Factors in your decision to read a book

[mosaix]

good system Mosaix--I was going to use percentages, then decided to let people weight them their own way. Like Teresa Edgerton, I don't weigh them all equally, or use the same criteria for each book.

I realised afterwards that the criteria I applied would be for fiction. For non-fiction then flipping through the book (for diagrams, maps, charts, photos etc) would move way up the list.

 

[chrispenycate]

Describe how much weight you give to the following factors when deciding to read a book:

--Familiar with author

very important

--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)

That counts, of course. I'm an SF reader by choice, though, lacking that, I will diversify

--cover and presentation

you haven't put publisher's symbol. Only in so far as it helps to find the right style

--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors

Other authors, very little ("gee can she write" is hardly an analysis, and "NY times best seller" has proved insuficient in the past. A good blurb, though, can give an indication of who the book is aimed at.

--content (flipping through book)

almost never

--recommendations from others

well, it counts. Particularly for books I'm ordering

--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)

relatively little, nor ads (except in so far as they inform me that a certain book exists)

--other?

Are there any factors which are different in influencing you to BUY (rather than just read) a book)

well, availability counts a lot. With exactly one local bookshop that might have books, I tend to grab anything I can get, and order others. Aeroports? almost anything I haven'r read. Second hand bookshops (while travelling) idem, but add "in the last thirty years

This is my first new thread since joining, so I hope I'm putting it in the right place and that it hasn't already been talked to death.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Starting from the bottom up:

A good review can induce me to read a book, especially if the book is by an author I've never heard of before, or whose work I haven't tried yet. That's how I found Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson. Of course, I had heard of him, but I hadn't ever read him before. I read a review of the book in the Los Angeles Times that really intrigued me.

Recommendations from others...Depends on who has recommended the book, really. I've found a few good books this way, but I've ended up not finishing more recommeded books than I've actually finshed reading.

Content...This has more influence in non-fiction than in novels. Layout is especially important and, if applicable what kind and quality of photos and illustrations are included. Actually reading bits sampled from different parts of the book also can induce me to give it a try.

Cover blurbs, preface, quotes from other authors...I rarely pay attention to quotes from authors unless I happen to notice one from an author I read regularly. Blurbs can induce me to browse the book, but aren't usually the deciding factor.

Cover...This is the least important factor in whether I will read a book or not.

Specific genre or sub-genre...I read in most genres and subject areas, so this is also probably not a huge factor, although it might be if I'm in the mood for a certain genre when I'm looking for a book. Also, I'm slightly more likely to pick up a mainstream-seeming novel if it looks like it has some aspect of science fiction or fantasy to it...the most recent example of this that I can think of is The Time Traveler's Wife. Fantastic book, by the way.

Familiar with author...Not generally a factor unless it is one of the authors whose work I tend to read every time a new book comes out. I'm not much of a, "Well, I've heard of that writer, so I'll check her book out" kind of reader.

As far as factors influencing me to buy rather than just read...yeah. Price. But that has more to do with my book budget being limited rather than begrudging the price of a good book.

 

[jackokent]

Most of my buying is completely random. I never look at covers and rarely read the back of books. I merely buy up everything from car bootsales or charity shops that is Si fi or fantasy. The only thing I will try to ensure is that it's not part 7 etc, of something I don't have the preceding parts of.

If however, I do find an author I truelly love I will depart from randomness and buy all their books instantly from amazon.

 

[Rosemary]

The author mainly...although I still read the recommendations from here and also online...
I tend to glance through the first couple of pages and then a few in the middle of the book (an interview with an author put me onto that trick).
Content as well...I prefer Fantasy although I have read some science fiction and enjoyed them...
The cover isn't important to me...although if it is a series, I try and get the matching covers!
Cost does play a part as well, although I do try and save up for them

 

[Hiro Protagonist]

--Familiar with author
If I see a book by an author that I love and it looks interesting, I will definitely buy it. If I am familiar with the author in that his other work stinks, I won't give the book a chance.

--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
I enjoy all SFF genres.

--cover and presentation
Unique artwork on a science fiction or fantasy book can lead me to buy it, but only from a bargain bin. Buying books at full price is difficult for me.

--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
I don't read the quotes from other authors until I am done with the book. I like to create my own opinion and then compare it with that of other authors. I read the back cover, but that rarely influences the purchase.


--content (flipping through book)
I only flip through a book if I am not familiar with the author, in which case I like to get a feel for the writing style and see if I like it.


--recommendations from others
Recommendations from others with the same interests as me are enough to make me purchase a book full price. If I need another book to add the the list, I will hit up a friend and get the book.

--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
Reviews from forums and on amazon only make me want to read the book more so I can see if I agree with the review.

 

[Taltos]

--Familiar with author
Pretty important for me. I've read all of the books by some authors. On the other hand, I like to experiment some times and buy books from unknown aauthors just to see whether they are readable.

--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
I tend to be erratic reader i.e. I don't read too many books from specific genre in a row. If I've read 2 fanatasy boosk in a row it's usually followed by Sf or cyberpunk. There are of course exceptions, times when I get caught up in some series so I'll try to finish it at once, but that happens very rarely

--cover and presentation
None.

--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
None. Although I once almost didn't buy a book by one of my favourite authors because the cover blurb was horrendous. Then I thought about what the author had written before and still bought the book and it didn't dissapoint me.

--content (flipping through book)
Almost never. I usuaally go to the shop knowing what I want to buy. Just sometimes look through books with intriguing titles by unknown authors.

--recommendations from others
This is really important, some persons who know my tastes have recommended me a lot of good books.

--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
--other?
Don't know under which this goes, but lately I bought most of the books by reading the short abstract in some online bookshop and then deciding whether I'd like to buy this book or not.

 

[carrie221]

Not important (I mean I do read books by favorite authors but I do not have to have heard of the author before to read it)--Familiar with author

None--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)

Some (if it grabs my attention I am much more likely to buy and read the book; I am awful about remembering books that I want to read once I have stepped into a bookstore)--cover and presentation

some (the blurb)--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors

some--content (flipping through book)

lots, if it is someone I trust --recommendations from others

some (on here I heard about some books which I am reading) --reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)

mood of the day or if I can borrow it from someone--other?

 

[Scriven]

--Familiar with author
I'll often buy a book simply because I've enjoyed other works by the same author. There's always the chance it might be bit disappointing compared to what you've read, but there are always 'tried and trusted' authors you can rely on for a good book.
--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
I don't usually buy books just because they're in a genre I like. For example, I like Tolkien, but I don't think I'd ever read anything by Salvatore. Style, quality of writing, and the 'unique' factor are more important for me.
--cover and presentation
After 'that Eragon incident', I've learnt not to get drawn in by purty covers. I get sorely tempted, but I try to research a book a bit more before buying. But if it's a good book and looks nice, all the better. =)
--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
Though lots of ingratiating back-slapping - especially between authors of very similar sub-genres - can get on my nerves, I don't mind reading what they think. I've been misled by glowing accolades before, but I'm more likely to buy a book that has received a lot of praise than one that hasn't.
--content (flipping through book)
Most important factor, lol. I always have a quick read to see for myself whether a book's any good. Glitzy covers are nothing if the content is rubbish.
--recommendations from others
Unfortunately I don't know many fantasy readers. *sigh*
--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
I'll always read the reviews - usually the bad ones first. I like to get a good idea of book's shortcomings before picking it up.
--other?
Not many other factors I can think of. =)

 

[Perpetual Man]

Familiar with author
For me this is quite oiften the deciding factor. For example I recently read a Robin Hobb book and have since gone out of my way to get as much as her stuff as possible. Although the reason I picked it up in the first place was due to wanting something different to read and I saw a copy on the bookshop shelf...
Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
Although it should not be, this is often a deciding factor. As I get older I find that there is less time for me to read what I really want to, let alone material that i should read but does not appeal so much, so I often end up sticking to what I know I like. Very naughty I know, should be trying to expand my horizons and all, but genrally I stick with the Fantasy and Science Fiction, of all types.
Cover and Presentation
There is of course the old adage Never Judge a book by the cover, but I sometimes do. if I'm looking for something new I'll often go into a store and its the covers that draw me to them first.
cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
Following on from the previous - if the cover takes my fancy the next thing I look at is the blurb, and if there is a comment by a writer I happen to like then all the better. But never judge on cover alone.
Content (flipping through book)
I never, ever do this
Recommendations from others
Most of the recommendations I get come from after I happen to say I've just started reading soemthing, and only then do my friends tell me I should have read sit sooner because it's great, or that i should not read that, it's better off being used as toilet paper. Since joining Chronicles though, I have seen all the recommendations flying around and that has influenced a few choices! (As if I did not have enought to read!)
Reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
I never really look at reviews, as taste is subjective. I've seen books I love get savaged and ones I thought terrible highly applauded, so i do my best not to look at the reviews
Other?
Quite often friends give me books for birthday and Christmas. One friend in particular is very good at giving me things that he feels are a little different, or that I need to read. once given, no matter how strange they me I am duty bound to read them. Some day.

And another reason is research. If there is something I am writing or working on, or just take an interest in I will pick up a few books on the subject.

 

[A1ien]

--Familiar with author
Author is important, especially if I've read a very good book by that author and I will go out purposefully looking for books by that author, however I still look at other authors (because otherwise how would you find anything new?)

--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
I'd say this is probably the most important factor for me. I almost always go for Science Fiction or Fantasy

--cover and presentation
This is only important in that it must be eyecatching and certainly not cliche. If I find the cover too cliche I often will not look at the book for fear the contents will also be too cliche

--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
Quotes from other authors I dont usually take into consideration. I usually go by the blurb and a few lines from the first page to tell me what a book is like. The blurb has to grab me before I bother trying out the first page though.

--content (flipping through book)
See above

--recommendations from others
Quite important. Depends who recommended it. If I know they dont like the same stuff as me then I'm a bit dubious

--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
I never read reviews so they cant count

 

[Nesacat]

Familiar With Author - This is important to some extent. If I really like the author I tend to read everything I can find. But I also really love just browsing through the shelves and more often than not find muself buying books by new authors.

Specific Genre Or Sub-Genre - This would be the least important for me since I read most genres. Admittedly, in a book store, I always seem to begin with the children's and young adults' section and then work my way towards SFF and then regular fiction and then perhaps history or the classics.

Cover & Presentation - I have bought many books in the past without having looked at the cover at all, having made the decision based solely on the blurb on the back cover. But then again I have also picked up books because of the art on the cover.

Cover Blurb, Preface, Quotes From Other Authors - The blurb certainly but not so much the quotes from other authors. The blurb is the most important. If it does not strike a chord then I'm likely to put the book back on the shelf.

Content (flipping through book) - If the blurb catches my attention I might read the first page, but not necessarily all the time, especially if it's an author I like anyway. Have occasionally been known to read the end of the book and have several times read the book from back to front. I don't know whether it's frightening or just plain quirky but it sometimes makes sense that way too.

Recommendations From Others - I have a pool of friends both here on the Chronicles and otherwise who share the same reading interests and yes, this is quite important. I've discovered several new writers that I might never have considered through friends.

Reviews - I might read reviews, especially if they are posted here for instance but don't use them to judge a book. In the past I've found myself loving many books that were totally trashed by critics and detesting books that were raved about. I'd give a lot more credence though to reviews by people who care for the same sort of literature, hence reading the reviews here.

Other - Friends tend to give me books as gifts and often times they are books I'd never have picked up myself. This too has led me to some interesting discoveries in reading. One particular friend runs the children's/young adults department in a bookstore and she gives me extra review copies that she has, which she thinks I might like.

I also help out with selecting books for the library at a school I used to work for as well as a bookstore owned by a friend so often find myself reading through some very different books.

 

[Loner]

Familiar with author
Definitely is one of the major factors. If one of my favourite authors publishes a book I am likely to purchase it. however it can't be THE major factor as my favourite authors just don't produce books as fast as I can read them! So I have to find new authors to enjoy...but how do I decide this?...
Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
Absolutley. I like to find new authors within my favourite genres, comedic crime, SF&F, and historical crime fiction. I do branch out if there is nothing in these ares. I like a bit of armchair travel.
Cover and presentation
It will catch my eye in initially but doesn't influence my final decision.
Cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
Blurb helps me see if the plot and characters are my kind of style, but quotes from authors are meaningless cliches and bootlicking PAP!!!! *fume*
Content (flipping through book)
If the steps above get me interested then , yes, I will flip through to see if the writing style is so annoying I can't stand it, or if it peaks my interest.
Recommendations from others
Sometimes, but people don't always recommend books to me unless It happens to come into the conversation so this can be an intermittent source of information. On the other hand if abook grabs them enough to make them rave and INSIST i read it then I will give it a go.
Reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
No I will ususally be looking at a book on Amazon because I have already provisionally selected it basedon other criteria. The reviews on Amazon just help cement my decision.
Other?
Mood. Sometimes I feel like escapism, sometimes I need a laugh and sometimes I need to think. This is a mjor influence on what I choose to read.

 

[Kettricken]

--Familiar with author
This is the most important one for me. When I've read good books by an author I usually buy their next books without looking at reviews and recommendations.

--Specific genre or sub-genre (F, SF, military SF, sword & sorcery, etc.)
Not so important. I like all kinds of genres, but I must say I like character depth and -development.

--cover and presentation
For me, this is important when I buy a book on impulse. This is how I discovered Hobb's books. On the other hand, there are a number of books I love that have awful covers.

--cover blurb, preface, quotes from other authors
Depends from who the blurbs are. If it's only the publisher, well... no. However, if I see a good remark from one of my favourite authors, then I will be more inclined to buy the book.

--content (flipping through book)
I only do this when buying graphic novels.

--recommendations from others
If it's someone who knows my taste in books, then a recommendation will have an influence in the decision whether to buy or not to buy a book.

--reviews (on Amazon, here, etc.)
Most of the time, I look at who wrote the review. I look up other reviews of the same person, check if they reviewed books I already know and compare it with my own opinion. If it's similar, yes, then the review will definitely will have an influence.

 

[Milena]

Friends advice; several expert reads at work often lend me new authors; one likes more fantasy and one likes sciece stuff, so I get a good range...
Amazon reviews; not always reliable but a start; I got Spin State that way (yay!) but also Elizabeth Moon
Blurb; I work in publishing so I know this is often complete cr... nonsense...
Familiar with author; sometimes, though I sometimes feel a lot of authors only produce one or two great books, and from then on it is "more of the same". There are exceptions, of course!
Price; not so much; I'm obliged to claim almost all books are fantastic value!

 

[Razorback]

Familiar with Author – This is probably the strongest and most reliable factor for me in choosing a book. If I like the author, there is a strong chance I’ll read it at some point, unless one of the other important factors is negative for me. Once I reach a saturation point with a given author (generally anywhere from 3 to 10 books), however, this factor weakens for that author. I’ll still read books by such an author, but less frequently after I reach my saturation point.

Other (Hugo and Nebula Novel Winners, etc.) – If a book by an author I already like is strong enough to win, then I have two good reasons to read it. I also want to expand my range with new quality authors as much as I can. Reading award winners by authors I have not read before is a good way to try them. It may or may not be their best work, but an award winner is probably one of their stronger works. Since I have now read many of the award winners and only one or two are added each year, the usefulness of this factor is declining for me. I also picked up a SF encyclopedia last year that I have used for a number of recommendations.

Recommendations from Others – Recommendations from this site and other similar sites are strong sources for new authors and books to try. A recommendation from someone who seems to have similar tastes and/or from multiple people on such sites is often enough for me to give the author or book a try.

Specific Genre or Sub-Genre – This is important from the standpoint that I read mostly SF, with some occasional fantasy works (usually award winners). Beyond that, a few sub-genres do not generally interest me. I am not drawn to time travel, especially into Earth’s past or alternate versions of Earth history. As long as the book is SF and not one of the sub-genres that I do not care for, this is not much of a factor. I will read most SF material.

Cover Blurb, Preface, etc. - Occasionally something in the cover blurbs or other such items will catch my interest and lead me to pick a book, but its usually only a minor factor if one at all.

Cover and Presentation - Occasionally cover art will catch my eye and induce me to pick a particular work, but it is rare.

Reviews - Except for this site, I do not generally pay much attention to reviews. Currently, I probably have around 100 books between my to-be-read pile and my hunting list. If I ever run low on leads from other sources, I will probably look at reviews a bit more.

Content (flipping through book) – I do not do this when selecting books. I do not read that fast and a few miscellaneous pages or passages does not tell me much.

 

[hedgeknight]

Unless I'm searching for a particular author, a book sitting on the shelf must catch my eye and that means a cover that beckons me to reach out and pick it up. From there I read the blurb on the back cover and usually make a decision from just that much information.
So...to me, presentation is the #1 factor.
In fact, that is how I discovered Teresa Edgerton's The Green Lion series many, many years ago. The cover art was so intriguing that I picked up the books, read the back blurb, and took a chance. Been a fan since! (Yes, that is shameless sucking up! )

The #2 factor for me is recommendations from others - particularly those on this forum! Thanks folks!
-g-

 

[Mouse]

Most of my books come from Amazon so I read the reviews. Also I see what people on here are recommending! I have bought a book before simply because of the quote on there from another author. It was The One Kingdom by Sean Russell and the quote was by Robin Hobb who is one of my favourite authors. I thought if she says it's good then it must be. Though after reading it I didn't actually enjoy it that much!
Also, I'm ashamed to say, if I don't like the cover I won't buy the book! Someone was buying a book for me once and I was with them, they handed me the book and said 'what about this? Sounds good?'
I took one look and said 'No! Don't like the cover!'
Bad Mouse!!