Comments on: How do you pick out a book? http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:31:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mer http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1882 Mer Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:47:02 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1882 I usually take word of mouth recommendations, but if I do happen to find myself in a bookstore, I go with 1) the cover, 2) the back cover, 3) the beginning, 4) some random page near the middle. If I like what I see on all of those, I'll typically buy. As for online purchasing, more and more books on Amazon have a "look inside" feature that lets you read the beginning. That helps for me. I usually take word of mouth recommendations, but if I do happen to find myself in a bookstore, I go with 1) the cover, 2) the back cover, 3) the beginning, 4) some random page near the middle. If I like what I see on all of those, I’ll typically buy.

As for online purchasing, more and more books on Amazon have a “look inside” feature that lets you read the beginning. That helps for me.

]]> By: Keilexandra http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1208 Keilexandra Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:14:48 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1208 Word of mouth is the biggest for me, like most, but I also rely on blogs and trusted review sources. I rarely buy books, especially unread; I have a huge list of library books to read and a much shorter buying wishlist. Word of mouth is the biggest for me, like most, but I also rely on blogs and trusted review sources. I rarely buy books, especially unread; I have a huge list of library books to read and a much shorter buying wishlist.

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1190 Diana Pharaoh Francis Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:54:02 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1190 SMD: I recently judged a book by its cover and coveted it. Then I read a random page or two and discovered that it used the word reckon. It was epic fantasy and I couldn't get past the reckon. I kept expecting a stetson hat and spurs somewhere. Tom: Amen and Hallelujiah. Karen: I like SFW too, but the problem is that they don't review that many books and usually just the big names that get a lot of reviews elsewhere. I definitely like them for the screen stuff though. Bran: Good thought on the library. I like (as an author) that you go ahead and buy the book. Since so much in this biz relies on cold hard sales. How do you decide if the person reviewing or word of mouthing is good? Kate: I think of all those godawful 70s covers for books. They are so fun, but wow, chicks in chainmail. But a Tom Canty cover almost always gets me. Some others too. Thomas: I'm so impressed with your system. Methodical. Tres cool. Blue: I've not really used LibraryThing that way. I should try one of these days. SMD: I recently judged a book by its cover and coveted it. Then I read a random page or two and discovered that it used the word reckon. It was epic fantasy and I couldn’t get past the reckon. I kept expecting a stetson hat and spurs somewhere.

Tom: Amen and Hallelujiah.

Karen: I like SFW too, but the problem is that they don’t review that many books and usually just the big names that get a lot of reviews elsewhere. I definitely like them for the screen stuff though.

Bran: Good thought on the library. I like (as an author) that you go ahead and buy the book. Since so much in this biz relies on cold hard sales. How do you decide if the person reviewing or word of mouthing is good?

Kate: I think of all those godawful 70s covers for books. They are so fun, but wow, chicks in chainmail. But a Tom Canty cover almost always gets me. Some others too.

Thomas: I’m so impressed with your system. Methodical. Tres cool.

Blue: I’ve not really used LibraryThing that way. I should try one of these days.

]]> By: Edward Greaves http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1189 Edward Greaves Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:21:49 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1189 Blogs. If I read an author's blog long enough, and I enjoy what they write in their blog, then I give a book a try. If I like the first book I read, I'll try more. Its sort of like word of mouth (which I use as well) except the "friend" in this case is the author. Prior to this, it was fairly hit or miss. I have half a shelf of books that I tried, and for various reasons I never connected with. Blogs.

If I read an author’s blog long enough, and I enjoy what they write in their blog, then I give a book a try. If I like the first book I read, I’ll try more. Its sort of like word of mouth (which I use as well) except the “friend” in this case is the author.

Prior to this, it was fairly hit or miss. I have half a shelf of books that I tried, and for various reasons I never connected with.

]]> By: Blue Tyson http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1179 Blue Tyson Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:03:18 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1179 LibraryThing pretty much, these days, although have made myself large lists of stuff in the past to look for, so as far as not knowing anything to get, never have that problem. But for new, LT is good. LibraryThing pretty much, these days, although have made myself large lists of stuff in the past to look for, so as far as not knowing anything to get, never have that problem.

But for new, LT is good.

]]> By: Thomas http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1172 Thomas Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:42:41 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1172 To pick books, I usually do a bit of investigative work. I look at the authors I like to read--- Alfred Bester, Heinlein, Bradbury, et al. Then, I dig into what authors they like to read. And expanding deductively in a somewhat concentric circle, the authors and topics I like to read expanded. For instance, Stephen King and Bradbury liked or were greatly influenced by Richard Matheson. So I go read Matheson. Matheson, I found, wrote Twilight Zone episodes which I enormously enjoyed. So I queried, "Who else wrote Twilight Zone episodes who are also novelists?" Then I go find that. And so on and so forth in this every expanding area of interest. Sometimes I take recommendations from friends, BookTV interviews, walk-throughs of a bookstore, etc. For me in my walk-throughs through the bookstores, covers don't hold too much weight for me as far as the selection of a book. It certainly helps (I mean, we're talking about aesthetics after all, and I personally prefer the minimalistic covers rather than the busy thousand different directions cover.), but it's not decisive. I usually quickly read about three or four pages to see if plot is compelling and to see if the writing style isn't jarring. Then if it is and it isn't, then I'll look more into it... perhaps even buy it. To pick books, I usually do a bit of investigative work. I look at the authors I like to read— Alfred Bester, Heinlein, Bradbury, et al. Then, I dig into what authors they like to read. And expanding deductively in a somewhat concentric circle, the authors and topics I like to read expanded.

For instance, Stephen King and Bradbury liked or were greatly influenced by Richard Matheson. So I go read Matheson. Matheson, I found, wrote Twilight Zone episodes which I enormously enjoyed. So I queried, “Who else wrote Twilight Zone episodes who are also novelists?” Then I go find that.

And so on and so forth in this every expanding area of interest. Sometimes I take recommendations from friends, BookTV interviews, walk-throughs of a bookstore, etc.

For me in my walk-throughs through the bookstores, covers don’t hold too much weight for me as far as the selection of a book. It certainly helps (I mean, we’re talking about aesthetics after all, and I personally prefer the minimalistic covers rather than the busy thousand different directions cover.), but it’s not decisive. I usually quickly read about three or four pages to see if plot is compelling and to see if the writing style isn’t jarring. Then if it is and it isn’t, then I’ll look more into it… perhaps even buy it.

]]> By: Alma Alexander http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1165 Alma Alexander Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:06:59 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1165 Word of mouth is like wild magic. It isn't remotely controllable or aimable, it happens or it doesn't happen, it sometimes happens for things on a basis which passeth understanding and it sometimes doesn't happen for things for similar reasons, it doesn't seem to matter whether something is INTRINSICALLY good or not (and what does that mean, anyway?) it simply seems to matter that someone, somewhere, liked it, said so, started an avalanche. It's beyond price, this word of mouth thing. It's what writers pray for by canclelight to whatever deity is passing by and willing to listen. One drop of good word of mouth - the kind that starts a buzz - can be worth a barrel of useless publicity of the kind that does nothing except sit there and point to itself. Word of mouth is magic. Word of mouth is like wild magic. It isn’t remotely controllable or aimable, it happens or it doesn’t happen, it sometimes happens for things on a basis which passeth understanding and it sometimes doesn’t happen for things for similar reasons, it doesn’t seem to matter whether something is INTRINSICALLY good or not (and what does that mean, anyway?) it simply seems to matter that someone, somewhere, liked it, said so, started an avalanche. It’s beyond price, this word of mouth thing. It’s what writers pray for by canclelight to whatever deity is passing by and willing to listen. One drop of good word of mouth - the kind that starts a buzz - can be worth a barrel of useless publicity of the kind that does nothing except sit there and point to itself.

Word of mouth is magic.

]]> By: Kate Elliott http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1162 Kate Elliott Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:41:11 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1162 I use multiple strategies for purchasing fiction. Word of mouth is probably key (as mentioned above), if only because it bring things to my attention. But browsing in the bookstore is probably my favorite. Despite knowing better, I will pick up a book based on the cover alone but I won't necessarily buy it. In general, I avoid back cover descriptions and check out the opening scene to see if I like the voice and style and situation. Like you, and despite knowing better, i can have trouble getting past a bad cover to a good book within. I use multiple strategies for purchasing fiction.

Word of mouth is probably key (as mentioned above), if only because it bring things to my attention.

But browsing in the bookstore is probably my favorite. Despite knowing better, I will pick up a book based on the cover alone but I won’t necessarily buy it. In general, I avoid back cover descriptions and check out the opening scene to see if I like the voice and style and situation.

Like you, and despite knowing better, i can have trouble getting past a bad cover to a good book within.

]]> By: Bran fan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1161 Bran fan Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:48:12 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1161 Word of mouth is always number one. I think it is with everyone. After that, I rely heavily on reviews. The serendipity thing doesn't really work for me. The cover and blurb are so often misleading. If a reviewer likes the book, then I get it from the library, and if I like it after I read it, I buy a copy (even though I've already read it) because I want to reward the author. Word of mouth is always number one. I think it is with everyone. After that, I rely heavily on reviews. The serendipity thing doesn’t really work for me. The cover and blurb are so often misleading. If a reviewer likes the book, then I get it from the library, and if I like it after I read it, I buy a copy (even though I’ve already read it) because I want to reward the author.

]]> By: Karen Wester Newton http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1160 Karen Wester Newton Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:35:58 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/12/03/how-do-you-pick-out-a-book/#comment-1160 For mainstream (rarely), and mysteries (more often) I rely on the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/" rel="nofollow">Washington Post</a> book reviews, especially the Sunday Book World section. For spec fic, I look at <a href="http://www.scifi.com/sfw/" rel="nofollow">SWF</a>. And of course, if I see someone at a con who sounds interesting, I might check them out later. For mainstream (rarely), and mysteries (more often) I rely on the Washington Post book reviews, especially the Sunday Book World section. For spec fic, I look at SWF. And of course, if I see someone at a con who sounds interesting, I might check them out later.

]]>