New Providence Memorial Library's Online Reading Group discussion
Escape Ordinary Summr Rdng 2015
>
Escape the Ordinary - Week 3
date
newest »
newest »
I will often read book recommendations/synopses in popular magazines for potential new reads and have an on going "to read" list as a result. I don't necessarily. however, read reviews prior to actually reading most books as I like to read without any preconceived ideas. I will often, however, read the review after I have read the book in order to see if others agree with my point of view or if, by reading other's ideas , it will help me to look at it in a different light! I am a teacher and, if choosing nonfiction reading material to supplement my lessons, I will read reviews on that material in order to get an idea of the reliability of material,
I do read reviews also. I'm always looking for a new author to read and love to read the reviews of my favorite author's new release. At the Goodreads giveaway site, I read the reviews before entering to win. I don't seek out review publications, but if I see them in magazines or newspapers, I do make it a point to read them.
As a rule, I do not read reviews before I read a book. Nor do I read the book jackets. I hate it when a review gives away some of the plot. I read books for discussion groups and often have no clue what the book is about before starting it. I do read a very short description of a book on the library's site or sometimes Amazon or Goodreads. I usually choose a book because it was recommended to me or is by an author I already like. From two sites (this is one of them) I jot down titles that people have commented favorably on.Like Kathleen, I read the reviews after I've read the book to see how others have commented. Especially if there is an ambiguous ending or I feel I 'missed' something.
I also get ideas for books from various emails I receive: Publisher's Weekly, Powells, etc. They usually give just a couple of sentences about what the book is like and that's enough to spark my interest - or not.
Hi! I rarely read the review the any author I have followed for a period of time. James Lee Burke, Craig Johnson, CJ Box, Linda Fairstein, Lee Childs, Chelsea Cain etc are all story lines I have followed for many years.However, with a new author, I will check out the reviews, but still make up my mind. If I went by the dust jacket on "Midnight Circus" or "The Company of Lairs" I would have probably never read either one. But I loved them both so MUCH, I will do a re-read which is something I never do.
There are several writers, Jody Picoult (sp), Randy Wayne White, Ace Aikens, and others,that I use to follow faithfully, but they are continuing to disappoint even after great reviews. There are more, but I just feel like they need to take a break and not crank out 1-2 books every year that I can't get to the middle of the book. David Baldacci is starting to do a formula style like Patterson with many other writers doing the grunt work and they are getting totally predicable. It may be time for me to look at non-fiction for a change.
I do not read reviews often. For picking a book I tend to look at the jacket though to see if the story spikes my interest. I often go to bookstores to look at the books and when I see one I think I like I buy it for my e-reader.
One reason I hate reviews by other well know authors, it is becomes a club of the same authors raving about their peers works. Eerything is "Riveting!" or a"Page Turner: be prepared to be up ALL night!" "Leaps out of the gate and finishes well beyond anyone else for suspense!" ( I made that one up in honor of America Pharoah lol)." You will sleep with the lights on for weeks" And on and on. The buzz words seem to re-cycle so I have a hard time paying attention to other authors praise. If you follow the reviews on the dust cover, it is a lot of the same authors pitching for the ones that reviewed their previous book.
LOL Helene, many years ago I had a neighbor that designed book covers for romance novels(he oil painted-no photo shop then). I asked him, where does he get the ideas. He said it was a simple formula. She is a young, ravishing innocent and he is the bad boy rogue. Boy gets girl, boy messes up and loses girl, and then he has to prove himself 10 times over to win her back. If she is blond, he is dark haired, the most important thing was she was what every women would like to look like and he was the total package. The way he decided on the "pose" was how hot the guy was to him because he was gay. I was in his house once and was SHOCKED at the number of painting he had and they were photographic perfect. This guy made ALOT of $$$$$.
New Providence wrote: "Here's a question that I can answer on both a personal and professional basis. Do you read reviews? If so, do they affect what you choose to read or how you read a particular book?
Well, yes a..."
I don't read reviews- I probably should but I really rely on word of mouth. I don't even look at the jacket cover - which is ironic since we (teachers) always suggest pre-reading a book.
p.s. Lisa: I found my way here YAY
Mod
But like Marie, I tend to ignore the reviews from other authors on the cover of books since they are always positive and not reliable.
I often find that after reading a book review in the NY Times Book Review I feel like I've read the book already and don't need to read it! But if a book review just piques my interest I will read the book.I also don't pay attention to other author's reviews as they are notoriously positive no matter what. I think there's a reciprocal service going on there.New Providence wrote: "Here's a question that I can answer on both a personal and professional basis. Do you read reviews? If so, do they affect what you choose to read or how you read a particular book?
Well, yes a..."
Hi! I just finished the audio of"The Girls" by Lori Lansens. I never thought I would listen to this, but am trying to get out of my box. This is a story of Rosie and Rubie that are conjoined cranial twins that live for their whole life with their Aunt and Uncle the Loveys. It is told by each sister and what an eye opener. I never thought about this, and the story is outstanding and so heartfelt, it hit home to me as a Twin. How each of them mature and have separate interests and the fact they can NOT see each other with out a mirror makes the concept of being conjoined so much harder to imagine. When Ruby has her first kiss from a boyfriend, Rosie try's to imagine what that could be like. While the concept of this story may seem perverse, it is not. It is real, honest and genuine and I found myself wanting to know more of how they each feel and how they find happiness and genuinely love each other is such a special bond. As a spoiler alert, when they are diagnosed with a brain aneurism, their goal is to reach their birthday of 30 to be historically the oldest conjoined twins. The 1st person dialog by each is magnificent and heartfelt and the reader will NOT be upset. Lansen's writing is clever, solid and on target.
The only time I read the reviews is when I'm thinking about entering a giveaway on Goodreads or "First to Read", for an author I haven't read yet. Otherwise, I tend to follow the same authors (and, like Marie, I'm finding that I'm getting bored with those that seem to be churning them out just for $s). I also read these threads - occasionally finding something to put on my "to read" list. It is how I found the Longmire series :-)
Just a heads up to any Longmire fans. The author, Craig Johnson emailed me that the 4th year should be out on Netflix this fall. For those of you that did not know about the A&E disastrous mistake of cancelling the #2 rated show on cable, we formed a Posse and Stampeded every Monday night with over 85,000 fans in that hour to lock in Facebook and Twitter. After 12 weeks of stampeding, Netflix bought the show. Both the production manager and CEO of A&E were fired. As Craig Johnson said in one of his many interviews, "the show was cancelled because "they" felt the over 50 viewers did not met the 18-49 demographics they think spends the most money. Well, they found out real fast, you do not piss off the over 50 fan base. THEY have been to that rodeo and have the buckle. NEVER in the history of ANY TV show has the fans created such a social media storm to get back what they wanted" Hollywood Reporter followed us every week an posted each Tues of how many people Twitter/reposted etc. Rob Taylor and Lou Diamond Philips and many others of the cast were with us every night. You can not disregard 5 million fans over 50 that love the show. I recommend this to every one here. Netflix is streaming the first 3 years now and I promise, this escape reading/watching the show is powerful, entertaining and emotionally moving with current issues that make it even more relevant.
Marie - thanks for mentioning Longmire! Someone in this group mentioned it in the past and I totally forgot about it. I do not get Netflix and it's a series I have wanted to watch so I checked and BH library has it! I put reserve on it and will pick up tomorrow. Not much TV viewing on now, however, getting involved in a series is going to cut down on my reading time! And, Poldark is starting soon on PBS and I want to record that. At least I'm not bored!!!
Marilyn, I have a very soft spot in my heart for Craig Johnson's Longmire. I fell in love with his books in 2006 and found the show on A&E. When it was cancelled the real life Aunt of Adam Barkley that plays a lesser role as "the Ferg" started a fan club "LongLiveLongmire. In less than 2 months we had people from France, UK, Canada and other countries demanding A&E bring it back. When they said no, the OLDER fan base was unimportant, THEY MADE A BAD MISTAKE. We literally stampeded Facebook and Twitter non stop and Netflix heard us loud and clear and bought the series. Craig Johnson and the entire cast has been in many interviews and comment on what the Posse did to bring them back and the power of us old timers. LOL This is a show that will appeal to everyone and I ask people just check it out and they will be surprised. I also have a copy of Walt's belt buckle on a cuff from Craig with a bear print and other scrolls and anyone that knows the story line, knows a Standing Bear does not run. Great hearing from you!!!!
I love Longmire. Thanks Posse; looking forward to season 4.Becky
Hi! Now, for all you dog lovers (or dog likers), who have ever had a broken heart (your best friend married the guy you have been secretly in love with for 6 years) AND YOU ARE THE BRIDE'S Maid...get ready for a fast, fun read, also on audio at BH. "Stay" by Allie Larkin is charming,delightful and made me want to lace my Vodka with Kool-Aid. AND then order a dog on line after watching reruns of Rin-Tin-Tin while the bride & groom are on their way to a private villa in Tuscany.Did I mention, the dog can only answer to commands in Slovak? That is just the very beginning, the best is yet to come. I recommend this as a departure from your normal readings. I cleaned my whole house to the audio and finally found my motivator to do this on a monthly basis. This book is performed, NOT JUST read, by Julia Whelan and I will keep her name on my audio list. She made it a fun experience, touched my heart, made me laugh and at the end call my best friend from 30 years ago and tell her that I forgive her for stealing my Peter Clarke.
Just FYI: In my first grade class this week, the kids finished writing book reviews! Part of the effort to meet the core content standard on persuasive writing. We also watched Reading Rainbow reviews and they read one of their own - as an oral review.
Marie - thanks for the info on "Stay". I just put reserve on it at BH library. I'm always looking for lighter books to listen to and this sounds like a perfect one. Now...if only it would be a motivator for me to clean my house!
As Lisa does, I have to read reviews as part of my job. I order fiction, audiobooks and videos, so I read a lot of reviews. I find that because I read them for work I don't tend to read them for what I'm personally reading. I agree that author reviews are always glowing, they scratch each others backs. Sometimes in my reading for my job I will come across a review that piques my interest for a book and I usually enjoy reading that book.I just finished reading Finding Me by Michelle Knight and Hope by Amanda Berry & Gina DeJesus. Both were fast reads. What these girls went through for over a decade is astounding. Both books made me cry but were not overwhelmingly depressing as I thought they might be. I recommend both titles, they compliment each other.
Ut oh...this thread is making my TBR list grow even longer! Lisa - thanks for your comments and given the subject matter, I might not have ordinarily put these titles on my TBR list but I'll give them a try - some day - when my huge pile of books gets smaller...
Hi! Thank you Phyllis, I would never consider either one of them unless YOU recommended them. Just the subject matter alone is too much for me to have even thought I could read about it. I'll give it a try.Becky, BH has all of Longmire on audio. George Guidall is one the top 10 audio performers and has Walt and Henry down perfect. I totally recommend them to ALL Longmire fans. George pulls you in and you feel you are with them through out the entire book. I really get upset when the story is over, I wish they could go on forever.
Thanks Marie, and I am putting "Stay" on my TBR list
Marie, I hope you like them. The subject matter is disturbing but all three girls tell their stories with sensitivity.
Mod
Mod
https://www.pinterest.com/npmlnj/
Mod
Mod
Mod
I should put in a plug here for Book Page which is an old fashioned, print newpaper/booklet format publication with reviews and articles about books and authors. You can find it around the left corner of the Circulation Desk. If you haven't picked it up yet, you should consult it as another source for reading ideas.
I agree - Book Page is a great source for new books.
Hi! Thanks for the heads up Book Page. I have checked out GoodReads because of this group and foundseveral in the past that I would not have read if left to just look on the shelves. I am probably one of the few people that refuse to finish a book I do not like. I have the 50 page rule and found that it seems pretty accurate for me to make a decision to finish a book when I am sitting on the fence.
I have a tough time with Bios. I read Gregg Allman's and Steve Tyler's because I have been a fan of their music for 40 years. But even then, some parts were tough to take seriously. I know they are true because both have been in drug rehab and Gregg had a liver transplant. (ps Marylyn, it is also my clean house music lol). But I find most Bios almost unbearable trying to make the person larger than life.
As far as the topic of do we read reviews, almost never on any dust jacket because who is going to say, this was a crummy story line, over done, banal, waste of time, what was the author thinking? It makes me think of Robert A. Henlein's book "Time Enough for Love" I read 35 years ago and he took 2 intermissions to write a few pages of his thoughts. The one I NEVER forgot was "A critic is someone who creates nothing but feels qualified to judge those that do. He is really quite fair because he hates all creative people equally".
I find it most useful to skim full length reviews. If the review is good, I will stop reading as soon as I get the positive drift. I don't want to be overly informed and have details from the review cut into into the reading experience. The reviews on the dust jacket I take with a grain of salt.
Hi! I agree Becky which is what Lisa wanted up to focus on and ask what other avenues we have to get the facts. Good Read and Book Page are all new to me in the last year plus, so this gives me a resource I never knew to check out. I love being a member of this club, because I can vent my 2 cents, which I realize is my 10 cents, but I have to blame my cat Michael. When I am typing he sits next to my left hand and purrs and I get pretty long winded. AND kisses. He does not know he is a cat. Dog people will get that. So if I over step the boundaries on any level...blame him.
great responses and participation ! sorry i'm late to the discussions. i have learned in the past few years to ignore glowing reviews by fellow authors, as it appears to be a quid-pro-quo situation. (i've read a few duds that had gotten very positive props, eg. the miniaturist.) but yes, i do like to read a few representative goodreads reviews ("regular" readers like us) of all "stars" but avoid spoilers. also, i read professional reviews. i want to have an idea not just of content but what people think. sometimes i'm surprised at the multiple glowing reviews from various sources on some books (where'd you go bernadette and mr penumbra's 24 hour bookstore...HATED both of them) but often they're a pretty good indicator.
Mod
I don't usually do series, but Harry Potter was, of course, wonderful. And I went through a stage where I loved anything written by Maeve Binchy. I started reading Descent by Tim Johnston. I stopped because it just didn't pick up. The reviews are great, though.
Has anyone read any fiction or memoirs about the British or Americans in Japanese camps in WWII? I'm starting to get really into that time period.
And I'm going to have to check out Longmire!
Black Mirror is an amazing series on Netflix. So is The Fall. We're starting to watch Orphan Black, which is also good.
Mod
And on a sort of related topic, I'm sure you've read On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet about the Japanese internments camps here in America. Excellent book.
I just read Girl on the Train. I always struggle when the characters are not likeable...and these were horrible. Enjoyed the last 50-75 pages when the mystery picked up. There are parallels w Gone Girl> the theme of 'do we really know people'. I thought Gone Girl was much better. Didn't really enjoy Girl on the Train. Considered putting it down several times.
Snow Falling on Cedars also addresses the subject of Japanese internment during WWIISnow Falling on Cedars
Karen, I just watched 3 episodes of Black Mirror. The first one freaked me out so bad I was afraid to see the others! The 3rd one was unreal. I have been saying for years, that this WOULD happen and when I watched it was HOLY CRAP that is exactly what I have been thinking!Thanks so much for telling us about the show. It is NOT for the faint of heart for sure!!
Marie: I totally forgot about the first episode!!! Oops. That's probably the roughest one. I'm glad you watched more!
Karen, I should have expected that from the director. He is known for stuff like that. What freaked me out was the PM went through with it, I would have had 10 drinks before I took the blue pill or dropped a tab of acid so I would think is was all a bad dream.What did you think of the concept of the 4th one? Wasn't it a lot like Artificial Intelligence?
Just to keep up with the theme of 1st or 3rd narratives. If the Longmire series was being told byVic Morrelli, it would have to be written on asbestos.
The one thing I love about Jody Piccoult's books are the fact she tells the story line from each person's viewpoint. That is the reason I love her books so much. There is no assuming what each person thinks or
feels because they all tell the story. She is so talented this seems so easy for her, while I think many authors could not do it or fail miserable at keeping the continuality of each character.
Do you read reviews? If so, do they affect what you choose to read or how you read a particular book?
Well, yes and yes. I have to read reviews for my work as I'm responsible for purchasing non-fiction books for the library. We have selection publications we read where books are reviewed by librarians with an eye to collecting. I also like to dip into the NY Times and Kirkus sometimes. The decision whether to purchase a book is a bit different from just deciding what to read. When I look for myself, I'm interested in a good story or an exotic locale or characters that compel. When I'm buying for the library, there's the matter of wide appeal but also historical significance, importance of topic and how the book will hold up in 5 or 10 years.
I recall with wonder the days when I used to have the time to read the NY Review of Books from cover to cover. And then still have time to read the books. I guess I spent a lot more time on trains..That is a publication that demands a lot of its readers, the reviews sometimes are more demanding and erudite than the actual books!
What about you all? Do you read reviews? If the review isn't favorable, will you forge ahead?