BOOK ISSUES #2: DO YOU READ REVIEWS OF BOOKS YOU'RE INTERESTED IN READING OR DO YOU GO INTO A BOOK BLIND?




Friday, December 26, 2014
If you are interested in reading a book, say the book just came out, it's getting a bunch of hype, and you really like the blurb of the book. Say example, it's an ARC. So there are some people who have already read this book. Meaning, there are already reviews posted for the book.


Do you read those ARC reviews? Or do you patiently wait for the book to come out and find out about the book all on your own?



I am a bit mixed with this. Sometimes, I like reading reviews about books I am very keen to read. But sometimes, I liked going into it blind, without any knowledge of how other people perceive the book, because honestly, sometimes it affects my enjoyability. There are times I read reviews of certain books, not because I want to spoil myself. I just want to see what the general reaction of some of my friends are after finishing a book I really like to read. For example, if I have a friend who raved about a book that is on my tbr list, I tend to pick that one up first, versus the one that I had no clue what it was about.

I often go to a book blind, when I see the book having a pretty low rating on Goodreads. So when I see a couple of 3 to 2 star ratings from my friends, or if the book already has that low rating in general, I tend to pick it up (when I feel like it) and read it without reading any reviews about it at all. Then, I could honestly give my opinion about the book. Sometimes, I tend to feel what my friends are feeling about a book. Weird as it sounds. If I see or read a negative review about a book, then something pulled me to open and read it, I go into that book with that negative feel that I am going to hate it. Which in some cases, completely is not true. There are times that I really liked it. So... Yeah. I'm a bit mixed on this. I read and not read reviews, based on the type of book I am about to read.

How about you guys? How do you pick up your next read? Do you read reviews, listen to recommendations, or just read the blurb and then decide if you are going to pick it up or not?

11 comments:

  1. I'm a bit mixed on that, like you. If it's a book I'm really eager to read I don't usually bother with other people's reviews and such until I finish reading it for myself. But if it's a book I'm not sure I'll enjoy I will read the reviews of some of my friends and decide. So yes, I am with you on that my choice is based of the book. Great post!

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  2. Sometimes I struggle with this for books that I REALLY want to read. On one hand, I really want to know what happens in a book, but I do not want to be spoiled. It is hard for me to be surrounded by reviews for a book that I want to read but haven't yet. For sequels and parts in series, I will try to avoid reviews. TRY being the key word, because it does not always work. But, if it is a book that I am on the fence about, then I will read the review.
    Thanks for the great discussion!
    Tessa @ Crazy for YA

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    1. Thanks Tessa. :) And I feel the same about sequels too, I tend to not read them because the spoilers are on the blurb itself sometimes. Haha. I don't even open or put it on myself because I'm too scared to be spoiled.

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  3. I listen to recommendations because I love receiving them (even though it makes my TBR pile HUGE) and that will increase how fast I pick up the book, but usually if I like the sound of a book I'll read it and then look at the reviews afterwards. Unless people with similar tastes to me have said it's rubbish... that's a different matter I think

    http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/christmas-book-haul.html

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    1. That's true as well. Especially if I see it on my feed on goodreads and sometimes, its a one or two star rating. I sort of well, put it behind on all my tbrs. But I will get to it eventually.

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  4. This is such a though-provoking post. What would I say to this post? Well, let's see I almost 100% go into a book after reading the reviews. For some books I would very much like to go into blind but I always end up seeing the reviews on Goodreads or my friends just blab about it when I tell them I want to read this book. And what's even worse is that some reviews have spoilers! I actually can't ever stop myself from reading those reviews because I just want to know what happens in the book! And that's usually what leads to me not getting the book in the end because I basically read it after reading the reviews. LOL pheww that was a lot of writing :D

    Alex @ The Book's Buzz

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    1. Thanks Alex! I'm guilty of that too sometimes, Sometimes, I can't help but just want to know more about the book, even if it meant spoiling myself in the process. But, I tend to kick myself after doing so because it was a major spoiler and well... i tend to not get excited about reading the book anymore. Happened to me when with Allegiant. And now... I have no intentions of picking it up. LOL

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  5. I love reading ARC reviews in order to get some sense of direction. Honestly, reviews do little to me. I like reading them and whatnot but it's not going to entirely stop me from reading something, and neither will it make me pick something up. If I want to read it, I'll read it, you know? That's why I actually love reading negative reviews just because they're hilarious. In the end, it doesn't exactly affect my mood, plus I get a good laugh. BUT yeah, definitely something to think about. Lovely discussion, m'love! <3 x

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    1. Thanks a bunch Jess. :) And yes, I agree with the negative reviews. They are so much fun to read about. There are times that I get swayed by them though to not read the book because of the negative points the reviewer makes, and the negative points are the ones that annoys me, Soo.. I tend up not picking it up. But they're just minor stuff that I can easily overlook, then I'll still pick it up. :D

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  6. I nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.com/2014/12/sisterhood-of-world-bloggers-award.html

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