You've heard the expression "the devil's in the details", and it's up to you which translation of that little phrase you care to use or understand. When I'm reading a novel, I love details, but even I will admit there can be too many or too much.
If you've ever read any of Tom Morrisey's novels, you know that Tom employs many details. In my favorite book of his, In High Places, Tom uses his rock climbing knowledge with all the proper terms and descriptions of the equipment and experience. He never talks down to the reader. I guess he figures if the reader doesn't know or can't grasp the term(s) he uses, he/she will look it up - which I had to do a couple of times. In my opinion Tom Morrisey uses just the right amount of focused detail to convey authenticity in his stories.
Some authors interrupt their stories to explain detailed information, making what has been narrative morphing to conversational. When the writing changes from the organic deliverance of information (i.e. via dialogue) to the recitation of definitions, the details become a hindrance to the story. If the detailed description goes on too long, the continuity of the story succumbs to potentially losing or boring the reader.
Some readers don't want to read about characters' appearances. I do, providing the description of those details isn't cliché. It takes some finesse to do this because, after all, there are only so many shades of blue, so many colors of hair, so many types of builds, and you get my drift. To set individual characters apart, an author has to make those details unique as the character who "wears" them. Sometimes it's another character's point of view making the observation of those details and it's reasonable to assume some of those observations might be typical and clichéd.
What kind of details do you enjoy reading, and can you think of an author who does "details" well?
Father, you gift us all differently according to your design and pleasure. Thank you for it all and for viewing each of us equally. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.