Comments on: You know those famous author comments on book covers?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:19:00 +0000

I tend to assess a book (by an author I don't know) by reading the first third or so. If it's not good enough to keep me interested for an hour in the book shop, I don't continue with it.

Only a couple of books I have ever felt let down with by this method. Most recent was Empress if Mijak, which just had no joy in it. Continually held out the opportunity or hope for it, but never delivered and left me wishing I hadn't read it. Only other one I can think of was 'Keeping Place', but that was a long time ago.

Strangely, this number is pretty much matched with the number of books I have read all the way through in the shop(s) without purchasing... considering I go through about a book a week, neither instance occurs often.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:48:00 +0000

In my young and impressionable days I would read any book that was recommended by my favourite author of the time. I discovered a lot of stinkers this way and eventually realised that cover blurbs couldn’t be trusted. So I don’t take any notice of them any more, but I can be influenced, like Roslyn, by an author I like recommending someone else’s book on their blog. Not sure why this is more trustworthy. Perhaps because I assume that people will only recommend a book on their blog if they really like it, whereas they may feel constrained by politeness or obligation to give a favourable blurb to a book that doesn’t really grab them.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:11:00 +0000

When I see a gushy mushy blurb by a more-established author on another's book, I tend to go,"Yeah, right."

BUT I do keep tabs on what my favourite authors say in their blogs about other books. When I follow up and read the synopsis of the book, AND I like the synopsis, then I will buy.

Some plots just turn me off while others will always reel me in. It's a personal thing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:43:00 +0000

I’ll admit that my view of most author blurbs has been on the cynical side. Two peer authors saying “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours”.
Like Joanna though, if another favourite author does the blurb I do take notice.

By: hrugaar

hrugaar — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Publishers seem to think that cover quotes are effective in raising sales figures by an extra couple of per cent, enough to make it worthwhile. It’s apparently part of the battle to push the top end of the sales ratings, like trying to nudge a good B grade up to an A (or A minus, if you never award straight As). I concede it interests me to see who commented, but I don’t know that that ever influenced my decision to buy.

My favourite ever cover quote appeared on a certain biography several years ago. The quotation was simply ‘I couldn’t put it down’ … but the name beside it was Bette Davis. You could just hear the drawling irony…

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:41:00 +0000

Lately I have been finding new authors based on recommendations from current authors via blogs such as this one. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Blurbs don’t mean much to me, although it’s nice when I see one of my ‘fave’ authors being nice to one of my other ‘fave’ authors.

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:38:00 +0000

Personally, no, I don’t take much notice of what authors say on blurbs. If I find a book has been forever on the top 10 list or something like that, it might influence me, but my biggest influence is the synopsis of the novel which is often on the inside flap. If I like that, I will probably like the book. Lets face it, because one person likes a book doesn’t mean another will.