One of the few conspiracy theories I believe is that book reviewers are in cahoots with authors to sell books. They write positive reviews in general because there is a battle for the attention spans of readers. So, they hype, making the mediocre or bad appear better than it really is.
Recently, based on those types of positive reviews, I picked up a book, planning on being blown away, absorbed from page one. That was not the case.
Instead, I slogged away, reading closely, attempting to find what was so damn interesting that all these other people had found in the plot and characters. In fact, I read more intently and slowly than usual for that very reason – to TRY and make the book hold my interest. Ultimately, I put it down and gave up.
This is unusual for me. But, over the past two years or so I’ve made the decision to not continue reading when something doesn’t move me in some way. In this most recent case, that came after 60 pages. I hoped to make it to 100 pages at a minimum, but when the slog began after the initial early hype (around page 20), by the time I reached page 60, it was time to give it up.
This particular book received particularly positive reviews. The style of the author was praised. The uniqueness of the plot line stood out to reviewers. “A fresh new voice” was the tag line, something that seems to get used a lot to urge you pick up (purchase) a new book.
Even more telling was the buddies of the author. This is another technique to suck you in.
The author has fellow writers pen 3-5 paragraphs that go on the back jacket. Of course, these writers want to help their friend out because they are all part of a reciprocal back-scratching society. You write something good for me. I write something good for you.
In the case of this novel, there were five friends saying halleluiah on the back cover. I’d never heard of any of them, and when I looked at what each of them had written, I’d never heard of any of their books either. That should have been the red flag, right?
Nope, I tried to give it a chance and believe what they had to say. When reading, I wanted the book to come across well and keep me turning the pages, wondering what happens next – a key criteria that must be met by a successful author. The concept was unusual, the subject matter a bit different. It lined up like it had huge potential.
Sigh. It wasn’t to be. The plot was boring. No tension. Hard to care about the characters. No sense that the story was going anywhere. I kept hoping and hoping, and finally said, “Why are you still reading this?” Put it down and picked up the next book in the pile.
Scintillating reviews mean nothing. Exclamation !!!!!!!!!!!! points at the end of sentences prove nothing. Friends and other authors audaciously endorsing the book say nothing. When you put the book down after 60 pages, that says something.
I’m too old to keep reading when boredom sets in. There are too many other books out there worth reading.
Recently, based on those types of positive reviews, I picked up a book, planning on being blown away, absorbed from page one. That was not the case.
Instead, I slogged away, reading closely, attempting to find what was so damn interesting that all these other people had found in the plot and characters. In fact, I read more intently and slowly than usual for that very reason – to TRY and make the book hold my interest. Ultimately, I put it down and gave up.
This is unusual for me. But, over the past two years or so I’ve made the decision to not continue reading when something doesn’t move me in some way. In this most recent case, that came after 60 pages. I hoped to make it to 100 pages at a minimum, but when the slog began after the initial early hype (around page 20), by the time I reached page 60, it was time to give it up.
This particular book received particularly positive reviews. The style of the author was praised. The uniqueness of the plot line stood out to reviewers. “A fresh new voice” was the tag line, something that seems to get used a lot to urge you pick up (purchase) a new book.
Even more telling was the buddies of the author. This is another technique to suck you in.
The author has fellow writers pen 3-5 paragraphs that go on the back jacket. Of course, these writers want to help their friend out because they are all part of a reciprocal back-scratching society. You write something good for me. I write something good for you.
In the case of this novel, there were five friends saying halleluiah on the back cover. I’d never heard of any of them, and when I looked at what each of them had written, I’d never heard of any of their books either. That should have been the red flag, right?
Nope, I tried to give it a chance and believe what they had to say. When reading, I wanted the book to come across well and keep me turning the pages, wondering what happens next – a key criteria that must be met by a successful author. The concept was unusual, the subject matter a bit different. It lined up like it had huge potential.
Sigh. It wasn’t to be. The plot was boring. No tension. Hard to care about the characters. No sense that the story was going anywhere. I kept hoping and hoping, and finally said, “Why are you still reading this?” Put it down and picked up the next book in the pile.
Scintillating reviews mean nothing. Exclamation !!!!!!!!!!!! points at the end of sentences prove nothing. Friends and other authors audaciously endorsing the book say nothing. When you put the book down after 60 pages, that says something.
I’m too old to keep reading when boredom sets in. There are too many other books out there worth reading.