Quote:
Originally Posted by FlorenceArt
I try to ignore recommendations or -em, what's the opposite of a recommendation? a decommendation?- based on perceived similarities between books. Two books can be similar in an area that means nothing to me (like subject matter for instance) and differ wildly in others that do matter to me (like the writing). There are too many different reasons to like or dislike a book, a statement like "if you liked this, you will love that" simply means nothing in my opinion. Now I try to read an excerpt before I buy. It's not fool-proof of course, but combined with reviews that explain WHAT the reviewer liked or disliked in the book and why, it works more often than not.
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Like you, I pay more attention to the reasons given for liking or not liking a book cited in the review. Guess that's why the comparison to Franzen put me off. But I suspect I'll ultimately turn around and get that book anyhow. (The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher) At least it's from a British perspective rather than the usual dose of American craziness and the period nature of the setting intrigues me.
Anyhow, I have just now started Troubles by J.G. Farrell, the "lost Booker" winner. So far, I'm really enjoying it, despite some formatting issues in the e-book edition. And trying to finish up The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, about how the Internet and Google are turning our brains to mush.