Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted by Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Since April 2022, the meme moved to another host, Aria @ Book Nook Bits.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a meme where participants discuss specific topics, share their opinions, and share their love by visiting each other’s posts.

Hello!!! Here we are again as every Friday.

Today’s topic: Are bookish clichés inherently bad? (Aria)

Prompts:   There are lots of clichés that can be found in books, from love triangles to the chosen one to the boy next door. What makes a cliché a cliché? Is a cliché inherently bad to have in a book? Or can an overused storyline or theme be done well? What are your least favorites? Are there any cliches you will tolerate, or even enjoy reading?

Many clichés can be found in books, from love triangles to the chosen one to the boy next door.

What makes a cliché a cliché?

Clichés, in my opinion, are: ideas, phrases, expressions, concepts, character traits, or storylines that appear in every work without fail, too frequently to the point of repetition, it becomes a cliché. Once a given formula has been proven successful, every author and publisher copies it and uses it in several novels that are released at the same time. Clichés can detract from the book’s quality since they tend to be used inefficiently.

Books having a strong tendency toward predictability tend to be cliché-ridden.

Is a cliché inherently bad to have in a book? Or can an overused storyline or theme be done well?

I don’t think clichés are necessarily bad, rather, I get the impression that there is a widespread misunderstanding regarding clichés and tropes.

In a novel, clichés of any kind were once original. If a writer can take a cliché and turn it into something fresh, and new,  that takes a completely different turn, it may be done successfully.

What are your least favorites? Are there any cliches you will tolerate, or even enjoy reading?

Although it’s more of a Romance trope, I like clichés like:

On the least favorite side, it would have to be love triangles, this cliché is enough to literally make me stop reading the book, or things I’ve seen done badly too often.

I’m sure I overlooked something, but I think I’ve covered all I wanted to.

What do you think about book’s clichés?

Do you believe they are always negative or are there some you like?

Let’s chat in the comments below!