How do you decide what book(s) to buy - novels - at a bookstore?

[seaglass]

I am usually risk averse when it comes to buying new books. I tend to either buy new books by authors I love or will try a book based on recommendations/reviews that I read before I go to the bookstore. I used to keep a running list of books/authors in my pocketbook.

Last week I bought a book on a whim - never heard of the author or book - and I am so happy I did - great book. This week I am back to my risk averse behavior, bought 2 more books by the author I found last week.

So how do you buy books?

[billyskank]

1. Psssst

Try a library. They let you read a book without buying it. Then if you get one that sucks, you didn't lose any money on it.

;)

[seaglass]

2. well, I figure I eventually will get around to reading the books

that suck because many of them are books that other people think don't suck so I figure it's just my state of mind when I try to read them. :-) Kind of like when I first read Faulkner 20 years ago.

Plus, I'm very attached to owning books whether they suck or not - I'd rather own books than most anything else.

I do support my Library - usually by buying books at their annual book sale.

[kernelfarmer]

3. books?

Who needs books when i've got 100,003 channels on my TV?

[Orrex]

5. Especially when 99,000 of them are Golf channels

Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[kernelfarmer]

4. dupe

[panhead1961]

6. The internets and the google are helpful tools

[seaglass]

7. Right. I was just wondering if other people were a little less

analytical when choosing what book to buy. Or what else they might rely on when choosing.

[YankeyMCC]

8. I'm a member of History and Science Fiction book clubs but

I've long since met my obligations now I continue to remain a member mainly as a means of seeing what is new and potentially interesting.

I use the library now to read the books I find interesting then if one happens to be particular moving or important to me I'll buy it.

[Shiver]

9. Purely out of curiosity...

What book is it that you bought on a whim?

Selecting books can be very difficult; considering how much I read, I have a hard time finding anything new or interesting enough to keep me occupied. Especially lately, as I've been trying to find something with very specific criteria (fantasy series -at least three books-, not involving vampires, with a strong, female protagonist. It's a lot harder to find than you might think...)

Anyway, I usually read the blurb on the back or inside the front cover. If the description of the book makes it sound like you need to take an alternate universe history course to understand it, I generally leave it be, sometimes making a mental note to check it out at the library.

I also like to see if any other authors have said anything about it - I know that many such quotes are written before they book has even been finished, but using this method has led me to some very good reads.

I also like to ask the clerks at the store, although there's no guarantee they read the same things I do.

Generally a combination of these methods is used, resulting in me spending upwards of several hours in a bookstore before deciding on anything. I also bring a notepad with me, to write down titles that seem interesting, but I feel I need to have more information on before deciding.

[seaglass]

13. The book was American Gods. I don't usually browse the

Sci-Fi/Fantasy section but I was looking for another book which I couldn't find. Actually I like fantasy and am not sure why I don't spend more time there

The story synopsis caught my attention and there was a rec by Stephen King. So now I bought 2 more of Gaiman's books. :-)

There is a book group on DU, under DU Groups I think - maybe someone there would have a suggestion for a series for you. The only one that I know that meets it is His Dark Materials series and you've probably already read that.

[Shiver]

17. Oh, yeah...

American Gods is brilliant. Check out Good Omens, by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Not the same kind of thing, but utterly hilarious.

Yeah, I have read His Dark Materials, and while I liked it, I'd prefer something a bit more geared towards adults. I've considered posting something in that group - it was the main reason i made the donation and got the star, after all :P - but I keep forgetting.

[yewberry]

18. Hey, you.

Have you read Tad Williams' "Otherland" series? It might be a little more sci-fi than fantasy, but it's a really good read.

Four hefty books, a variety of strong female (and male) characters, nary a vampire in sight.

[Shiver]

19. Just Wiki'd it

And it looks interesting, although I have to admit I have a harder time getting into Sci-Fi than I do Fantasy. Wouldn't buy it straight up, but definitely going to see if it's in when I next venture into the library.

And it's not that I don't like vampires... they just get overdone.

[Pierre.Suave]

10. I check them out from the library first

and read them a bit to decide before I buy, unless the recommendation comes from someone I trust to give me a good rec.

[Lavender Brown]

11. I usually read the first chapter or more when I'm there

In general, I'm not disappointed with my "serious" reading choices. I also like to keep those books for my collection whether I loved them or not. Usually the guilty pleasure, spur of the moment purchases are what disappoint me, so I try to avoid those. I end up giving them away on Book Mooch. :)

[crispini]

12. I buy a lot on whim.

If I have a few minutes to look at the blurb and read some bits, I usually have a pretty good idea about whether or not I will enjoy it. I do tend to do this in certain genres, though -- in other words, I'm buying essentially the same "type" of book I've bought before. But, I have so many "types" I like, haha.

[Crazy Dave]

14. A bookstore?

Just kidding ;)

There's a very large, used bookstore here that I go to once a year to buy and/or trade a few books at. Otherwise it's mostly on Amazon. A lot of books I choose in subjects I'm interested in comes from the feedback and user reviews posted there on the product page. Also, the last few books I've read came from listening to interviews with the authors on NPR.

[seaglass]

15. Yep, I read the Amazon reviews - though I'm a loyal B&N customer,

the Amazon reviews are just better.

I remember NPR having an annual program, I think the top 25 books of the year and callers would call the show and make their recommendations too. I used to get a lot of ideas from that show.

[Crazy Dave]

25. I like Amazon's customer service

Recently I bought a $17 book and it wasn't packed very well and/or mangled when it was put into the box. Looked like what you would get at a yard sale instead of what you'd expect paying $17 plus $5 shipping. They offered to send a new book at no cost but since it was still readable I suggested a discount and they gave me $10 back.

[tigereye]

16. I tend to buy books whose authors I know, or that friends recommend -

but if I've read reviews, or if the blurb and the first few pages look good, I will give it a shot if it's not radically expensive.


Some stuff I get from the library or wait until the book comes out in paperback or at yardsales of used bookstores.



Lately Amazon and Powells.com have been great, too.

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. If I'm not looking for something specific, I like to go to the "First books" section

Borders and Barnes & Nobles both have little areas that feature the new novels by writers being published for the first time. I like to read first novels - exciting! And I've come across shitloads of good ones.

I also like to check out the "What our employees recommend" section.

Unfortunately, in the "new novelists" section will never be the paperback new novels in science-fiction and fantasy, which I like to read, so I have to go to those specific sections and dig around looking to see if there's anyone new.

[Catch22Dem]

21. I'm a fiction fan and have a few favorite authors...

If they don't have anything new (one of them is dead, so it's unlikely ;)) I go with genre and read the back. If the back appeals to me, I read the first few pages.

[Catch22Dem]

22. Oh, I also read the reviews inside

If my favorite authors gave this book a good review, I may buy it.

[Orsino]

23. I look for known authors...

...and browse randomly. I read the back covers (I buy paperbacks almost exclusively) and the reviews and blurbs inside. Blurbs from most other authors are suspect, though; I know that those are often traded as favors. With fantasy and sci-fi, the back-cover description is sometimes enough to sell me.

[applegrove]

24. I go by the top ten lists. Or Oprah or the like. I also read the reviews on the back.

I want to know that it is a good book before I put money on it.