I want to know a lot about a book before going in, but usually not what's in a blurb (too hyped/marketing driven) or in a print review (yes, often spoilers). I actually like reading GR reviews; spoilers are usually tagged, there are lots of them to choose from and I can focus on ones that actually say thoughtful things, and often people who write scathing reviews give info that make me want to read it. Spoilers are usually tagged, and if a book's GR reviews are mostly memes, that book is likely not at all for me! 😂 And Booktubers I follow and bookish friends who I know tend to have tastes at least similar to mine add a lot to my TBR. But even then I often go read the GR reviews on top of it.
@lindysmagpiereads
3 ай бұрын
Being extremely spoiler-averse still seems weird to me, but I recognize that it’s important to some readers. I felt somewhat insulted by the section in the article that says learning about a book before reading it is like memorizing a mental map before I open the covers. I like to read professional reviews & listen to booktuber reviews as a way of deciding what to read, and then (often much later, when I finally get my hands on a library copy) read the jacket copy (which is almost always more than “a stew of adjectives”), and the preface or introduction and about the author before I actually read a book. All that doesn’t prevent me from “submitting to the pleasure of figuring out its internal logic.” (Which mostly describes the experience of reading speculative fiction, and I read more widely than that anyway.) All of that advance reading adds to my anticipatory pleasure and helps me to focus on the book in front of me. And of course it also helps me select books that are likely to be to my taste. Another thing: my “channels” are already plenty wide because I do pick up books because I like the cover, or trust the publisher, or am interested in the setting. Your conversation (and especially the online articles) obviously hit a nerve with me.
@melaniereed3494
3 ай бұрын
Thank you Shawn, very interesting conversation. I want to know a lot about a book before I decide to read it. I only read 3 - 4 books per month and so am extremely picky about what I read. I will not waste my time reading something which is not going to be at least a 4 star read for me. So, I read / listen to reviews, I often try to find an interview with the author. I like to read a chapter or at least a few pages to get a feel for the atmosphere of the story and a sense of how the author uses language. Where a novel takes place and when is very important to me. Also, no matter how much research I do before starting a book, I will probably forget about 90% of it - yes, my memory is that bad.
@lindysmagpiereads
3 ай бұрын
I’m with you, Melanie. I want to know if a book is worth my time. And for that, I need a lot of information.
@readandre-read
3 ай бұрын
This was a really interesting conversation. I agree that print reviews are notoriously spoilery; and the book jackets sometimes contain spoilers and often just describe the book poorly. My best bets are reviews on Booktube, Kirkus, and some of the book reviewers on NPR, especially Maureen Corrigan.
@lindysmagpiereads
3 ай бұрын
I usually read Kirkus, Quill & Quire, PW, Library Journal and SLJ reviews. I also pay attention to what’s talked about on 49th Shelf and Book Riot. How do you follow NPR reviews? Do they have a book podcast?
@readandre-read
3 ай бұрын
@@lindysmagpiereadsI used to rely on SLJ, Booklist and Kirkus in my librarian days. For the NOR reviews I just go to their website and look in the books section. They do also have a Book of the Day podcast that you can listen to on KZitem.
@josmith5992
3 ай бұрын
I’m definitely a squinter when it comes to book blurbs. I read enough to know if it’s a book for me and that’s it. I don’t like spoilers and try and avoid any reviews or chat about a book I’m planning on reading, similar to you Shawn. Ironically I have a memory like a sieve so when I do pick up the book I would probably have forgotten all that but 🤷♀️😉
@azu_rikka
3 ай бұрын
I think, I approach books in the same manner as Carina. From the time that the book peaked my interest to the time that I actually read it I have mostly forgotten about what it is. I will still remember what peaked my interest, but nothing more. I choose books from reviews on my favourite booktube channels and browsing through my library. Sometimes I check if one of my go-to authors has written a new book...
@myreadinglife8816
3 ай бұрын
I hate being spoiled! And yes I want to know if the dog dies. 😂
@59cubanita
3 ай бұрын
I am somewhere in the middle, I don’t mind spoilers or it has to be a murder mystery of something like that. I read the blurb and usually forget about it. Watch some of my favorite booktubers or read a review ( not often). I buy a book and very seldomly do I start reading it inmediately so I have forgotten what or why I got it. I do sometimes have an expectation about a book and it turns out to be about something else and that is allright if what I am reading is well written. I am attracted to covers but don’t go out and get it just because of it. Etc, etc. Lots of things to think about ❤
@sarah-roadworthy
3 ай бұрын
Blurbs on the back often help me decide NOT to read a book. If I spot words like "satirical", "hallucinatory" or "dense", the book is unlikely to work for me. For me at least, I don't think a handful of sentences sways me to pick up a book. I rely on reviews and other Booktubers to put a book on my radar. I think jacket copy often tries to give the reader a sense of the book - tone, themes, style, etc. I will say that I find that many blurbs accurately capture the vibe of a book once I've finished the book.
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