Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another! Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses. This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let’s Talk!
Today’s Question:
Do reviews often influence your book choices, or are you someone who doesn’t read reviews until after reading the book?
I don’t read too many reviews prior to reading the book, only those reviewers who I trust and have very similar taste. However, that isn’t a fail safe. You are bound to dislike a few books here and there that those people liked, and vice versa. If a few of my favorite bloggers like a book, I definitely add it to my list. But it’s those bloggers who are really off-the-wall ecstatic about a book that really gets my attention. What I do not do anymore, is read reviews prior to writing my own. That can get you into trouble, regardless if you realize it at the time or not.
For the most part, I read a blurb, add the book to my list. When it comes time to read the book, I don’t reread the blurb. I do things this way because I like the surprises when I read (and detest spoilers!), and sometimes even a blurb can spoil things. Especially when it’s a subsequent series book. Ugh!
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I am on the fence on this one! If it is a book I know I am going to read then I don’t read reviews before I read it. However, if I am not sure then I read reviews to determine if it is worth my time.
How do you know you want to read it though? And don’t you find it funny that a lot of bloggers don’t read reviews prior to reading a book? Isn’t that why we write them? LOL
Covers are usually what catches my eye but if the blurb is just so-so then I go read reviews
I read reviews of books that I have read because I am curious what people think. That being said if it is on my horizon within the next 6 or so months I don’t want someone else’s views ending up in my review (which is why I think we do that).
Oh but I will read reviews of books I have never heard of before or out of my genre choice. They might sway me to buy a book or sway me away from it
I also don’t like looking at reviews right before I review a book! I don’t want other people’s thoughts and words in my head before I go to type out my own.
I do like reading blurbs though. And mini-reviews. Both can give you just enough so you kind of have an introduction, but not enough to give away too much.
It’s amazing how another person’s thoughts can permeate your brain without you even realizing it! We have to be careful there.
I HATE when I accidently read a blurb for a sequel and it basically sums up the first one. I mean, what’s the point of reading it at all now?
I’m like you, I avoid reviews once I know I’m going to read the book. Until then, I like to read the ones that gush, so I can be convinced.
I hate that too Andrea! I once read a comment on a facebook page that seemed innocent enough until it complained profusely about why the author decided to kill off a main character in the series. Yikes! I dreaded reading the book after that. Ever since then, I’m really, really careful about the reviews I even glance at.
And yeah, the gushing reviews get me every time. *sigh*
I truly want to STAB people when they talk about spoilers out in the open on social media.
STAB!
Exactly! I will admit that I have made spoilery statements, but they were part of a post and I gave readers fair warning, more than once, that there would be spoilers so don’t read any farther. The person who spoiled the book for me was just ranting in a comment on facebook. No warning or anything. It was a very popular author’s fan site too and it wasn’t too long after the book was released either. Grrrr!!!! Stab away I say!
UGGGGGGGGGGGH. That is the worst! I remember The Mortal Instrument books being that way. I tell people to steer clear of those blurbs!
I have auto-buy authors whose reviews I skip. After reading said book, I may go back and read reviews to see if the issues I had were warranted or not. This recently happened with the newest Gena Showalter book. I was floored with the change in her writing style and needed to know I wasn’t the only one.
I will not read reviews of a book that I plan to review. I, like you, don’t want to chance the review influencing my thoughts at all. Sometimes you read a review and see things differently. After I’ve finished and posted my review, I will go back and read ones my book buddies have posted.
If I’m curious about a book but know nothing about it I will read reviews before purchasing. I’ve found some incredible authors that way.
I never really took the time to think about which reviews I read and/or skip. This is a good topic.
Yea, I think I’m the same for auto-buy authors, too. I love that bloggers can bring unknown authors to my attention. Happens daily. Too bad I can’t stop tim eto keep up with them!
I skim some reviews … if I haven’t read the book, then I don’t want to be spoiled in any way. If I’ve read the book, I’ll read full reviews — especially those of reviewers who have similar taste as me. I like to know if we were on the same track when we were reading!
I know the people that don’t spoil so I always feel safe reading their reviews. I absolutely hate to be spoiled, even the tiniest bit.
I approach it pretty much the same way you do, Smash! I hate getting spoilered so I try to avoid reading reviews before reading the book and definitely before writing my own review.
I skim reviews but wait until after I read and review to go through them all.
A good twitter frenzy about a book can convince me in a heartbeat though.
I mainly choose from the blurb – but I’m influenced by ratings on Goodreads and/or Amazon. Reviews – not so much. I read reviews (on blogs) if I’ve already read the book.
I’m the complete opposite, for the most part. I want to read the thoughts from my trusted friends more than see the average opinion of the masses.
Ditto on your answer. I will not read reviews prior to writing my own. For recommendations though, I will read some…if I’m afraid of spoilers then I will just skim reviews.
Yea, I know who to go for when I don’t want to be spoiled, which is ALWAYS. I hate spoilers and my favorite bloggers do a great job of giving me the scoop without dishing the dirt.
I think knowing other book bloggers has opened the reading field per say , and negative reviews help too.
It also depends if I want to spoil myself with a book I have to read …But I trust book bloggers over good books
Negative reviews DO help! They help the writer (hopefully) and they also can attract readers out of sheer curiosity.
I usually avoid reviews until after I’ve read the book. Sometimes I will skim them to get a general idea but I would rather not be spoiled or swayed, you know.
I read reviews so far in advance that I always forget. And I know who to go to for safe, non-spoilery reviews.
I rely heavily on book blurbs. When I am on the fence about a book I look to my blogger friends who I trust. However, I agree with you in that sometimes I will still purchase the book even if they give less than favorable reviews. It depends on how much I am intrigued by the story.
Yea, if the story sounds good, I might still read it, one day, regardless of popular opinion.
OH!!! The freaking blurbs!!! Can I share that b/c Kim Harrison’s series is listed backwards on the inside of her paperbacks that I had gotten a book late in the Hollows series by accident. A huge series plot was revealed in the blurb and I had read said blurb before I even read the first book in the series. Major, major fail for me! I don’t read blurbs on my series – I so don’t care on those series that I stick with – you just know what you’re getting. Unless, of course, it’s a later Charlaine Harris book (ha!).
I so forgot to mention that HUGE point of not reading reviews before reading and reviewing “review” books in my post!!! GAH!! I think it’s a must to abide by that rule. We really have no idea what our brain has processed/absorbed from what we’ve read previous. I want a clean slate.
I have to admit, though. Sometimes on questionable reviews, I check (after I’ve written my review) to make sure I’m on the right track with everyone else. What if I entirely missed a major point in the book because I was nodding off as I read it. I could happen. For instance, my review of The Immortal Rules – I just didn’t think it was all that. But I stuck to my opinion. I knew I didn’t miss anything when I went back and looked at the reviews.
Am I even discussing the same topic anymore???? I better stopped babbling
I know a few people who started the Hollows in the wrong order! I would be SOOOOOOOOOO PISSED! Yea, reading blurbs in series takes away the surprises!
I totally agree with the not reading reviews before you write your own. It just would not be fun to have issues of originality brought up, even if it was by accident!
Yea, not fun. Not at all.
Book Blogging has totally changed how I find books – I used to just schlep around on Amazon and pick whatever took my eye!
Now I use my favourite bloggers for recommendations almost all the time – especially if it’s a book I’m kind of on the fence about – to give me the push to pick it up.
I do always read blurbs, because I just cannot help myself – but I don’t read reviews until I’m finished reading and writing my own, except of course the review that I based my choice on! But they are usually months before Ive read the book and my brain doesn’t keep that much information available
You used “schlep.”
Yes, we never have to schlep around for book recommendations any more! Like, ever. heh.
If many of my Goodreads friends have loved or hated a book, it will definitely affect the chance of me picking up the book. I rarely read entire reviews before reading a book – I don’t want to know too much before hand. But I often check for an overview of the responses. And then I return to read the reviews after I’ve read the book, I love this part because people tend to notice different things in a book. And reflect on different things. Anyway, I definitely want to buy more books without knowing what other people think about it – just chance it. And I do this, just not frequently enough.
Yea, I am careful about reading too many reviews. I know the bloggers I can trust with no spoilers. However, I usually read the book light years after I read reviews, so I always forget it all anyway. I just know that I wanted to read it, so I do. I don’t even read the synopsis. I just dive in and enjoy the surprises.