tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10942485.post115645179617890239..comments2024-03-22T04:04:44.742-07:00Comments on A.R.Yngve's "Notes Towards Becoming A Better Writer": How Do You Choose What To Read?A.R.Yngvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972668378286177600noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10942485.post-1157585052065984212006-09-06T16:24:00.000-07:002006-09-06T16:24:00.000-07:00If I walk into a bookstore and browse sci-fi title...If I walk into a bookstore and browse sci-fi titles for example, I usually go for the title, to some extent the cover, and also the blurb. Oftentimes I also read a few paragraphs at random.<BR/><BR/>If I like what I see and the price is right I'll buy the book.<BR/><BR/>Usually I'm instantly turned off by blurbs with the word 'evil' in them. Or if the plotline seems to be a cliche in any other way for that matter. I like to be surprised, so if the story seems original, that's a good sign.<BR/><BR/>I'm also turned off when it's obvious that the whole cover, blurb and everything is aimed at the lowest common denominator. It makes the book seem too commercial, detracts from its artistic value and makes me feel like an 'ordinary stupid Joe Shmoe' for buying it.Armanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00864984616673339919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10942485.post-1156595770615239692006-08-26T05:36:00.000-07:002006-08-26T05:36:00.000-07:00It depends. I'm in a period of my life were I don'...It depends. I'm in a period of my life were I don't read neraly as much as I used to. But wandering around in a bookshop/library I would stop to look at a book for one of three reasons. <BR/><BR/>1. I like the title. The title makes me read the back and that hopefully makes me think that the book might be good. <BR/>2. I like the athour. <BR/>3. It's a popular book that people recommended. <BR/><BR/>There you go.Kiss N Tellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05710433646178673231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10942485.post-1156506477237498762006-08-25T04:47:00.000-07:002006-08-25T04:47:00.000-07:00I mostly look for good books in the library, if th...I mostly look for good books in the library, if there's one I like, I'll go buy it (I'm that kind of person who read the books over and over again, so I want to have them home when I want them).<BR/>Then I read more books by the same author if I have found one book interesting. I think that if one book of a writer is boring, the others are probably the same, so I don't read them, but if I like the book I read the rest of that writer to.<BR/>I never read e-books and seldom pocket books. E-books are uncomfortable, even with a hand-hold computer and pockets gets broken so easy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10942485.post-1156489454807848042006-08-25T00:04:00.000-07:002006-08-25T00:04:00.000-07:00Mostly, I listen to other people recommend stuff. ...Mostly, I listen to other people recommend stuff. I seldom go out and buy stuff after one recommendation, but after a while several people have recommended the same book (either in person or in reviews), and then I get it. <BR/><BR/>Then of course there are a number of authors that I have already read most or all books by, and if they produce a new one I tend to get it on sight (Ian McDonald, China Mieville, Terry Pratchett, Iain Banks, etc).<BR/><BR/>The same goes for a few publishers: I have all books by <A HREF="http://www.alephbokforlag.se/" REL="nofollow">Aleph</A>, <A HREF="http://user.tninet.se/~cor054g/" REL="nofollow">Paradishuset</A> (now defunct) and <A HREF="http://www.schakt.nu/" REL="nofollow">Schakt</A>.<BR/><BR/>And then, of course, I pick up books at random in bookstores. Sometimes they turn out to look interesting and I buy them.Hans Perssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056334737313092043noreply@blogger.com