What I Am Looking For In A Book

I was having a conversation with our own Clare2e the other day, and I decided I didn't need much out of a book.

• Deep characterization
• Cryogenically preserved Nazis

Now, it's rare to find these in the same book. In fact, I'll go so far as to say they've never appeared in a book together. I dare you to prove me wrong. But here's the thing. If you can't give me a well-written book with characters I get to know intimately and come to feel strongly about, you had darn well better give me a dazzling plot that has ups and downs and, preferably, some things so outrageous I can't help reading more.

It doesn't have to be Nazis. They only come to mind because of James Rollins's ridiculous books, which take no time to read but are thoroughly enjoyable. The characters have the average depth of a raindrop, but they're always moving around, doing things, uncovering long-buried secrets, and...defrosting Nazis.

So maybe it makes me shallow that I can be entertained by such things, but I grew up on Han Solo frozen in Carbonite, so I figure that explains a lot.

PS: for great characters *and* high action, I direct you to our own Leigh Neely's post comparing the original Mission: Impossible series to today's Leverage.