How do you test a book before you buy. I let it fall open randomly and read a couple of pages.
How do you test a book before you buy. I let it fall open randomly and read a couple of pages.
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No! First chapter should decide it surely
I don’t know that the author has really got into the story by then. I knew someone who would read the last page!!! crazy..
the blurb does it usually for me or the 1st and maybe 2nd but def no more than that xx
Read the blurb and reviews
don’t read reviews as we all have diff takes on books
I start reading and if I can’t put it down I buy it 🙂
Blurb. Always the blurb,
Download a sample to my kindle
Page 76 . Usually works too ?
Might try that
Nooooo you might read a spoiler !
Definitely first chapter
Read the book and maybe download a sample
Goodreads
Just read the first page .Thats usually a good decider for me though most if the books I buy are recommendations.
If the cover and title don’t grab me I don’t even get to the blurb. I need to think … “Wow great cover and wish I’d thought of that title!” Then it’s over to the blurb and if that’s good I’m inside to get the first paragraph read which needs to either grip me, shock me or intrigue me. Always done this unless I get a really strong recommendation.
The blurb for me.
I read the blurb, then a random page or two
Cover, title, blurb, first ten pages
Read the blurb
Blurb and first page.
Tend to buy everything from Bitter Lemon and Europa Editions World Noir on sight. Guardian crime round-up is really useful. And CFA of course!
You know those quotes on the jacket cover? The ones that are what “critics” say about the book?
Yeah. If those quotes/reviews are solely from other authors, or from grocery store magazines, I give that book a wide berth. Particularly if the authors quoted are authors I don’t like, and the magazines are pop-culture fluff.
That’s my litmus test.
I never read those puffs at all
I, too, usually read the first chapter–not a guarantee but more times than not, it works.
A bit random for me. I read the opening passages, both for literate writing and whether they get me hooked. Then I look at a few more pages deeper into the book. But I NEVER look at the ending!!!
I like an intriguing blurb. That’s usually enough to get me interested. A bit like a film trailer, I guess.
I read the blurb and then I read the first page and see if I get hooked and want to read on.
Title, cover and blurb, if they don’t grip me then i don’t buy the book
If it’s a kindle edition I read the sample. I usually find that if I’m not gripped in the first ten minutes of reading I’m not going to ever finish the book.