Do you read book reviews?

[bobavey]

Interesting covers do attract my attention, but I always read the cover blurbs then open the book. I can usually tell within a paragraph or two if I'm going to like the book.

[yakuzaboss]

I voted 'Sometimes...'. I might buy an ebook/pbook if it has countless positive reviews. If there are only a handful of decent reviews, I won't be influenced to buy it.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

I always read reviews. BUT I sometimes buy a book even if the reviews are not favorable because the book sounds good to me.

Me too.

[kcmay]

This may sound strange, but I sample based on the ratio of positive to negative reviews, then buy based on the sample.

[AlbertaCowboy]

I voted for basing books on their cover. In hindsight, I suppose that the poll was referring to front covers, but I use the back cover blurb to intitially get my attention.
This usually has me buying Clive Cussler clones that turn out to be garbage. Hmmm, maybe I should start reading reviews...

[simonroyle]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

I voted for basing books on their cover. In hindsight, I suppose that the poll was referring to front covers, but I use the back cover blurb to intitially get my attention.
This usually has me buying Clive Cussler clones that turn out to be garbage. Hmmm, maybe I should start reading reviews...

Yes. After a cover and title has grabbed my eye I read back cover blurb first; if that's still working for me, I'll read a bit of the first chapter. I might start trying the page 99 thing, before all editors start telling all writers to "write the heck out of page 99."

This is of course, my bookshop pbook mode. EBooks I google the title and see what comes up. On Amazon I'll read the reviews. If it reads good but only has four reviews, all of them glowing, and the reviewers have all only ever reviewed one title each on Amazon then I am looking for a sample. If I can't find one I pass.

[mldavis2]

You do have to take reviews with a grain of salt. It is not uncommon in recent months for users to give ratings one star in protest of prices on new releases, or to protest a lack of discount for eBooks compared to the pBook release. This can distort the overall rating averages. It has been seen on Amazon for example, and I suspect will catch on elsewhere if not already. You have to know your reviewer and read the comments, not rely on the rating numbers.

[simonroyle]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

You do have to take reviews with a grain of salt. It is not uncommon in recent months for users to give ratings one star in protest of prices on new releases, or to protest a lack of discount for eBooks compared to the pBook release. This can distort the overall rating averages. It has been seen on Amazon for example, and I suspect will catch on elsewhere if not already. You have to know your reviewer and read the comments, not rely on the rating numbers.

Agreed. Another thing you have to take with a grain of salt, make that a dose, are "Other Author" endorsements. I won't buy a book endorsed by Lee Child, for example, simply because the last two times that I did the books were, um, well lets just say that I got far in that I knew they weren't going to get better.

[brecklundin]

I will read the worst reviews. I want to know the rational people used to not like a book. BTW, I am assuming we are talking recreational reading here.

Cover art has little effect on me as I don't buy other than ebooks anymore. Plus gone are the days of the really great covers of the 40s-70s.

I I don't really read samples though. But reviews by real readers matter to me and I also often find the NYT Book Reviews worthwhile as well. A single review will not induced me to buy or pass a book by, but a selection of reviews will help. But as I mentioned, I don't care about the positive reviews, especially with authors I am familiar with, it's the negative/lower end reviews I do read. Plus the negative reviews are often the funniest stuff!

As for the poll I did not answer as, individually, none of the options fit my decision making process. I use a combination of the options along side intangibles which are difficult to express.

Nice thread...interesting to read the process of others. Hope you are able to glean some useful info from the comments.

[simonroyle]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Nice thread...interesting to read the process of others. Hope you are able to glean some useful info from the comments.

I'm fascinated by this world. What I really love about this board is the vast range of informed opinion and the willingness of people on the board to share their knowledge.

I've learnt here; far more than simply gathering information. It's more like having a room full of experts next door and when you have some esoteric question that needs answering, you crack the door open, kick aside the diet coke cans and discarded pizza boxes, and say, "Hey what do you guys think about this ..." Sometimes its the guys sitting quietly in front nearest the door who give a quick, quiet answer and the door closes. Others, a ripple of a murmur runs through the room and turns into an excited babble.

I wonder if any of the large mainstream publishers lurk. If you're here, don't be shy, "Say hello. Yes we are paying attention and not asleep at the wheel. The train is still on the tracks and we do see the wall."

So, to the creators, mods and all fellow MR'ers

[taming]

I'm fortunate to have a group of friends who are voracious readers and they are the reviewers I trust the most. They know my reading preferences and I know their taste and preferences as well. That being said, I have favourite professional reviewers whose opinions I value. I tend to want to read a sample from a new author before I buy.

[GraceKrispy]

If we're talking an indie book, I go by the blurb, but the reviews are important to me as well. I don't like to sample, if I'm investing any more time than it takes to read a blurb, I am going to just read the book, or attempt to read the book. I like when there are several reviews, and I really like when there are several different viewpoints and levels of like/dislike.

I get the impression sometimes that authors think anything less than a 5-star review will reflect badly on their books. I don't find that true. Reviews that are somewhat specific can spark my interest in a book, even if it's a 3-star review and has some negatives. I've also had people tell me they became interested in a book because of some of the things I listed in one of my reviews, even though the review itself pointed out things I didn't like as well.

Gushing, unrealistic reviews short aside ("Everything Mr. Probably My-Cousin has written is SO awesome! I love all his books so very much and I am his biggest fan because he writes such amazing books!"), I don't like when the "review" is really just a long retelling of the story. Really? I want to READ the story, not the synopsis in 5 paragraphs. It reminds me of movie trailers that go on way too long and give the whole plot. What's left to see? Sure, I might enjoy filling in the details, but probably not. I like reviews that give me a short blurb about the book (preferably describing it in a different way than the official blurb), and then specifics about what great and what was not.

So I didn't answer the poll, but here's my reality: For pbooks, I don't read reviews at all. I am attracted by the cover or title, I read the book cover blurb, I skim through a bit of a story, and I make a decision. For ebooks, I read the blurb, I read the reviews, I pay very little attention to the cover, and I make a decision. For either kind of book, previous positive experience with the author's work makes a huge difference.

[Rumpelteazer]

I chose the cover option, but that's just initial selection, I've never bought a book solely on the cover. I always read the back blurb, in the past that was usually when I decided to buy or not buy the book. Since I now mostly buy ebooks I usually take a look at Amazon or Goodreads what the average rating of the book is and read a couple of reviews (both positive and negative).

I buy most books from BooksOnBoard and ebooks that doesn't have a cover and/or description I dismiss right away, I might miss some interesting books this way but if the publisher can't be bothered to provide a cover, even if it's a simple one, or a description/synopsis I feel that the book is probably not worth it.

I also read books recommended by people who have about the same taste as me. I probably wouldn't have picked up several series which covers features half naked people, which I also mostly dismiss.

Reviews have become more important to me the last couple of years. Ever since I started buying most of my books online instead of from a brick and mortar store. But since joining Goodreads earlier this year I check reviews for nearly every book I have bought since.

[FlorenceArt]

I used to walk into a bookstore, pick up a few books and read the back cover and a few pages, and sometimes buy the book. But I rarely ever go in bookstores anymore (I still do something like this at the public library though).

I don't read a lot of book reviews by professional reviewers, but when I do I usually make a note of the book title to check it out later.

I do read a lot of readers' reviews on Amazon or Librarything, but I take them with a grain of salt, as I do with word of mouth. I have learned the hard way that my tastes in books differ from most people's. I try to read an excerpt before I buy, unless the book is from an author I already know.

I have also found that negative reviews are the most useful, because they are often more detailed, and also because if what turned off the reviewer is something that turns me off, I know I won't like the book.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by simonroyle

I'm fascinated by this world. What I really love about this board is the vast range of informed opinion and the willingness of people on the board to share their knowledge.

I've learnt here; far more than simply gathering information. It's more like having a room full of experts next door and when you have some esoteric question that needs answering, you crack the door open, kick aside the diet coke cans and discarded pizza boxes, and say, "Hey what do you guys think about this ..." Sometimes its the guys sitting quietly in front nearest the door who give a quick, quiet answer and the door closes. Others, a ripple of a murmur runs through the room and turns into an excited babble.

I wonder if any of the large mainstream publishers lurk. If you're here, don't be shy, "Say hello. Yes we are paying attention and not asleep at the wheel. The train is still on the tracks and we do see the wall."

So, to the creators, mods and all fellow MR'ers

Nice observation on the environment here. It's quite a diverse group, dare I say we are an "eclectic" people here on MR? hehehehe...everyone from different background, some not adept at converting tech speak to laymen speak but it all gets hammered out eventually, even if it takes real hammers.

I too hold hope that publishers do lurk and read all they can here. Having visited a lot of other English language boards I have to say here is the place to be. I like the people on other boards for sure, but if I want to ask questions or read about something to better understand this is the place.

Frankly I am surprised people put up with me on my more cranky days...but it's all in fun. BTW, I wanted to add I have enjoyed your posts since your arrival here.

OK, that all has to be the extra pain meds I needed "tonight" so ignore anything that could construed as a combayah (kumbaya pick your fav spelling) moment!! hahaha...