You Can Judge A Book...

[rhythmaning]

Whilst I am discussing life and debate with frankie_ecap, she has been surprised and amazed by my attitude and behaviour regarding books.

We have an ongoing discussion about the value of book covers. I often decide to buy books by authors I don't know – I like trying new things, experimenting, seeing a different view.

Thing is, when I walk into a bookshop to browse, I have no way of working out which books by new authors I will actually enjoy. There are thousands of books by thousands of authors in many, many genres, and I can't sample them all – I have no way of deciding which I might want to try.

Except their covers. Their covers are full of information: the cover illustration (might) indicate something about the content; the publisher might have a reputation; the front or back might carry reviews or testimonials by people I trust or know to distrust.

So in the absence of any other information, I will look at the cover, pick up a book, investigate it a bit... I do a bit of work, but it will be the cover that first attracts me.

The analogy I use is that of going to a party where I don't know anyone else: rather than standing dumb in the corner, I would go and talk to someone; and that someone must have something to attract me – maybe they look interesting, or they are talking animatedly or they're wearing a low-cut dress - but in the absence of other knowledge, there will be something to attract me to talk to them. Once talking – or flicking through the pages of a book I'm considering – I can reassess my original view: I'll have more information on which to form an opinion.

But first impressions do count.

Comments

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

This is not particularly surprising and amazing compared to not wanting to read the sequel to The Well of Lost Plots.

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I bought The Eyre Affair simply on the basis of its cover and I have rarely enjoyed a book so much.

More often, though, I buy books that I've seen/heard reviews of, or that other people have recommended. And I do look for things that seem similar to things I know I like. I do a lot of re-reading, on the basis that it's safer to read something I know I already like than to risk something I might not. I need to work harder at changing this pattern..