What are your green lights? - Page 2

Synamon · 07-09-2013, 03:52 PM

Winning a major prize or a glowing professional review are green lights. I have to like the premise of the book in the first place of course, so a short, descriptive blurb is key.

QuantumIguana · 07-09-2013, 04:14 PM

Good books are all alike; every crappy book is crappy in its own way. It's just much easier to eliminate bad books than to find good ones. For me, the twin gold standards for buying a book are familiarity with the author (a new Discworld book is an automatic buy) and recommendations from people that I know.

Katsunami · 07-09-2013, 06:40 PM

I don't have any particular green lights or red flags anymore, except for the age of the protagonist. If this drops below like... 18 or so, then the book is probably a no-go for me.

Lately, because I'm getting a bit sick of reading fantasy in the form of very long series, I'm looking in genres that have stories based on or around facts (but are still fiction), and to genres that are not fantasy (except the books already on my TBR-list), and are not Vampires, Romance, Chick-lit, Young Adult (don't read those).

If I decide on a genre, then I'm pretty much like Eenie-meenie-minee-moe.... I'll reaaaaaaddd.... that one.

BWinmill · 07-09-2013, 06:54 PM

If I'm looking for a comfortable read, I'll look at the genre and author first. If I'm looking for something new, I'll look at the blurb. The blurb should tell me what the story is about, and give me an idea if it's plot driven or character driven. (I prefer the former.) I lean towards stories that consider the boundary of science and society, and are typically being told in the present or near future. The tone of the blurb should show optimism for the future, and demonstrate that the author is trying to stay grounded in reality even if some elements of the story are fantastic.

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07-09-2013, 03:52 PM	#16
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	Winning a major prize or a glowing professional review are green lights. I have to like the premise of the book in the first place of course, so a short, descriptive blurb is key.

07-09-2013, 04:14 PM	#17
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	Good books are all alike; every crappy book is crappy in its own way. It's just much easier to eliminate bad books than to find good ones. For me, the twin gold standards for buying a book are familiarity with the author (a new Discworld book is an automatic buy) and recommendations from people that I know.

07-09-2013, 06:40 PM	#18
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	I don't have any particular green lights or red flags anymore, except for the age of the protagonist. If this drops below like... 18 or so, then the book is probably a no-go for me. Lately, because I'm getting a bit sick of reading fantasy in the form of very long series, I'm looking in genres that have stories based on or around facts (but are still fiction), and to genres that are not fantasy (except the books already on my TBR-list), and are not Vampires, Romance, Chick-lit, Young Adult (don't read those). If I decide on a genre, then I'm pretty much like Eenie-meenie-minee-moe.... I'll reaaaaaaddd.... that one.

07-09-2013, 06:54 PM	#19
BWinmill Nameless Being	If I'm looking for a comfortable read, I'll look at the genre and author first. If I'm looking for something new, I'll look at the blurb. The blurb should tell me what the story is about, and give me an idea if it's plot driven or character driven. (I prefer the former.) I lean towards stories that consider the boundary of science and society, and are typically being told in the present or near future. The tone of the blurb should show optimism for the future, and demonstrate that the author is trying to stay grounded in reality even if some elements of the story are fantastic.

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