what is your ideal story/book?

[cacian]

I think we all idealise or imagine our way of life to be a certain way specific to our needs
and so
the same would apply to what read.

what is your ideal story?

[PeterL]

It is the novel that I have nearly finished writing. When I last checked, it was up to 96,000 words; after editing that's about as long as it will be. I'll let you know when it gets published.

[mortalterror]

I don't know about ideal, but I think Madame Bovary or The Old Man and the Sea come pretty close. The Divine Comedy is pretty good too.

[ajvenigalla]

My ideal story can perhaps be typified in The Scarlet Letter, with a romance (as in medieval romance) that bridges the gap between reality and the imaginary, which is spellbinding, if not always seamless, in mixture and bridging.

[mona amon]

Good characters, good interaction between the characters, good story, humour, and the ability to engage my emotions and immerse me in the novel's universe. A good prose style is not that important for me, but sometimes it really helps, as in the case of Lolita and Ulysses.

[swathisharan]

Chethan bhagat books are fine to study.

[Narkissos]

It's rather difficult trying to define the 'perfect novel', but strong conceptual and artistic themes would be a prerequisite for me. I need something with substance. One of those books that you're still pondering months later. I'm in the process of writing that novel. My literary blood, sweat and tears will be consumed by this piece of work.