What makes you choose a new book?

[gully_foyle]

I try to be cautious and go on recommendations or reviews. If I see an SF book that I like the look of, I will probably ask here before I buy it. I tend to focus on secondhand books and make up lists from what people comment on and recommend here. I need to be an informed buyer because I don't have the time to read bad books.

I don't use Amazon much, but I haven't been very satisfied with it as a source of information.

 

[Shingetsu]

Ah, one way is what I was doing yesterday for picking books. I went through some of the pages of "What are you reading in december" thread and looked up authors and books mentioned and added the ones to my list that sounded good. That's why I have Night Watch on my book case to read after this Bujold book.

 

[Snowdog]

You trust amazon reviews?

I don't necessarily trust reviews but they usually contain much more information than the publisher's blurb. I find reviews absolutely essential, btw, for things like electronics, if you can find any. You won't get any idea of flaws and problems from manufacturers but will from other buyers. You just have to treat the reviews with a bit of common sense.

Book reviews are very subjective, but as pyan said, they're a jumping off point.

I should add that I'm talking about user reviews here, not Amazon staff or editor reviews, which I don't think are so important. It's the impressions of other readers I'm after.

 

[Nikitta]

Usually though, I just like to stroll through the bookstore and see what I find. But if a book doesn't have a synopsis on the back, I won't pick it up, or look through the pages. I would like some idea of what it's about.

That is the word I tried to think of yesterday when I said I read the back of the book. I meant synopsis, but the word had temporarily slipped my mind. Thanks for bringing it back to my mind again

 

[Connavar]

I don't necessarily trust reviews but they usually contain much more information than the publisher's blurb. I find reviews absolutely essential, btw, for things like electronics, if you can find any. You won't get any idea of flaws and problems from manufacturers but will from other buyers. You just have to treat the reviews with a bit of common sense.

Book reviews are very subjective, but as pyan said, they're a jumping off point.

I should add that I'm talking about user reviews here, not Amazon staff or editor reviews, which I don't think are so important. It's the impressions of other readers I'm after.

Heh i used amazon too for info about what the book is about but these days i use fantasticfiction.


I dont read amazon reviews though. I have seen people usually hail or diss books for stupid reasons. I have seen there what they say about books i have read.

Like Gemmell's Legend suck!!! cause its not epic fantasy or Conn iggulden Gates of Rome sucks cause he changed the day Ceasar is born in to a few days later yeesh....

Only reviews site i read is the SFsite.com, there are experts usually other authors review the books. They know how to review to more than IT SUCKS....

 

[Overread]

I will agree, many amazon reviews can be rather stupid and simple - but I some are decent; I also look to the side of the review as to the number of people agreeing/disagreeing with a viewpoint as well. Whilst this is only a rough guide, I do find that reviews such as these don't tend to reveal as much about the story as many official reviews can somtimes do.

 

[Shingetsu]

I'll look at Amazon descriptions and what info is has of the book, but I don't read reviews much really. Except for once or twice when there was no description and a review did a decent job of it.

 

[Connavar]

I dont know if i want to side with people that buy books cause of their covers but...


For the first time ever i choosed a version of a book cause of a cover.

I ordered this rare and expensive version of On Stranger Tides cause the cover art was amazing. I wanted the book cause i like the writer and not the cover only but the other covers sucked compared to this one.

Here:
http://www.theworksoftimpowers.com/images/OST/OSTUK.jpg

 

[Nightmare]

What a relief to find others who'll admit to choosing a book based on its cover. I've only done it two or three times, but it's always turned out well.

I'm learning to trust blurbs less and less, but I'll usually dismiss a book that has no blurbs at all.

The synopsis has been my most important factor in buying books off the shelf, especially ones by authors I've not read. Many a time I've read a compelling synopsis in a bookstore, left without buying anything, and days later realized, "I simply must read that book!"

Since joining the Chrons, my Need To Read list has grown alarmingly, and I pretty much choose books based on it, now. So I guess that would be classified as word of mouth.

 

[Nikitta]

Many a time I've read a compelling synopsis in a bookstore, left without buying anything, and days later realized, "I simply must read that book!"

You Are Not Alone. It's really annoying if the bookshop no longer has the book by then and I've forgotten the title. Yes, it has happened.

Since joining the Chrons, my Need To Read list has grown alarmingly, and I pretty much choose books based on it, now. So I guess that would be classified as word of mouth.

I think that has happened for a lot of us, due to this forum.

 

[Connavar]

Heh 90% of my books i hear from chrons.

word of mouth is very powerful indeed.


People can mention a very obscure writer and i check out and end up with his books.

I like the many difference of taste of the members everyone dont go for the biggest and most popular authors which helps when you wanna try different things.


It can scare away also, im way too scared to read Goodkind,Eddings,Brooks etc

I see them weekly in the library and think every time " hell no"

 

[Adasunshine]

Some books I'll have seen raved about on here and so I'll hunt them down but if I'm just musing in the local bookstore, I tend to just pick them up at random and I'm one of the few where a cover can grab my attention. Once I have it in my hand, I read the blurb and if I like the sound of that I flick to the first page and start reading, if I can't bring myself to put it back on the shelf I buy it, if I can put it down again, it's not for me.

Of course sometimes I have to put it down due to lack of funding but it takes me a while and I'm surprised the local bookstore doesn't know me by my first name yet!!!

The most recent musing was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and I was right not to put it down again.

xx