Here's today's question:Do other people influence what you choose to read? When a family member recommends something, or a friend says they hated a book you were planning to read … does it affect your reading choices?
I find that I'm influenced on the positive, but not necessarily the negative side of things. Meaning, if people (friends, you guys, sometimes family) say they loved something, I'm anxious to add that to the pile and read it. BUT, if the same people say they hated it, I tend to still want to read it (especially if I already had plans to do so) to find out for myself if I do or don't like it.
I was wanting to say that I hope I'm the one doing the influencing these days, but then, I remembered how often I see the buzz about certain books on the blogosphere and how then I think I HAVE to read it! Sometimes this is very true, but sometimes I'll wait until the buzz dies down and then I'll try it out a little later.
Is it the same for you all? Or do you find you are not influenced at all? Or that you respond to it differently?
Actually I tend to have the same reading taste as Karen...so I also refer to book bloggers for referrals of books. My mom has recommended me some good books
ReplyDeleteI'm a lot like you actually. Sometimes I can be persuaded to not read a book if enough people are really bashing it but not usually. I think it's funny that I let my self be influenced at all.... since I so rarely agree with people anyway.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, if I already want to read a book, I will probably read it, but if I am not sure about it, the opinion of others will probably persuade me to either read it or not.
ReplyDeletekind regards,
Great question, Suey. I know that I'm influenced by other's opinions about a book. That's why publishers send us galleys hoping our positive reviews (that's what they're hoping for) will encourage others to buy the book. Remember The Thirteenth Tale? The success of that book was a result of book bloggers' reviews - they influenced a lot of people. I wouldn't have read it if I hadn't been influenced by others. Same goes for The Book Thief. Same for Potato Peel Pie Society.
ReplyDeleteI actually agree that I tend to be influenced by the positive, but not the negative. I think the biggest thing for me though is that if there is a lot of buzz, one way or the other, I tend to wait to read the book until the buzz has died down. I don't want to dive into it with too many preconceived notions!
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