Who's ready for the weekend?! I know I am! I'm introducing a new(ish) feature for Fridays to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for my followers. Feel free to get involved by linking up at the bottom. If not, I'd love to read your responses in the comments. Thanks!
This Friday's Question:
Book Appeal: When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?
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I hate to admit this, but I totally judge a book by it's cover. If I am in a bookstore it's only natural that the book's cover will appeal to me first, right? The sad girl in a pretty dress on the cover has been over-used, in my opinion. I tend to shy away from those YA covers these days (unless of course I know something already about the book). I am a huge fan of typography. When a cover uses words to create art, my eyes are immediately drawn to it. Need some examples?
The other huge factor that appeals to me: ROMANCE! I have come to the conclusion that 9 times out of 10 if a book does not mention a love interest in the blurb, I most likely won't think twice about reading it. (This does not mean I wouldn't read the book though!) I'm a girl who loves to read about the romance, what can I say. However, the story does not necessarily have to be centered around it. I am an emotional creature and I like to read about my characters who go through the emotions with another character.
Some other book appeal-age: roadtrips, music, & character growth. All three of these themes tend to scream Ginger books! Throw them all together & I am in book heaven :)
Posts
Oh my gosh YESSSS to the romance! My friend just told me I was a hopeless romantic and for the first time ever, I realized she was right! If there is even a hint at a little bit of the love bug, I will most likely read it :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, those covers are all so cool! The cover on my copy of Where Things Come Back isn't nearly that pretty. Romance is my huge thing too. Even if a book isn't only about the romance, there are very few stories that I'll actively seek out if there isn't at least a little love going on.
ReplyDeleteAnd road trips! And music! Two things that I LOVE in my real life and in my fiction. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was perfection. And it helped that I was kind of doing their roadtrip backward while I was reading it. :P
Great topic today!
Andie
From A to Z
I hate to admit that I also judge a book by it's cover. It's the first thing I notice and I can't help if I judge it first. At the moment I'm more likely to pick up a book if the cover is simple. Simple stuff are awesome. I haven't noticed a lot of typography, but now that you mentioned it I totally love it.
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY agree! I'm horrible when it comes to judging books by their covers. Also, the prom dresses are getting a tad overkill. Some of them still make me giddy, but the others make no sense.
ReplyDeleteWonder what the new phase will be? Girls in pants? Let's bring that back!
Completely agree with the cover! I know you "can't" judge a book by it's cover, but it really just sets a whole tone! I love typography ones too, that's the reason I even noticed The Lover's Dictionary - which was weird to me since I adore David Levithan and all he does, so that definitely speaks for the cover if it can grab me before a favourite author can.
ReplyDeleteAshley
Ashley Loves Books
Oh, that Where Things Come Back cover is so preferable to the other I've seen! Covers grab me for sure, but also the author's name. If it's an author I love, I'll pick it up regardless of the cover.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely attracted to covers too when I'm browsing bookstores - online though, it's the book summaries that get me.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a cover girl myself and I'm so with you with the over-used "girl in a pretty dress" covers. Those almost always never say anything about what the book is about. So there's a girl in it, and she's sad, that's all you get from that.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
JJ iReads
Check out my Friday post
I love book covers! They really spark my interest in a book! Here's my post
ReplyDeleteHttp://stephsbookcorner.blogspot.com
It's definitely the cover as well. Even with a Kindle book, I must admit I still judge a book by the cover. Have you seen some of those cheesey covers for Kindle (ebooks) books? The free books?? There are so many, if you want to get discovered, at least spend a little time on your book cover.
ReplyDeleteWe're like twins! If a book mentions romance, I'll automatically add it to my TBR list. If it doesn't, I sit there and think about it for far longer than I should, lol. Swoon-worthy boy? Yes, please!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy contemporary novels that aren't centered around romance as well. Just like you! Books like Bitter End and Winter Girls really speak to me. I've never had to deal with abuse or anything of the sort (*knocks on wood*), but I love reading about strong women overcoming it. Basically, I LOVE STRONG WOMEN AND HOT GUYS!
Indeed! & the blurb is a HUGE deal to draw me in and close the deal. I'm also a fan of book trailers, however there are so many terrible cheesy ones out there. I get so bummed when I'm interested in a book & the trailer is awful and laden with an inane narration.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a huge fan of covers too! Interesting ones always manage to catch my eye and make me think about reading the book. Also, the elements you mentioned? They're definitely, totally you :)
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a huge romance person too! I tend to buy books based on how much romance is mentioned in the blurbs. It's the covers that draw me in first thought.
ReplyDeleteGood question this week! I tend to pick up interesting-sounding titles, and admit that beautiful cover art will also make me grab a book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
Like you, I'm a complete cover junkie. If it has a gorgeous cover I have to have it. I'm also obsessed with titles. But I also love dark books, so if it has a gorgeous or really creepy cover, then I'm sold. Sweet Evil is one of those books, I don't think I even read the description before I pre-ordered the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat post topic as always!
I am such s book cover gal.
ReplyDeleteWell, obviously you know what I'm after when I'm out and about at the library and bookstore. ;) This is even more important when I haven't heard about a book before. But sometimes all it takes is an interesting title to catch my eye, as well, no matter how horrific the cover.
ReplyDeleteI, like you, love romance. I like slow burn, tension, people who get to know each other first before falling for each other. This may sound odd but I REALLY like it when people HATE each other beforehand. Because that means extra tension-licious.
I love adventure, character growth, and humor. I love really great dialogue. I like meeting new characters that are so unlike me, and characters who I feel that I can connect with on some level. I'll read a book about sports, war, mental disorders -- I'm interested in a lot of things, and as long as the book has a backbone of good story and character development, I'm all in.
I totally judge a book by its cover. I know that's wrong, but if it looks pretty, I'm going to check out the synopsis. Then, depending on that, I might read it or not. If the cover isn't so appealing, I might not even think twice about it. But if I see a lot of people have rated it high on Goodreads, I might still give it a chance.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool feature, I'm going to have to participate sometime!
I love some good typography, too. I think it kind of says a lot about a book how much attention was put into the font. Is it sweet and whimsical or very stoic and serious? Honestly, I'm tired of all the darker covers out there. I want something light, airy, colorful, pretty...
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the covers too. Or, if I happen to be in the library, it needs a pretty spine or a catchy title.
ReplyDeleteI actually usually shy away from a book if it mentions a romance these days :P Part of that could be from reading too many paranormals where the romance always seems to be the same.
Haha, yes totally agree about the romance thing. <3 Always love a series with a good romance. Though quite often I read middle grade books that don't have that, or at least don't really feature it, and I don't mind at all. I guess it also just comes down to the plot for me, as well as character development. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes - sometimes I feel guilty for it, but I do tend to be attracted to the pretty covers of books. Though a lot of the times an amazing book can have a boring cover! Or vice versa. So I guess I have to be a little bit more careful about that.
I've seen a lot of these Follow Fridays on the other blog hop I do. I am definitely joining from now on.
ReplyDeleteNew follower. Check out my Follow Friday post and follow me back if you haven’t already (by GFCif possible) at:
http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com
Nereyda @BookObsessed
Hi, Ginger!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you -- the cover is the first thing I go for! And romance...oh, definitely!! Romance novels of all stripes (except very erotic ones) will always pull me in!
Thanks for sharing! Happy Friday!! : )
Maria @ http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/
I'm a cover gal too, Ginger. I also like to read the synopsis and see if any of my Goodreads friends have rated or reviewed it yet!
ReplyDeleteI like the insight on what appeals to you in a book description. I can imagine a lot of women agree with you about romance aspect. I'll be sure to include a blurb about Devin's love interest with Arris in my book's description!
ReplyDeleteThose three covers together look STUNNING. Typography on covers is gorgeous.
ReplyDelete