Let’s talk bookish is a weekly meme, created and hosted by Rukky @Eternity Books and Dani @Literary Lion, here different topics will be discussed.
This week’s topic is ‘What makes you pick up a book’,
What makes you pick up certain books?
Mainly the author and hype! If I see a certain book go around book blogs/booktube a lot, it quickly catches my attention. Of course I will still check if it would be something for me, before actually picking it up!
Since I became more active in the bookish online world it is very hard to just go to the bookstore and pick up a random book. Now when I go I would just look at the books that I’ve heard something about, and then see if I want to pick it up!
What I found recently is that I also look at the blurbs, and what authors wrote those?! I’m not really sure if that says something about the actual book. But if a favourite author of mine has blurbed it, it will help me wanting to pick it up!
Is a pretty cover enough?
No, but it does help to pull my attention towards it! If a book has a very pretty cover I will be more likely to pick it up and read the synopsis.
Do you check for good reviews?
Since I often pick up books because of the hype, I definitely look at reviews! Both good and bad, since I want to see why people didn’t like certain books. Maybe someone didn’t like the book because of a trope I love! Which will make me more likely to pick it up!
Is the synopsis important?
Yes, but I more look at reviews, the author, and also more to other people give a synopsis. As in not the synopsis on the back of the book!
Do you look for diversity or #ownvoices?
I think we recently did a Let’s Talk Bookish post about this, see here!
I don’t go around looking for diverse or ownvoices books, but luckily lots of new releases do contain one or the other! And this is definitely an improvement in the fantasy releases!
Do you look for any checkboxes?
If magic schools or dragons are mentioned, I’m very quickly on board with a book! Also a group of retired people going back to their previous job (think Kings of the Wyld!), I love that!
Do you have autobuy authors?
Coincidentally I posted a list with my autobuy authors yesterday! Which you can check out here!
But to name some; VE Schwab, Brandon Sanderson and Jay Kristoff!
For me it’s author, blurb, friend rec’s/reviews in that order. I only buy e-books so cover is no longer as important as it was when I bought physical books. I love how you mentioned negative reviews can be positive and help you decide to buy a book someone else disliked – I’ve also done the same from reviews. I also appreciate when reviewers mention if a blurb is misleading or when they do their own blurb, as sometimes you need that extra detail. Sadly some don’t know when to stop and give a synopsis of the book rather than a teaser!
The storyline, the cover and the author are the main points! Then sometimes I’ll read reviews about the book…but I usually go with my gut feeling. The one theme that I tend to go for is for is vampires.
Gut feeling! Definitely!
Usually its about the blurb and then from there the star rating!
Blurbs can be so good! (but I guess that’s the point haha!)