Opinions whether mine, Ian’s, your friends, or some literary critic are not the reason to buy a book or read a book. Why? Because they are based on what the person likes or dislike and as such are always biased. Critics says they are impartial but I find they are human like the rest of us. Should we buy a book or read a book based on what someone else said?
Personally, I think not. Have I? Many, many times. Sometimes their opinions were correct, but just as many times I found them wrong. I have read books that everyone told me were crap and found them to be some of my favourite books to read over and over. Other times I have read books everyone said were great and found I disliked them immensely. Sometimes not even finishing them. The last time was Hooper’s “Once a Thief ” and “Always a Thief “. I bought both at the same time and have never even started the second one.
So why should we buy or read a book? For me I have found that if the story line intrigues me I usually end up at the least feeling it was worth it.
So what good are opinions? They should peak our curiosity and make us want to find out for ourselves whether a book is something we would like to read. So, if anything I babble about makes you want to check out a book then my babbling has had a use. But, in most cases my opinion isn’t worth repeating.
Remember, it is totally based on my personal taste.
2 Comments
There are many, many reasons to read a book. Enjoyment of the storytelling, interest in the story or the genre, and understanding of people, or at least the author’s understanding of people and the world, all come in pretty strongly for me.
When someone comments on a book, they may find something that I find significant. Some bare-faced utopian dreamscape with no plot but some sociology major’s doctoral thesis badly camouflaged as speculative fiction - that kind of information is useful to me - I have been irritated and angered over that crap once too often. When someone finds a book rewarding, that might be important to me. When someone dislikes a book, that is also something that will make me think twice about, when considering a new book. The fact that someone felt compelled to comment on a book they read - that stands out for me.
There are a few universals about bad books. Trite, bad characterization, non-existent plot, these kinds of complaint are often very telling. Complaints about remakes and re-used plots - that may or may not matter to me. It is the storytelling that usually holds my attention. Even if the story has been told before.
So for a new author or new story line, I do notice reviews and comments. And read them about as closely as a good novel!
Thanks!
I tend to ignore critics and avoid anything that’s won a literary prize.I don’t buy anything which has a pullquote on the cover which says “zany” “whacky” or “heartwarming.”
I do listen to recommendations from my children and my friends.They know me- they know the stuff I like-and they’ve picked me many a winner in the past.
Post a Comment