What is a "good" book?

A book, at least for me, takes a lot to be considered "good." There are many angles that you have to approach literacy with, as literacy is a form of art. Anybody can look at a book's story and critique it to death, minimizing it and drawing comparisons to other works of the same genre, or just say that the writing, the author's voice, is plain bad. A good book doesn't necessarily have to have the most compelling story or the greatest voice, to be truthful, a good book simply has to keep my attention.

In my trials and tribulations, I've read quite the plethora of books. Whether it be Mrs. Wishy Washy or the masterpiece that is Slaughterhouse Five, I think I can say with confidence I've delved into a spectrum of different books. Now some books, such as Harry Potter or the Hunger Games, truly are boring to me. The respective stories of each book, I'll admit, are truly deep and complex, but for the love of god every time I try to pick either up it never holds my attention. Harry is the greatest wizard ever and has to stop Voldermort? Awesome, I'm gonna go read a Barry Lyga book. Katniss is the greatest huntress ever to live? Sweet, let me get back to you after I finish Percy Jackson and the Olympians for the eightieth time. Again, I'm not trying to critique the greatly visible cliches of each respective novel, rather their inability to hold my attention. Neither book is just a fun experience, for me at least, to read!

Now I will say this: I've been surrounded by video games my entire life. It could be that I've fooled myself into thinking that an interactive medium is more fun than than a simple visual medium that is reading, hence why I don't enjoy most novels or reading books as a form of leisure (spoiler: video games probably are more entertaining). But honest to god, if I start a book and it can hold my attention or hold my interest, I will finish it the same day it's handed to me. However, interesting books to me are such a rare find these days that I'd rather tread where I'm most comfortable, in video games. Also, yes, video games are art, no debates.

In conclusion (haven't been able to use that phrase since eighth grade), I don't consider a book good unless it can truly hold my attention. When the different elements of a book come together in just such a way that caters to my respective taste for art at a given time, you can be sure it's a good one in my book. No pun intended.