Those of us that do not read NY Times Bestsellers - Page 4

teadonkey · 05-01-2011, 08:21 PM

I never know what's on the NYT Bestseller list. (: I just read what interests me. I'm a major big time browser in bookstores, and I wander around looking for titles to write down and download/rent later. I'm sure I've read books that are on the list before. I am positive the HP books were. I think the newer Sookie Stackhouse books may have been, I can't remember. But that's kind of my point. I don't read things because people recommend them. I read things because I think I'll like them.

Fbone · 05-01-2011, 08:40 PM

If you don't look at the list every week, how do you know if your books aren't on the list?

travger · 05-02-2011, 05:15 AM

There is only one list I find interesting enough to search it out - Hugo winners (ok, Nebula also) and nominees. Then there's bookstores, friends' recommendations... NY bestseller is very far and very small. If I know that a book was/is on that list, it is just a fluke - and forgotten in few days.

bear4hunter · 05-02-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travger

Hugo winners (ok, Nebula also).

Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl (Biokrieg) is the current Editor's Kindle Pick in Germany - is it any good?

MV64 · 05-02-2011, 12:41 PM

Well, from working at a bookstore, I notice them all the time and usually they are either aimed at women (which I am not) or else just cookie-cutter installations in a 20 book series by an author who doesn't even do his own writing anymore.

MrsJoseph · 05-02-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bear4hunter

Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl (Biokrieg) is the current Editor's Kindle Pick in Germany - is it any good?

I haven't read it but it was a group read in one of my groups. [Just about] Everyone who read it loved it.

travger · 05-03-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bear4hunter

Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl (Biokrieg) is the current Editor's Kindle Pick in Germany - is it any good?

Don't know anything about that, but just finished Bob Moore: No Hero by Tom Andry. Nice and light read.

jamesbeat · 05-04-2011, 10:00 PM

I don't pay any attention to those types of lists for the same reason I don't watch reality TV. Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's good.

I do pay attention to Hugo and Nebula lists, but I guess that's because they are a specialized list for the genre that I most read.
They do have their fair share of clunkers too however, so I don't pay too much attention to them.

covfam · 05-06-2011, 01:34 PM

ive never once bought a book based on its ranking on the nyt list or what oprah recomends. i read books that look interesting to me when i walk in the store and walk down the fiction isle or the non fiction isle, if there is an auther i really like ill specificly look for that author. with my ereading i do the same thing. yes some of my reading are on the list but most are not.

i find book reviews just as bad as movie reviews, like recently read a review on the movie voyage of the dawn treader and this major reviewer rated the movie low because there wasnt enough kink or sex scenes in it... completly missing the fact that it was a childrens story/movie made by disney and NOT a late night HBO mini series.

ive read simmilar type of reviews about my favorite clive cussler dirk pit novels about them not having enough cultural enlightenments in them. i dont read dirk pit for enlightenment i read it cuz i want to see him save the world and stop the bad guy :P

Nawpkin · 05-06-2011, 02:54 PM

I just buy what I find interesting. NY times best seller lists do bring a lot of books to peoples attention but that is ALL they do for me. Once I hear about it i will look into it before I decide if i am going to buy it or not. I won't buy it just because it is on a list that says it is good.

That is the main reason I don't pay attention to book clubs or things like that either. I like making my own decisions when it comes to books, movies, games or anything like that.

apbschmitz · 05-06-2011, 07:41 PM

The NY Times list I don't find so helpful, but the Book Review itself is good for making a first cut, I think. You've got to take it with a lump of salt — it's the opinions of an isolated group of individuals, sort of like people stranded on their very own, very large desert island — but it's a place to start from.

Speaking of, is there a similar online review of general/literary fiction for indie eBooks? Sorry if I'm restarting an ancient discussion, but I'm new to this and could use some help in winnowing through the pile of manuscripts.

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05-01-2011, 08:21 PM	#46
teadonkey Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 2179008 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	I never know what's on the NYT Bestseller list. (: I just read what interests me. I'm a major big time browser in bookstores, and I wander around looking for titles to write down and download/rent later. I'm sure I've read books that are on the list before. I am positive the HP books were. I think the newer Sookie Stackhouse books may have been, I can't remember. But that's kind of my point. I don't read things because people recommend them. I read things because I think I'll like them.

05-01-2011, 08:40 PM	#47
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,288 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	If you don't look at the list every week, how do you know if your books aren't on the list?

05-02-2011, 05:15 AM	#48
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	There is only one list I find interesting enough to search it out - Hugo winners (ok, Nebula also) and nominees. Then there's bookstores, friends' recommendations... NY bestseller is very far and very small. If I know that a book was/is on that list, it is just a fluke - and forgotten in few days.

05-02-2011, 12:41 PM	#50
MV64 Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Well, from working at a bookstore, I notice them all the time and usually they are either aimed at women (which I am not) or else just cookie-cutter installations in a 20 book series by an author who doesn't even do his own writing anymore.

05-04-2011, 10:00 PM	#53
jamesbeat Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 1796 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS 505	I don't pay any attention to those types of lists for the same reason I don't watch reality TV. Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's good. I do pay attention to Hugo and Nebula lists, but I guess that's because they are a specialized list for the genre that I most read. They do have their fair share of clunkers too however, so I don't pay too much attention to them.

05-06-2011, 01:34 PM	#54
covfam Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 1139862 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Ipod Touch,Ipad3,Kindle fire, Samsung Galaxy tab, Samsung Galaxy S3	ive never once bought a book based on its ranking on the nyt list or what oprah recomends. i read books that look interesting to me when i walk in the store and walk down the fiction isle or the non fiction isle, if there is an auther i really like ill specificly look for that author. with my ereading i do the same thing. yes some of my reading are on the list but most are not. i find book reviews just as bad as movie reviews, like recently read a review on the movie voyage of the dawn treader and this major reviewer rated the movie low because there wasnt enough kink or sex scenes in it... completly missing the fact that it was a childrens story/movie made by disney and NOT a late night HBO mini series. ive read simmilar type of reviews about my favorite clive cussler dirk pit novels about them not having enough cultural enlightenments in them. i dont read dirk pit for enlightenment i read it cuz i want to see him save the world and stop the bad guy :P

05-06-2011, 02:54 PM	#55
Nawpkin Member Posts: 14 Karma: 137932 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle	I just buy what I find interesting. NY times best seller lists do bring a lot of books to peoples attention but that is ALL they do for me. Once I hear about it i will look into it before I decide if i am going to buy it or not. I won't buy it just because it is on a list that says it is good. That is the main reason I don't pay attention to book clubs or things like that either. I like making my own decisions when it comes to books, movies, games or anything like that.

05-06-2011, 07:41 PM	#56
apbschmitz Lord of Frogtown Posts: 149 Karma: 1154748 Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Paul MN Device: Kindle	The NY Times list I don't find so helpful, but the Book Review itself is good for making a first cut, I think. You've got to take it with a lump of salt — it's the opinions of an isolated group of individuals, sort of like people stranded on their very own, very large desert island — but it's a place to start from. Speaking of, is there a similar online review of general/literary fiction for indie eBooks? Sorry if I'm restarting an ancient discussion, but I'm new to this and could use some help in winnowing through the pile of manuscripts.

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