What criteria do you use to choose a book? Do you look specificially for books from your favorite author or your favorite genre?
Does the way the book cover look influence you in your decision? I have picked books which covers looked bland and I thought this book might be boring but it turned out to be a great boo. I guess you really can't judge a book by it's cover.
Have you ever picked a book mainly because the title enticed you and were you disappointed or did it meet you expectations?
I have discovered some new authors I might have never had the pleasure to read, mainly because the title of the book intrigued me.
[question posted by Riptide]
responses and comments:
I choose books by what catches my eye, by whatever my hand grabs, by what intrigues me. Sometimes I just randomly grab books until I find one I like. I have no set ways to go about finding a book. [accioetoile]
I usually stick to the same authors, which I have learned is not necessarily a good thing. When I was meeting an author who was meeting with me to critique my writing I thought I'd better read HIS work. I took one of his books out of the library and loved it. I bought another one of his books and got him to autograph it. I am doing it again right now with a different author. Also, I have been to seminars with authors I have never heard of and their seminars have prompted me to read their books. It feels good to step outside the box and read different writers after reading the same one for so long. Of course Oprah's Book Club had me reading a few books but once I read one I didn't like, I stopped reading them. What Oprah likes doesn't necessarily mean everyone is going to like it. [patgalca]
I never read a book from Oprahs club. Most of the books on there don't interest me lol. I got to have my mystery and suspense. Certain documentary books are good though. [Riptide]
I have to admit, if I find a book I really enjoy, I'll search out more books by that author. Jean Plaidy, Maeve Binchy and Margaret Atwood, were a few of my big favourites. I have bought books based on title, and been bummed at the result.. most books don't disappoint me though. I have also been given books that i looked at the cover and thought, UGH! and they turned out to be fabulous! I don't really choose them by genre, my interests vary widely. Last thing I read was a study on these..I think it was mini busses? [Vacant]
Yes mini busses can be indeed interesting, but even more interesting are the people that ride in them :) [Riptide]
Hi! All of the above! LOL Before I got into publishing, I didn't read a lot, but now I have discovered that I really enjoy it. The books I am choosing right now have more to do with my current interest, which is learning about investing, so I'm buying and borrowing library books about the stock market and investing. Sometimes it's just an intriguing title, as was the case with The Devil Wears Prada and The Nanny Diaries. On a rare occasion I'll read a book that is a sequel to a movie. I like "Valley of the Dolls" and I happened to find a sequel to it in the library one day. I enjoyed that because I knew all the characters and it was fun to find out what happened to them after the movie. I also have Everyone Worth Knowing because I enjoyed Lauren Weisberger's writing so much in The Devil Wears Prada. I tend to stay away from the "formula" based writers, like Danielle Steele. I like something that will surprise me and have different plot twists, not "same plot different names," etc. No offense to those who read her work, I'm just not that big of a romance reader to begin with anyway! :-) [clownfish]
LOL I could use a break, but I am determined to reach 500 so I don't have to type out links by hand anymore lol. [Riptide]
I admit it, I have no taste. I'll read just about anything. I'll walk through the used bookstore and just grab books at random from the sections that interest me (mostly sci-fi and fantasy, though occasionally other stuff). Other times I'll read thing because my friends liked them, or because they had an interesting title, or because they're by an author I already know. Any and all of these methods have led me to really good books. Recently some people at my work were having a discussion about how many books they had read since being out of school, and it just shook me that some of them could actually list them all. I can't even list the books I've read this year, because there are already too many! I just love to read so much that I'll try just about anything. [lecanis]
I love to read too, but I draw the line at certain books like romance. I could do without those lol. I frequent the used bookstore as well. because I would go broke buying them all new. I can go through a good paperback novel on a weekend. [Riptide]
I am a bibliophile so books are precious to me, just to own. I am an avid reader and have favorite genres. So first I look for mystery/thrillers, then for the authors I most enjoy, then for new authors I might enjoy. I buy and sell books out of my home, so I get to see authors I haven't noticed before. [SherryA]
By weather it catches your interest, just find a book.. a random book and read the first chapter if it catches your eye you read it. [SilentRose19]
I usually choose books based on the author. If I like someone's writing, I'll probably read more books by him. I also follow certain people's recommendations and try to read some "classics", since those are usually good. [sofia29]
For novels, I choose the book primarily based on its author. I discard this criterion sometimes, if the book is on discount, or if I am buying the book from a used books store. For technical books, I take a few minutes to read some pages to see what the book is about and if it is worth it to buy it. I admit that the design of the cover also influences my decision, though I do not know to which extent. [spiderman05]
I am usually all over the board when it comes to choosing a book. Sometimes it is all about mood, sometimes it is something that I have heard or read about it. Rarely is it any real set of criteria or simply by the cover. I am fortunate in that I like a variety of genres, so I always have plenty to read ! [cyclonewriter]
My first choice is to choose a book by the author because I know I will most likely like the book. I used to read so much that I needed to find new authors almost every week when I went to the library. It would take a fortune to keep me in books. I don't know what I would do without the library. I look at the cover first when I'm looking for a new author, then I read the blurb on the back if it's a paperback or the flap if it's a hardback. Since I've had to go to talking books, I read the blurbs with the book. The cover will intrigue me, but if the blurb isn't interesting I don't read the book. Although I've often been fooled by the blurb. [dalelynn21]
I choose books with good stories and a good author also.. i love to read books when I have free time.. [Osbert]
i choose a book by his title. if i can see that the title or the topic of the book is very interesting and very relevant then i would buy it. the book cover can do also, it can caught the attention if the costumer. i choose book depending on the topic or the title which ican relate to i can easily understand.i only read for pleasure thats why i never mind whos the author of the book. [denden]
I choose an interesting-looking book, and i'd try finding out if it is indeed interesting by reading the synopsis at the back. And if it seemed intriguing enough for me, i buy it. [xMinnie]
Well i love reading books.. So what i do is i check first for its book reviews on the internet before buying it.. It can be possible that the opinion of the majority may be the same as mine too. So dont have to waste money on a book which has a good cover or a controversial title but doesnt make complete sense to its content.. [jmanzano17]
It really depends on what type of mood I am in. I am really into Kathy Reichs right now. She is the producer of "Bones" the tv show. She has also written a series of books on forensic anthropology which is excellent. But then some days I just have to throw in a historical romance. I also read the book jacket to see what a book may be like. I have my favorite authors as well. [AskAlly]
I look for books based on a genre.I dont have favorites so i dont keep favorite authors. Of course i keep them in mind but i dont focus on them all the time. I have been a real fan of romance novels most of my life until my husband keep introduing me to weird titled books or just those types who appear uninteresting. They usually turn out funny and unique qhich helped me broaden my choices. [sechsey]
Whenever I read magazines and newspapers I would read the book reviews and from there I could take glances of the famous books. Then if I like the review on a certain book then I'll get that from a bookstore. I also depend on my brother you is a bookworm for good books. We have the same favorites when it comes to books. We like inspirational books, biographies and novels that are touching. [domesticengineer]
When I decide to buy a book I usually look for books by authors I have tried and tested coz I'm wary of new authors. I then I check the teasers at the back of the book (if there are any) and if I like what I read I then read a part of its ending. I don't like books with sad and tragic endings so I usually steer clear of those. What I'm fond of reading are books with happy endings so when I read the last part and I find that I don't like the ending I put it right back in the shelf. I like to have my money's worth so I like to make sure that I would like the book I bought. I don't notice the books covers since its the last thing that I look at so it doesn't really influence me one way or another. [joy358]
I think title does get me. I also go for certain subjects and titles. Favorite authors are good too. Covers are great. I seriously go for all types too. I love books and stuff. I just started back at the bookstore, check it out I will be looking at more books again yeah with my discount sure! :)) [monkeywriter]
mmm...for the first time i choose a book when it catch my eyes.may be from it's color,i'm interest in pink (^^) and then just look at the tittle..for this i usually left it if it heard bad [mucaku]
i choose a book by my interest of course. i like spy novels, fashion magazines, self-help books, and sometimes comics. i dont like native english novels. i dont like local fashion mags, and i dont like health self-help because its no fun. [MGjhaud]
- -;;im not a good reader i just choose a book majorly accordding to its design of the bookcover [quentins]
I choose a book randomly, for the covers that attract me or the titles. Sometimes when I find a new author I try to read other books from him. I read the summary to see if I might like it and I prefer mysteries even If I've read a lot of romances. When someone recommend me a movie I usually read it to see if it's really good. And I love books with lots and lots of pages so one day I choose one 'cause it was very "large", actually I found it one of the best books that I ever read. [ccatherine]
Im not really sensitive in choosing a book. But what i read most are those books based on experiences or books about teenage people. I love reading romantic stories. I also like book that are though-provoking and can affect one's life. Title is one facter that i consider when shoosing a book. Titles that are simple and that leaves a question for you to discover what's really with the book. Another is the theme. [pretty_angel]
well i choose any book from the name of author so in this way i know what it is about [fahim_hitman]
i'd like kind of food or travel... it can give me happy...always ,i can tell my mother about it.... [ltt330326]
I don't judge by the cover. I read the back and to see what the book is about and I look to see who wrote the reviews in it, if it is an author I've never heard of. I have a few authors I will buy without reading the back of the cover. [mom2chriskel]
You can certainly not judge a book by its cover. In fact, it is even difficult to judge a book by its author, as just because the author has a couple of good books to his credit doesn't mean that all his/her books are good. I hardly go by the reviews published in the newspapers or online either, because things like taste in reading are highly subjective. I however have a set of friends who are voracious readers. We regularly read books and recommend books to each other. We know each others tastes pretty well. We do take the courage to read an unknown book now and then, but mostly, we recommend books to each other. I recently read 'Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho and recommended it to my friend, who read it and went on to read 'The Zahir' by the same author, and in turn recommended it back to me! This way, we have a virtually inexhaustible and personalised book review system. [complexvanilla]
I resist the urge to buy a book because of it's title and cover since I am often disappointed by that. Instead I look at the author since I have favorite authors. Then I read the first page. If it doesn't grab me right at the beginning,then I put it back down. Other than that, I often ask my friends to recommend a good book to read and I trust their judgment. [wachit14]
I usually buy books by my favorite authors. Or if I'm simply bookhunting, I usually browse books from my favorite genre. Or check out related searches in Amazon.com so I'd know who are authors similar to my favorites. If I'm going to choose a paperback or a hardcover, my criteria is that if the book is a book I really like, I usually go for the hardcover :-) [prudencemadness]
book that touch ur heart ,that wash ur rubbih ideas % that gives u a life thoughta [jairajz]
the best criteria to choose a book is to read the preface of the author to read about the author to read the reviews written on the book to see the content of the book and wat's it all about [manish243236]
if i liked a book by an author then i will read the back of the book so see if the next one sounds like something i may want to read. also i tend to stick to certain genres as well. if there is a biograpy or autbiography about a person i am interested in i will read them too. i think that alot depends on how much or how little info they give you on the back of the book. i also belong to a book club and we discuss books and pass books along too so that is helpful. [jannyw]
I choose books by my favorite authors. Other times, by the title. Then read what it is about, then the first page. If it grabs me, I buy it. [margieanneart]
I love reading almost every genre of books except for science fiction. I have my favorite authors and I'll read their books but I like to browse through the library and used book stores, and I stop and just pick up books, and read the overleaf to see if it appeals. I don't let the book cover influence by decision as I would have missed out on some great books. [gardengalz]
i go by my favorite authors first. for instance, i'm always confident that whenever i buy sidney sheldon books, it's worth my time and money. second, i read reviews on the web and also i ask around from friends. i also look for pulitzer prized books but i don't go with all national bestsellers because i've read a handful that didn't really strike my fancy. i once bought based on the book's cover and then i realized that we really shouldn't judge a book by it's cover - literally! [diannebcrs]
Usually I choose a book by an author whose work I've already read and enjoyed. There are some authors whose books I buy no matter if the story doesn't sound like something I'd like. When I choose new authors to sample, I read book reviews, usually from my book club mailings. Usually, I'm not disappointed. I have chosen books based on their titles. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS is one. I hadn't heard anything about it, so I was shocked with the subject matter. I did finish it, though. I picked up ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS based on the interesting title. It was a book I recommended to friends and family. Usually when I purchase a best seller that has received a lot of hype, I am disappointed. Nowadays, I wait for the bestsellers to appear at my favorite used book store. That way, if it turns out that I hate the book, I won't feel as if I wasted a lot of money. [KATRINKA]
Most of the times when i choose a title to buy, it`s based mainly in the author or in some reviews I read beforehand, specially when buying books online, however when looking for books in a bookstore with nothing particular in mine I shearch for a certain genre of my liking, and the look of the novel many times influence my decison, a good cover catch the eye more easily. [kogiro]
Well usually i find a title that sounds interesting, or a cover that ctaches my attentionand I read the back. Or the sleevs on the dust jacket. If the book has it the excerpt paragraph justa few pages in and then if it still sounds interesting I get it. Unless I've read something by the author before then it narrows down to just whether or not the back sounds good. [Arkadus]
I'm on a roll; the last two books I read were fantastic and I literally just walked into the bookstore and picked them up at random. I love it when that happens. Sometimes I have to dredge through alot of duds to find something interesting; but once in a while I get the midas touch. I hate it when a book sounds really interesting but about 50 pages in you're like, "this sucks!" The last book I read like that was A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. The thing was a dog. I kept expecting it to get better but it just dragged. And what made it worse is that it was a thinly veiled political sermon about the war in Iraq though it was set during the Vietnam War and it really wasn't even about the War, but the author made sure to insert his politics about it. That pissed me off to no end and I threw the whole book in the trash. [sndcain]
First thing I do is look up my favorite author and go through some of the books she has written. After that I will go to the type of book that is my favorite. My favorite is romantic novels. There are times I will pick up a book because of the title. I go to the library to get books to read so if I notice a title that sounds especially good I will look at the cover to see what the story is about and even page through the story itself. [sunshinelady]
I usually can tell by the title then I read about it but have been disappointed before mainly by a couple of mary higgens clark books... [rainbowzr4ever]