Friday, June 28, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #24 (6/28 - 7/4): All That Hype....





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
He took over this hop from
Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.
I'm so glad he decided to
continue with this weekly feature!
For more information, click HERE.


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

So would you read a book
just because of the hype?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

Well, before I started blogging about books, I can't say that hype had much influence on my reading habits.  One exception was the Harry Potter series.  I had heard of these books long before I actually read the first one.  At first, I wasn't too interested in picking up one of these books.  But then, I happened to be at a Barnes & Noble store during the midnight release party for book 7.  There were people there dressed as characters from the books.   I saw Dumbledore, Voldemort, and a kid who really fit the part of Harry Potter.  I stayed a while, greatly enjoying the enthusiasm of all the fans crowded around the characters.  In fact, the store was overflowing with them!  And people were even getting their pictures taken with the Sorting Hat on!  So that was it -- I went to a cash register and bought book 2; a friend had previously given me the first book, but  I hadn't read it yet.  So I bought the second book, started on the first one right away, and went on to the second.  I just had to get the rest of them after that!

Now that I'm a book blogger, I really do pay attention when a book is highly anticipated by other bloggers, or receives high praise from them shortly after its release.  Of course, I also check out the Amazon, Shelfari, and Goodreads reviews.  I think that so-called 'hype' is very important.  Most of the time, I've seen that it's a very good indicator of just how terrific a book is.  However, I sometimes discover that, in spite of the hype, I'm not interested in a book, or series of books, at all.  This was the case with The Hunger Games series.  In spite of the popularity of these books, I'm definitely not interested in reading them.  Why?  I just don't like the whole premise of the story.  So, no amount of hype will ever entice me to start reading these books!

There are also two genres that I flat out refuse to read -- erotica and horror. 

So, in spite of the fact that the Fifty Shades of Grey books are based on The Twilight Saga, which I dearly love, I will never read them, no matter how 'hyped up' they've been, and are, no matter how many women eagerly read them and sing their praises.   So that's definitely out!

As for the horror genre, I made the mistake  of reading The Exorcist years ago, based precisely on all the hype.  This was another exception.  Well, I couldn't sleep for an entire week!   So, absolutely NO Stephen King novels (or movies) for me!

Oh, and one more thing....absolutely no amount of hype will ever get me to read an e-book.  Unless, of course, the author decides to make it available in a printed edition later on.






 What do you think of my answer?
And what about you? 
Are you influenced by hype 
when choosing a book to read? 








12 comments:

  1. I agree paying attention to what others say in the various places online does give a sense of the book. It is a matter of weighing it all up. Occasionally I then buy something that is a dud for me, and sometimes I like it The Hunger Games was one such trilogies. While I hated the whole premise it was still able to draw me in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, Kathryn!

      Definitely all the online hype is important in finding out about a book! And I agree -- then you weigh it all up, and make your decision.

      How interesting that The Hunger Games captured your interest in spite of your utter dislike for the premise! That means that the author must have created VERY compelling characters! Interesting....maybe I'll dip into them again....

      Thanks so much for commenting back!! :)

      Delete
  2. GREAT answer. I won't read erotica either.


    Stop by for my full answer if you like.

    Happy Hopping!!

    Elizabeth

    Silver's Reviews

    My
    Blog Hop Answer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you agree with my views on erotica. I think it's totally disgusting!

      Thanks for commenting back!! :)

      Delete
  3. Maria a very in depth answer, great answer :D

    My Friday Meme

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Angelica!

      Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for commenting back!! You ROCK, girl!!!
      :)

      Delete
  4. Great post, deff save your time on the 50 Shades!

    Visit me at http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com

    New GFC Follower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, Ashley!

      Thanks for the compliment! Yeah, I'm not at all interested in spending my time -- or my money -- on "Fifty Shades"!

      Thanks for commenting back!! :)

      Delete
  5. I took a while to pick up Harry Potter as well, it just didn't sound like my kind of thing. Boy was I wrong! I did fall for the hype of Hunger Games and I waited for it to come in at the library. With that said, I could barely get through the first chapter. It just wasn't for me. I got too depressed and gave up, never finishing. I prefer to get swept away by a book, not drown in sadness.

    I've read a few Stephen King books. It terrified me so it was a few years before I picked up another one. The second one i picked up was The Dead Zone. Not as horrifying, but def chilling. I probably won't be reading anything that keeps me from sleeping at night any time soon :)

    Meredith
    Meredith’s Musings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Meredith!

      I'm so glad you like Harry Potter, too!! And you didn't like The Hunger Games, just like me. Great minds think alike, you know? The Hunger Games is DEFINITELY depressing to read....that whole thing about young people killing each other in some sort of gladiator games.....UGH!! I hated it!! Besides, this plot idea is far from new. There's a classic "Star Trek" episode that's very similar.

      As for Stephen King, I don't like his books AT ALL!! Not that I've read any, but I do know that they're really scary. I had enough of the horror genre when I read "The Exorcist"!! Lol.

      Thanks for commenting back!!! :)

      Delete
  6. Thanks for stopping by! Great answer. I think everyone has their own genres they love or hate and tend to draw the line somewhere..

    Horror books are something that takes some nerve for.. At least for me.. Horror books creep me out worse than movies.. Damn imagination!! But I did love the Hunger Games and am one of probably 2 poeple in the world that was happy with the ending!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you're quite welcome!!

      Yes, definitely everyone has their own genres. And I won't touch the horror genre with a ten-foot pole....lol.

      Hmmm....now you've got me wondering about the ending to The Hunger Games....maybe I'll try to pick it up at some time in the near future....but I'm really not too enthused about it.

      Thanks for commenting back!!! :)

      Delete

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