, get deeper with your reviews, or simply appreciate more books even when you don’t like them, this is a great practice to try.

Today I’m sharing a handful of strategies for thinking through what a book might be trying to do. I tend to mostly apply these questions to literary fiction, but you can absolutely apply them to genre fiction, poetry, and even narrative nonfiction—any type of writing that requires you to interpret meaning. One day I’d love to teach an extended workshop or seminar on all of this so (maybe…someday…) more to come!

Five tips for discerning what a book is trying to do

Forget about the author. Every year without exception, a student would ask if F. Scott Fitzgerald really meant anything symbolic with the name Daisy or the green light in The Great Gatsby. The answer to that is always, “who cares?!” That book is in your hands now, reader, and you get to interpret it how you see fit. Often we get bogged down trying to figure out if what we’re getting out of the book is what the author intended, and that can be debilitating. Remember that authors and readers make meaning together. The author has done their job in creating the book, and now you get to meet them there—bringing all of your own knowledge and experiences and emotions and past reads—to uncover meaning for yourself. If you love learning about authors’ intentions and inspirations, that’s great! (See tip #5). But don’t feel like you need to come up with the “right” answer or try to crack some secret code intentionally laid there for you by the author. Trust yourself!
Pay attention to your feelings. In the vein of “trust yourself,” remember to also pay attention to your how you feel while reading the book. Some of what a book is trying to do is intellectual; it’s likely trying to get you to think deeply about certain topics. But there’s also—almost always—an emotional component to a book’s purpose. Which characters are you feeling drawn to? Who are you encouraged to feel alongside and empathize with? Do you feel moved towards hope while reading? Anger? Devastation? Is the book soothing and comforting? Or is it rattling and challenging you in some way? Your answers to these questions are absolutely part of what the book is trying to do.
Think through possible themes. Generally literary fiction isn’t written with a thesis statement in mind—it’s more nuanced than that. BUT when we as readers are considering what a book may be “trying to do,” it can be helpful to consider theme. If that word gives you horror flashbacks to high school English, I’m sorry! I think about theme in two ways. These intersect, so just take whichever makes the most sense to you. First, try thinking about theme as what you’d say the book is about without describing the plot. Second, pose the question, “what is the book saying about X” where X equals a big, universal idea. So rather than stopping with this is a book about “betrayal” or “grief” or “marriage,” try taking the next step to consider what commentary the book is offering about that topic. Remember, there aren’t right or wrong answers, this is just a way for you to engage more deeply with the book!
Consider what the book may be in conversation with or in reaction to. Art and entertainment are created in a vacuum and considering the connective tissue that ties a book to other pieces of art and culture can be illumination. Does it feel like the book is expanding its genre in some way? Is it calling back to common tropes, a popular piece of art, or a well-known classic? Or is it does it seem like its reacting to a cultural or political moment? Exploring these questions while reading can often help you arrive an an idea of what the book might be doing.
Loop the author back in. While you don’t need the author’s okay to discern what a book is trying to do, you can always seek that out if you like. Listening to author interviews or reading profiles can definitely help you figure out what the book was trying to do (unless the author refuses to offer interpretations, which is not unheard of!), and from there you can decide if the book was or wasn’t successful. Listening to authors talk about books is also a great way to get better at interpretation beyond a single book. By listening to interviews, I’ve gotten a better sense of the kinds of things authors attempt in books, and I can apply these questions to other things I read.

Did you enjoy today’s post?

Chelsey Feder

and I teach monthly classes on topics like this in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. If you’re looking for a nerdy community of lifelong learners, consider joining today!

Tell me your thoughts! Do you think about what a book is trying to do or read more to discern whether or not you like a book? How do you go about figuring out what a book is doing, or trying to do?

Reading in Public No. 35: Five tips for discerning what a book is trying to do

Questions and strategies for getting more out of the books you read

Five tips for discerning what a book is trying to do

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