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Originally Posted by calvin-c
Your point about different sampling methods being appropriate for different genres (if that's the correct term to distinguish between fiction, non-fiction, history, biography, technical, etc.) is well-taken. One thing that annoys me about fiction 'samples' is when the sample basically consists of raving about how good it is rather than what the story is about.
Maybe it's me, but unless it's part of a series (of which I've read one or more) then I like to read a plot summary before I decide whether or not to buy. James Patterson is a good example. I like anything in Women's Murder Club, and many 'stand-alone' novels, but others (like Suzanne's Diary) leave me cold. A 'sample' that just tells me Patterson's the hottest writer since Hemingway (or whatever) is good enough for a WMC book (for me) but not for a standalone. Give me enough information to make an intelligent decision. I've been burned too often to extend very much trust towards someone who wants money from me.
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I don't think we have quite the same understanding of what a sample is. To me, a sample is a part of the book, usually the first chapter or an equivalent amount of the full work. A 'sample' is not 'praise', excerpts of reviews, or a plot summary. I don't think either of these three examples could in any way constitute a 'sample'. I am actually a little surprised that you would consider a sample to be anything but a sample - a small part - of the actual work.
As for a plot summary, I would not appreciate a full summary - a summary as it's usually understood, would include important plot points such as the ending - and I would personally rather be surprised than learn of the ending before I embark on the book. That would be a spoiler.
What experience does buying physical books provide you that buying digital books does not? P-books seems to me to be a resonable 'mark' to hold ebooks to in relation to buying experience. Not less, but not more either.