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by Simon Humphrey on Jul 23, 2008 3:34:13 PM
Okay, the Richard & Judy discussion does seem to have stirred up a bit of a hornets nest over whether we can trust their recommendations or not. So, what really is the best way to choose a book? What are our book buying decisions influenced by the most?
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By a media onslaught of advertising? By corporate organised recommendations? By word-of-mouth & individual recommendations by friends or bookstore staff? By fancy cover designs? By author reputation (oh so & so's a bigname, he must be good) regardless of their actual quality? Or by anything else? Let's all be honest now... |
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by James Pearson on Jul 23, 2008 3:44:59 PM
I never choose the book...I always take what the demon monkey commands me to read...
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by James Pearson on Jul 23, 2008 3:51:42 PM
"Come on little devil chimp guy...Stop cr!pping on the R and J Recommends display and choose me a goddang book!"
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by Simon Humphrey on Jul 23, 2008 3:53:14 PM
How about 'classic' literature? Does anyone feel guilted into reading a Steinbeck or a Salinger etc?
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by Anne Cater on Jul 23, 2008 4:48:53 PM
I have so many books To Be Read and I have so many ways of choosing what to buy. If I like an author, then I'll get their books. I read reviews in the press, online. Friend recommendations, book group choices. I may spot something in a shop - I have no tried and tested method of choosing - just whatever takes my fancy really.
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As for classics, well I'm doing the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die challenge. I've just read Of Mice and Men for the first time - to be honest it left me a bit cold. |
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by Amy T on Jul 23, 2008 11:25:22 PM
I read Of Mice and Men a few years ago and I had a similar feeling but then I watched the film adaption and much preferred the movie to the book. I think it starred John Malkovich as Lennie and Gary Sinise as George. J.D. Salinger's A Catcher in the Rye bored me to death and the only reason I still have it is because I think it's a crime to put a book in the bin. I generally don't read classics but I do have a few on my bookshelves half of which I haven't read yet.
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When choosing books I read customer reviews or buy books by author's I'm all ready familiar with. After reading 'The Historian' by Elizabeth Kostova, I don't even consider books publicised through advertising or reviews in the press. Sometimes I may buy a book that has been reviewed by an author I respect but only if the blurb on the back appeals to me. |
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by Buffy Squirrel on Jul 24, 2008 2:09:36 AM
I read "Of Mice and Men" many years ago, when I was a child--I think the length (or shorth) appealed to me. I found it a disturbing book, but in later years I came to think that it was actually a bit malicious in the way it narrowed down the options and left the protagonist with only one (apparent) choice. I've noticed this a lot since in fiction--a character's faced with a dilemma, but the strings the author's pulled to get them there show through.
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I find choosing non-fiction much easier than choosing fiction. Basically, I look for books on the subject that I'm interested in and choose the one(s) that seem best written, or have the most illustrations, or make extensive use of contemporary sources. I will also pick up a non-fiction book on impulse, just because the subject appeals at that moment. Although basic competence in writing is necessary for readable non-fiction, how it's written doesn't tend to affect my enjoyment as much as it does in fiction. Fiction is much harder. If I find an author I really like, I tend to latch on until I've read my way through their work. So I'm steadily working through Golding, PKD and Patrick O'Brian nowish. I'll look at almost anything in the SFF field, but rarely venture outside it unless I'm given a compelling reason--all the praise and awards racked up by "The Road" (which I suppose is SF even if it's not marketed as such) are why I picked it up. Other books that have infected the blogosphere with enthusiasm haven't been such happy purchases. I wish I could run across a reliable method of finding fiction I like. It's gotta be out there, right? |
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by Simon Humphrey on Jul 24, 2008 12:01:41 PM
Of Mice & Men is one those classics I kinda feel I should read & have never got around to it. I did read Catcher In The Rye & can see why it is a 'classic' book as it is very well written & has a central character a lot of people can identify with on some level, even if nothing much happens in the way of a story. I've bought Cat's Cradle & have yet to get around to reading it, & I did start on The Count Of Monte Cristo but gave up after about four pages - my god does that bloke ramble. I've read authors who like to ponder a lot but this guy uses 30 words where 5 will do - kind of the anti-Hemmingway approach.
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I agree choosing non-fiction is a lot easier than choosing fiction because you're buying it for the subject matter rather than say the writing style, whereas fiction (to me) is more about the way it's written than the content. If I see a book that looks good or am recommened something I'll always read the opening page to get an idea of the author's writing style & if I don't like it I won't bother buying it. I have sometimes bent this rule & bought a book with the intention of giving it a chance (Count of Monte Cristo for one) & been bitterly disappointed. |
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by Amy T on Jul 24, 2008 12:35:58 PM
Oh no, I've been wanting to read 'The Count of Monte Cristo' for a while now but I have not yet got around to it. I really enjoyed the French TV adaptation and the Hollywood movie a few years ago so I've been expecting that the book would be even better.
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by Simon Humphrey on Jul 24, 2008 2:25:00 PM
I saw the American movie myself, the Guy Pearce one, & loved it & that's why I chose the book as one of the classics to give a try to, but 1700 pages of incredibly tiny print? And it's the kind of book where instead of a character just opening a door & walking through it he's got to ponder endlessly on the subconcious meanings of the act of opening the door &... it's just WAY too descriptive. Be intelligent yes but keep the story moving!
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