I mentioned in the Fall Into Reading 2011 launch post that every Wednesday this fall, I will post a question about reading.
Why am I doing this? Well, for one thing, I love reading and talking about reading with others. And for another, I thought it would be a great way to keep Fall Into Reading participants connected throughout the course of the challenge. Finally, I posted reading questions during Fall Into Reading 2010 and everyone seemed to really enjoy them. So let’s do it again!
Now without further ado, here’s your first question, and my answer.
How much do book reviews influence your decision to acquire and/or read a book?
If a friend or family member with tastes similar to mine has given a book a raving endorsement, I admit that I might not even look at reviews for that book. I’ll just trust that recommendation and pick it up without thinking twice. I also rarely glance at reviews for books from my favorite authors or series — I just go on past experience.
Otherwise, I do look at reviews, but I’m more likely to look at the negative reviews. In my experience, the negative reviews help me to better evaluate whether a book will be a good fit for me.
If a review complains that a book is slow-moving and full of flowery language? I’m likely to take a pass on that one. On the other hand, if negative reviews express disappointment that there wasn’t enough romance or that there were too many twist and turns, I might be even more likely to pick up that particular novel.
What about you? How much are you influenced by others’ reviews when picking books?
There are bloggers I’ve been reading for years, whose opinions I trust, whose tastes are similar to mine, and their reviews and recommendations do carry a lot of weight with me. Sometimes I do look at Amazon or Christianbook and scan reviews, particularly if the book in question is from an author I am not familiar with. It’s funny how often there are opposing views of the same book, but it does help to weigh them against each other and see what they did and didn’t like about the book. Sometimes I’ll look up reviews as well when I am about to review a book — not that I want other people’s reviews to influence mine, but I want to see if others felt the same way I did, or if I didn’t like a book, to see of I was missing something or misunderstanding it.
Barbara H.´s last post ..What’s On Your Nightstand: September
In-person reviews from friends are ones I take most seriously, but I do read Amazon reviews IF I’m thinking about buying the book. If it’s a library book or a free book, I don’t bother.
Like Barbara said, I take other bloggers’ opinions into account too, especially if they’ve recommended something previously that I really ended up liking.
Lisa notes…´s last post ..I’m afraid of being stupid
The book reviews I pay attention to are from my fellow book bloggers and friends whose taste I trust. I pay virtually none to professional reviewers. Oh, I’ve decided to look for a book because it was mentioned in the Londor Review of Books, but I don’t go out of my way to listen to what they have to say in there.
Great question. I put my answer up on my blog – you can find it here.
I second (or third?) Barbara’s comment. That pretty much describes my approach to reviews.
I use to read them and take what they said into consideration.. but for the most part I have found it doesn’t guarantee I would like a book! However, friends that like a book and recommend it to me has been very successful!
I am influenced by family and friends that rave about a book. If more than one blogger friend talks about liking a book, I usually will pick it up. Bloggers have encouraged me to read out of my comfort zone these last four years and I am so glad as I would have missed some really great books! Sometimes I even pick up a book that is getting a lot of negative feedback just to see how I will react.
I’d say my most trusted reviewer is my sister. Most of the time if she really loves a book I will read it. I do pay attention to trusted bloggers (they do read a lot, so who better to go to). I find I mostly use book reviews to find “new to me” books.
Amy´s last post ..Thomas Jefferson’s Library
YAY! I’m so excited about FIR
You can find my answer here.
I take recommendations I guess wherever I find them…friends, library, Bible study, blogs, newspaper, magazines, etc. Then, I generally checked Amazon’s “star ranking” but then also read the 1 and 2 starred ones as well to see if anything that bugs me about a book was mentioned. If I still want it, I copy the ISBN and go over to paperbackswap.com to put it on my master wish list or go down to the library to find it or order it via interlibrary loan.
Great question Katrina! My answer is here:
http://susannesspace.blogspot.com/2011/09/fir-011-question-1.html
I always read reviews on blogs that I read regularly. I know which bloggers I tend to agree with. But I also look at Amazon and specifically look at the bad reviews for the same reason you stated. I want to see why they didn’t like it. Is it something I wouldn’t like too or is it something that wouldn’t bother me? I rarely read a book without looking at reviews. The only time that might happen is when it’s a book club selection, and even then I read the reviews even though I will be reading the book no matter what the reviews say.
Julie @ MyBookRetreat´s last post ..Books on the Most Challenged Lists: Surprises
I will read a review and if it is a blogger I know and trust I’ll check that book out.
I think word of mouth has always been a big influence in my decision to buy things, especially books. I wrote more about it at my blog.
Jen E @ mommablogsalot´s last post ..FIR ’11 Question: Do book reviews influence your decision to read a book?
Written reviews influence me sometimes and so does word of mouth, but truthfully, I’m probably most influenced by the cover art and the story description on the back of the book.
I have, in the past, been known to judge most books by their covers, not their reviews. I rarely, if EVER, take into account anyone else’s opinions or read reviews. I can’t honestly think of a book that I’ve read based on a review. I’ve read books and THEN read reviews to see if other people like or dislike the same things that I did and I’ve read things like The Help, that had a lot of buzz about them, but I have never specifically read a book because I’ve read a good review. This could possibly be why I’ve been feeling a little bit bored by my recent reading selections. I’m trying something new, both reading non-fiction, and basing my selections on interviews that I’ve read or heard with the author. I figured that if I like their talking style, chances are, I will like their writing style. So far, (2 books in), I have not been disappointed.
“If a review complains that a book is slow-moving and full of flowery language? I’m likely to take a pass on that one”
Did you read the reviews of Peace Like a River before you put it on your list?
I’m kidding (sort of). I will actually look forward to your thoughts on that book. I’ve been thinking of reading it again, because even though the friend who recommended it to me LOVED it, and I’ve heard a lot about it since then, I never really “got” the draw.
Because the vast majority of the books I read are new, I don’t read reviews, but if I hear enough book bloggers mention a book, I do take note. I also am compulsive about avoiding spoilers, so even too much plot detail bugs me.
How much do book reviews influence your decision to acquire and/or read a book?
It all depends on the person and the book that is being discussed. I usually take how the cover of the book looks as well.
If a friend or family member recommends a book I’ll read it. I don’t always like the book but hey, if my friends like it I ought to know what they are talking about. i have only once not liked a book a friend suggested to the point where I didn’t finish it. Otherwise I just finish the book ’cause maybe it’ll take a turn…
I also listen to authors talk sometimes and if they talk about a book I am inclined to just see if it is good (as I am doing with ‘Rose’s and ’39 Steps’ which are on my list), I also will read a book before I see the movie (just read ‘The Help’ so I can go and see the movie, or, as with ‘Pillars of the Earth’ I watched the show and then got the book and the sequel to read. They also were recommended by my sister after I talked to her about the show.
I like that you are asking questions and we have to find something to write about ourselves. There are some interesting view points on here!
I love reading what other people think about a book. If I see many reviews of a book then I will often pay attention to them. However, I’ve always asked myself if the book was something that fit my own personal taste. If not, no mater how much hype it got, I won’t pick it up.
I’ve posted my response here: http://markcarstairs.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-into-reading-question-1-reviews.html
I’m kind of 50/50 on reviews. I may not always read them, but I might look at a rating to help me decide if I’d like to read it. And like you, I generally will read the negative reviews to see if I would agree and take a pass.
I don’t pay much attention to amazon reviews. I pay more attention to book blog reviews. I pay the most attention to personal reviews. Odd (and embarrassing) – I pay even more attention to the cover. If the cover isn’t professional, I assume it wasn’t good enough in the first place.
I always read reviews and, like you, usually only read the negative ones which for some reason seem to me a little more honest. I suppose I am cynical but I am suspicious of books that generate only gushy, mushy raving reviews…
Depends on the reviewer, really. Most often I’m likely to read something that catches my eye, or that a friend I trust recommends to me.
I definitely look at reviews, good and bad, when deciding whether to put a book on my TBR list. To me, that’s one of the big benefits of our book blogger community — the chance to discover new reads and see what others thing of them.
I have a few favorite authors whose work I will read no matter what other reviewers say. For the most part, I rely upon the book’s synopsis and the author’s previous work before deciding whether to read a book. But if I haven’t heard of the author before, I might check out a few reviews just to see what the majority say. If I see some consistency in the criticism, that will impact my decision. If not, I tend to go ahead and read the work and make up my own mind.
JHS´s last post ..Guest Post: The Impact of a Book
There are a few books I have bought and read because of the positive reviews on blogs I follow. But if a book gets my attention I’ll read it anyway, no matter the reviews it gets.
finally have my answer posted thanks
http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2011/10/fir-11-reading-question1.html
I used to read book reviews to make my recommendations, but I now spend more time fulfilling author review requests. I always enjoy reading reviews. When I am going to purchase a book, I look it up on amazon and goodreads first.
I like to read reviews of books – even when I know the reviewer is doing it for commercial reasons. Some of the best books I’ve enjoyed lately have come from the listings in the Bas Bleu catalog. The reviews, more like synopsis really, are short and sweet and to the point – and generally very enlightening. I will also sometimes read online reviews after I have finished a book – especially if I didn’t like it – just to see if I should have been clued in and saved myself the trouble. And if after entering a book into my Goodreads list, it comes up with a poor reading rating, it will go to the bottom of the stack.
I used to read reviews as a decision making tool. Now I don’t have the time or inclination to do so. I read some reviewers I know and trust because they put quality content in their work. Whether the review is positive or negative doesn’t so much determine my feelings about the book as whether the plot and what others say appeals to my taste. However I have also seen reviews that say “nothing” about a book both good and bad that just fluff up or drag down the average ratings on the retail sites where you have to include a rating with your review. If I am torn as to whether I want to read a book now since there are so many I definitely want to read it usually just gets ignored but I used to go to reviews as a secondary source of information on a title or author that I couldn’t decide on otherwise.
Melissa (ForstRose)´s last post ..Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie Blog Tour Intro & Giveaway
Here’s a link to my blog about your question number 1. Interesting question. : ) http://themancrew.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-into-reading-question-1.html
Goodness, none of my links want to work right today. Try this one, it *should* take you to the right place : )
http://themancrew.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-into-reading-question-1_3659.html