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Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.
Here is what is on deck this week:
DO YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE CHAPTER PREVIEWS?
Short answer:
I mean...since I research each and every book to death before I commit to buying it, why wouldn't I read a sample to make sure that I like the writing style? 😉 Even if there's always a chance that the same book will end up disappointing me for totally different reasons, I could never go blind into it. I can honestly say that, a few times, I've reconsidered my interest in a book whose genre and blurb appealed to me, and whose reviews were overall positive, because the writing style didn't work for me. I've had friends whom I trust waxing poetry about a book, but if I don't click with the writing from the start, it's a big deal for me. So, blessed be free chapter previews! They're such lifesavers 😄.
[Later note: I seems I've be mistaken, because I thought that "free chapter previews" were the same as sneak peeks, while it turns out they are book samples handed out at book conferences...which I only discovered after posting this (...ever heard of sustainability, book people? Sorry, but I have to say this - what a waste of paper...). So, my answers applies to sneak peeks].
Well, that's it for now. And if you're interested in participating, here is the TMST prompt list for the rest of February:
- February 11th: Romantic reads recommendations
- February 18th: Who are some of the recent debut/new to me authors that impressed you?
- February 25th: What's your favourite underrated book/series? (this was a question I submitted!)
I'll be back for the meme on February 25th, of course...😉 You know I don't read romance, and it's much easier for me to be impressed by the single books than by their authors...unless they are truly exceptional. Or, well, it just hasn't happened to me lately, so I'm passing.
Now tell me something...do you rely on free chapter previews/sneak peeks to help you decide if buying a book? or do you skip them because you want to be taken by surprise?
I used to be so frustrated, when I would wait on line, thinking I was getting a book at a conference, and it was like 2 chapters. Talk about buzzkill. "Waste of paper" is a good way to describe it, though I understand sampling chapters online before you buy. Though, I worry it will be like a movie trailer, where they pick out the best chapter, you know?
ReplyDeleteI do read free chapter previews, but only if it is for a book in a series and it is appearing at the end of the previous book. For some reason I love it when series do that, it also saves me time from reading the first chapter once I get to the book!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of paper book samples and I agreed with you that is a waste of paper because what do you do with these samples that are not completed books?
ReplyDeleteI like to go to books stores, pick up a book with an interesting cover and then flip through to the middle of the book and read some pages and then decide if I want to read/buy it. So basically, I browse which I think it's really the most fun way to look for books to read. Of course, the downside, you might hate the book more than if you have researched it.
I use Amazon to read chapter samples and most of the time they have them. Also, if you use a Kindle, you can get a free sample of most books. Reading these samples is the only way I know if I want to read a book and also, reading about a million reviews because I sort of don't like surprises, not that most reviewers tell you everything because I still get surprises no matter what.
So basically reading reviews or samples does not stop you from reading things you hate. But at least, the chance of liking that book you have chosen is higher than if you had gone in blind.
Have a lovely day.
So you are another book researcher! I thought I was alone LOL. Your flipping through random pages sounds like fun, but I don't think I could ever do that - I need to start at the beginning. Anyway, of course no amount of research can guarantee you'll like the book, but as you said, the chance is higher, so I'm sticking to it!
DeleteNo - you got it right!!! I was just referring to something that they started doing at the book cons to get you excited about a book - rather than handing out full arc's.
ReplyDeleteI don't read them. It takes me a while to warm up to a book and the characters so i peak or preview doesn't do much for me. Unless the writing is AWFUL then - ok, I can tell that. I rely more on my friends and reviews.
Karen @ For What It's worth
Oh, OK then. As a matter of fact, I read Heidi's post and realised that samples are just part of the equation, so to speak.
DeleteI understand relying on friends with the same tastes (whom I sort of don't have LOL - except Carrie, but she reads more widely than me) and reviews (that I read widely), but I need a sample of the writing to see if it's my thing. Once I get a feel for it, I don't necessarily read the whole preview.
I didn't realise sneak peeks for books were such a popular thing! I would have said that I never read them, because I want to be surprised (and I also get 99% of my books from the library, so there is no real risk for me if I don't end up liking the book), but I did read the first chapter of the new Hunger Games book when it was released the other day.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you in that clicking with an author's writing style is pretty important to me, so maybe I should start seeking these sneak peeks out more often!
- Sabrina @ Wordy and Whimsical
I don't know if samples are popular, to be honest. Most people seem to take a chance on their books based on other things. Then, as you said, there's the library (which isn't an option for me with foreign books).
DeleteI do recommend sneak peeks, but I understand they're not going to work for everyone. Then again, they saved my butt a few times, so maybe they could do the same for you with that 1% of books you don't borrow from the library! 😉
I think if I bought more books I would focus more on reading book previews but since most of my books come from the library or lending apps like Scribd I don't really look into them further than the description or book reviews since I'm not putting any money into each book.
ReplyDeleteWhen I do buy books I am really thorough if I am thinking of purchasing it. I tend to buy books I've already read and loved!
First off, hi Arya! I love to meet new-to-me bloggers 😀. As for researching books, I understand your stance when money isn't at stake 😉. And I've bought books I'd already read lately too, namely Reverie (that I got through NetGalley).
DeleteI tend not to read chapters for other books at the ends of mine, since I know I'll just be frustrated if I like it and can't continue. If I vetted my books as carefully as you do, I'm sure that would be a lifesaver though! (I had no idea free chapter previews was so specific either. 😂 I don't typically go to book conferences, so I guess I'd say no to that one too for the same reasons. If I'm committed to reading a book, I probably wouldn't bother with one chapter.)
ReplyDeleteI know...mine is a researcher's approach...I swear I wasn't so diligent in school 😂 (or, I was but never crossed the line to nerdness). The fact is, I tend to read very specific books, and I can't spend a lot of money on them, so I have to be sure (like in the Wayward Children books LOL).
DeleteIt's interesting that some of you don't read the previews because you would be frustrated by not be able to continue right away. I would have thought you wanted to go in blind (sorry for the ableist metaphor, but I couldn't find another).
A sneak peek will definitely get me interested in a book, I do like 'em. And I can relate to what you said- the writing style has to grab me. A lot of times i'll think a book sounds good, I'll go to Amazon and read the sample, and I'll know right away it's probably not going to work for me. Or vice versa! So... yeah. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Another sample reader! I've never experienced the "vice versa" (as in, reading a sample of a book I was lukewarm about and finding out I want to take a chance on it after all), and no one mentioned it so far. I think you're unique in that!
DeleteI have to say, I don't usually bother with previews. *hides* Both times Clare and her sister, Ann, went to YALC in London, they sent me quite a few printed previews, and I got very excited about the titles I was already interested in... and then I never read them, lol. Some books I lost interest in - which happens a lot, I'm brutal when it comes to deleting books from my wishlist - others I wanted to read so bad that I just didn't care to try them first. I'm a curious and impatient person so when it comes to books I'm very much looking forward to, I don't want to start reading them and then stop when the preview ends. That said, I do use amazon's previews if I'm unsure about a book, and it has saved me from making bad purchases. Great post! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're brutal? 😱 LOL, just kidding, I know what you mean 😉.
DeleteSome books speak to me so much, and yet I HAVE to read the preview. I do realise though that it can be frustrating to read a limited number to pages and then to have to wait for the whole thing. Printed previews are a disgrace in terms of sustainability, TBH. Such a waste of paper - especially since it sounds like they aren't exactly capable of fidelizing future readers...