Is "unputdownable" really a word?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What else is a turn off in a book description is when the book is described to be like some other author's book(s).

Bingo! And that one's very annoying as someone tries to piggyback on someone else's success, based on nothing at all.

It can be good for a snicker, when they claim they're like two or three authors who have nothing in common. But it's also particularly calculating and crass as they try to appeal to all tastes and get in some keyword scamming, too.

[leebase]

Wow....interesting. While I don't put too much stock in a books' self description....it makes sense to me if a books says "if you like Ludlum and Clancey you'll like this book". Now, it's advertising so they may be lying. However, I find it helpful for an unknown-to-me (untomeknown) author gives me a comparison to work from.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

Bingo! And that one's very annoying as someone tries to piggyback on someone else's success, based on nothing at all.

It can be good for a snicker, when they claim they're like two or three authors who have nothing in common. But it's also particularly calculating and crass as they try to appeal to all tastes and get in some keyword scamming, too.

I had an early exposure to this sort of thing. Way back when I was a teenager and Tolkien had a big resurgence (about the time that Sword of Shannara came out), I picked up a "Tolkien inspired" book. It turned out to be a rather nasty porno book with elves and the like, not sure what else because I tossed the book in the trash after the first 10 pages. It did have a nice cover. My mother saw it in the trash, liked the cover (and rather obviously didn't read any of it) and put it in the bookcase in the living room. For years, I got a good snicker every time I saw it there.

[ekbell]

I find that comparisons to another author's books fail simply because the blurb rarely states in what way the book is like the other author's book, leaving me to assume they are referring to genre and (maybe, possibly, probably not really) quality.

And given that the genre should be obvious and I don't trust the implied warranty of quality, this means that normally such comparisons are useless to me.

On the other hand when the comparison gives details it can lead me to check out the sample if I enjoyed the quality in the other author's work.

[DiapDealer]

I'm fine with author/book comparisons made by friends and amateur reviewers, but I do find them off-putting in official descriptions and publisher blurbs.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by leebase

Wow....interesting. While I don't put too much stock in a books' self description....it makes sense to me if a books says "if you like Ludlum and Clancey you'll like this book". Now, it's advertising so they may be lying. However, I find it helpful for an unknown-to-me (untomeknown) author gives me a comparison to work from.

But, with most of those comparisons in the description, they aren't nearly as good as the author(s)being compared. The information is helpful for know what books not to read. In your example, Ludlum and Clancy are worth reading. But the author doing to comparing, not so much.

[rem736]

Originally Posted by Witty Username

I was reading a book about anti-gravity technology, I couldn't put it down.

were you able to pick up a book on einstein's general theory of relativity?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What else is a turn off in a book description is when the book is described to be like some other author's book(s).

I like horror stories. But an immediate turn off is if the book describes the author as 'the next Stephen King' (which is still common in 2019. Good job, Steve!).

Similar rule in music. If you hear they're 'the next Beatles', they ain't.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I like horror stories. But an immediate turn off is if the book describes the author as 'the next Stephen King' (which is still common in 2019. Good job, Steve!).

Similar rule in music. If you hear they're 'the next Beatles', they ain't.

I have to agree. Although I'm not a huge fan of Stephen King (in my opinion he rambles on too long). I do like his book On Writing, however.

Usually when I see the blurb for a book who's author is the next... whoever... my immediate reaction is... yeah, right. You don't get to be a great writer by trying to be "like someone" — you get to be a great writer by writing great stories.

[Apache]

It reminds me of all the actors that were touted as the next Bruce Lee, after his death. None of them were ever able to capitalize on his name long term.
Apache