Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion
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How do I select a book ?
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For authors I've read before: 1. Author
2. Series
3. Latest book in series.
For authors I haven't read:
1. Genre (Your #3 Jacob)
2, Story line
3. Main Character
Let me clarify my note:Look at this in the following way:
You enter a room with 1000 books on the shelves.
You have 15 minutes to select 5 books and get out.
How do you start your speed selection.
Hopefully the books would be arranged by subject at least. For me that is everything. I would go from there as I generally stick to a few subjects. A great cover doesn't mean a great book unfortunately, and you wouldn't have time to check the ratings.
1. Author I've read2. Latest book in his/her series.
(Usually that's all I need to find 5 books.)
3. Genre (Mystery, thriller, suspense)
4. Interesting storyline
5. Interesting new main character
From your premise, Jacob, I would say that if the books are arranged by subject I would go to both mystery or literature and start grabbing and reading the description of the story. Its really how I react when I go to any bookstore, or Amazon, unless I've heard a great review or gotten a recommendation from a friend. Trust me, in 15 minutes I could have five books, easily.Then when I get home, I work by what really interests me most. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something light or something meaty or comedic. Sometimes I just want to read someone I'm familiar with.
The reason "Cover" is my 1st choice is that it give me a rough idea regarding the genre . Remember, you have no time. Reading the back cover in order to determent the genre takes a long time. You have 1000 books to cover... No they are not in any kind of order.For example: I don't like Murder books , so i'll skip a cover with the name "Murder" . I don't like books with a painted cover. I do like books with a DNA sign , or "Atomic" sign. or pictures of the Capitol or white house.
See what I mean ? For a 1st quick filtration the Cover & Name are the best choice.
Why do you all go back to known writers ? Why not try someone new ?
I go back to know writers because they are a known quantity.I know Michael Connelly, Robert B. Parker, Jonathan Kellerman, and probably 20 or more others are going to write a book I will enjoy.
I have no problem with new authors. I've tried several based on descriptions here on Goodreads that now are on my 'Must Read' list. But I've also tried a whole slew of new (and established) authors who so deeply disappointed me, I will never read another of their books. Hence 'Author' is at the top of my list.
A question: You said Goodreads rating is your second criteria. How, within the parameters you propose, do you have time to look up Goodreads ratings but not time to read the back cover blurb?
One more question: Based on the cover alone, would you read Steel Guitar, The Glass Rainbow, or Rolling Thunder?
Answer to Quillracer :You are right in regard to checking the rating. All I tried to explain is MY method of filtering books.
What I meant was, that if I don't like the cover, in most cases I will not go any farther, unless I like the writer.
In regard to the cover of the books you mentioned - No I probably wouldn't check any farther.
Bottom line. every one has its own method of selecting the next book. Every method is good. I just mentioned mine:
Cover ->rating -->genre ->what about-->writer
The only covers that stop me from buying a printed book are one with snakes. I don't like holding books with a snake on the cover. I would have to get it in ebook format to read it.I don't read horror and seldom read romances. Those covers are usually easy to spot.
Jacob wrote: Answer to Quillracer:What I meant was, that if I don't like the cover, in most cases I will not go any farther, unless I like the writer.
And I'm just the opposite. The cover is #15 in my top 3 criteria for picking a book. As I said above, the author is #1, the series #2, and the book #3.
In regard to the cover of the books you mentioned - No I probably wouldn't check any farther.
And all 3 are books I enjoyed greatly.
Bottom line. every one has its own method of selecting the next book. Every method is good. I just mentioned mine:
Cover ->rating -->genre ->what about-->writer
I have a list of about 20 authors I like. Now, there are about 40,000 other authors out there ( Great site to check for authors and new books is "https://www.fantasticfiction.com/" }. You go to amazon or Goodreads or sites like "topshelfbook" or "eBookBB" and you have to scan hundreds of books in order to select a few to read.Remember - it is not one of your favorite writers. That is what I meant by my preferable fast vatting - The Cover. In most cases the Cover + the name will tell you the genre.
By the way. I highly recommend to get from time to time a book from a new unknown writer. There are lots of free books at Amazon. Set up your amazon bookmark with automatic search for "free kindle books"
I never go into a bookstore without a list of books I'm looking for.As for new authors and books, I get 5 or 6 emails a day telling me about free/low-cost books, and I check Goodreads recommendations daily. I always read them carefully because I'm always looking for new authors.
Twice a month I get emails from Stop You're Killing Me (www.stopyourekillingme.com), one advising me of authors they've added to their list, the other advising me of new books coming out that month. I read them, too, looking for new authors.
Right now I have 42 'To Read' books on my hands. 23 of them are authors I've never read before.
I never pay any attention to the cover, I look at the title, read the synopsis and go from there. Amazon and Goodreads are great for book selection because they show you choices, since you liked this maybe you will like this. I've found lots of great books that way.
As info for authors, I'll focus on more negative things that irk me as an avid reader: 1) The price will turn me off if it's more than $5 (I'm talking about ebooks--my book shelves are already full), and it will really turn me off if it's almost as much as the print version. 2) A bad cover (most romance novel covers are generally bad) will turn me off. 3) A preachy, chest-pounding, or badly written blurb can finish the job--I need something that excites me or makes me curious. 4) When I go to the "peek inside" (almost every online retail site has it) and determine quite quickly that the author can't write, that's the death knell. There. That's four strikes I've given the author!Note that I don't care who endorses you, the author, especially if it's a famous author (that means they're too lazy to review the book). Note that I don't read the reviews--if the book has more than twenty or so, it suffers from a bandwagon effect. Besides, Amazon only likes lots of reviews because it makes their ranking more statistically sound--it doesn't because the bandwagon biases the results, and most reviews are only one or two lines anyway and have zero content.
If the author passes all these tests, I might read her or his book. But I'll never read more of her or his books if the one I buy is a cliffhanger--I'm not into soap operas.
In general, I have so little free time for reading (because I'm also an author as well as an avid reader and reviewer) that I'm irked when another author wastes it.
r/Steve
The cover definitely has a lot to do with it but not always. Since I've joined Goodreads I've read a lot of new authors that I wouldn't normally read and some of those weren't very good.
Linda,Do what I do. There's a lot of trash out there spread across the whole spectrum from 100% DIY to the Big Five. Even with my "rules," I often get swindled as a reader...and I don't finish the ebook. That hurts less when the ebook is $5 or less; it's less painful than indigestion from fast food!
On the other hand, there are many good authors and good books out there, again spread across that entire spectrum. I try to read as many as I can. (Big Five books often go on my TBRoR list--that's "To Be Read or Reviewed"--because I have to wait until they go on sale.)
In libris libertas!
r/Steve
I do that as well. I have like 50 books on my wish list on Amazonand I get them when they go on sale.
This is fascinating--a look into what drives readers to certain books. I agree that cover can draw me in, but I've seen some great covers on some so-so books. I don't pay attention to blurbs (even though as an author I have received some and written some), but I look at trade reviews. There are only snippets on the cover, and they can be cherry-picked, but they can also give me a hint. I hardly ever read the synopsis, because I want to be completely surprised. No one has mentioned dipping into a book and reading a few paragraphs. That's my main way of deciding whether I want to read it. I'm an eclectic reader and can be sucked in by things I wouldn't normally read if the writing is good. Also, in just a few paragraphs, you can see whether a book has been edited and proofread. Bad editing turns me off fast.
That's not always as easy as that. The paragraphs might not be all that good but the book as a whole maybe excellent. I generally read a few chapters or half way and either it picks up or I want to finish to see what happens. It's very seldom that I don't finish a read. I hate paying out good money only to hate the book.
Linda wrote: "That's not always as easy as that. The paragraphs might not be all that good but the book as a whole maybe excellent. I generally read a few chapters or half way and either it picks up or I want to..."Yes, that's true. I have been surprised both ways. I once picked up a book in a bookstore that I would never have thought I'd like. I read the first page and continued reading as I walked up to pay for it, continued reading as I walked to my car, sat in the car for while and continued--that's what we all hope for! P.S. it was good all the way to the end.
Linda and Terry,I mentioned that "peek inside" feature. You can jump around as much as you want in general, although different sites have different reqs on what you can "peek" at.
I also said I feel swindled when I discover I hate the book. The "rules" I listed help prevent that, but they're not foolproof. $2.99 for an ebook instead of $12.99 minimizes the pain. Although I don't recommend it to authors, I've downloaded a few $0 or $0.99 books that pass my tests and have been pleasantly surprised at the quality.
Readers have it good because there are so many good books and good authors; the latter not so much because the glut implies that the competition is ferocious. It's much more fun and entertaining to be an avid reader than a struggling author (I'm both, of course).
r/Steve
Steven wrote: "Linda and Terry,I mentioned that "peek inside" feature. You can jump around as much as you want in general, although different sites have different reqs on what you can "peek" at.
I also said I fe..."
Steve, before I was published I walked into a bookstore and thought, "Wow, look at all the great books to choose from." After I was published, I walked in and said, "Oh, no! Look at all the great books to choose from." Competition is fierce, but like you I'm an avid reader and a writer. Best of both worlds.
well I'm not a writer but I'm an avid reader. I often thought of writing but frankly I have no imagination lol.
Linda, you might be surprised. Do you dream? Do you remember the dreams? Did you role play when you were a kid?Terry, I was saying "Oh, no!" most of my life. Still thought I could be a storyteller. Lots of competition, and writing is work, but it's still great fun. I don't write as many books as I read, obviously. Can't say which is more fun. I can still marvel at a well-spun yarn.
r/Steve
Steven wrote: "Linda, you might be surprised. Do you dream? Do you remember the dreams? Did you role play when you were a kid?Terry, I was saying "Oh, no!" most of my life. Still thought I could be a storyteller..." I agree, a lot of work, but great rewards.
I used to dream all the time not so much anymore. My dreams as a kid were pretty terrifying though maybe I could be a horror novelist.
Linda,I always thought Stephen King and Dean Koontz must have had some terrifying dreams as kids. LOL.
r/Steve
1. Cover
2. Ratting in Goodreads.
3. Main subject ( Legal ? medical ? Spy ? etc')
4. About the book
5. Name of writer.
What is your order ?