Instructions: If the total number of points are greater than the dollar value of the book, it's worth buying.
Where did I hear about the book?
Independent friend recommendations: +3 each*
Acquaintance/third-party/some-guy-whose-comments-I-respect-on-that-one-blog recommendation: +1
Advertising or media coverage: +0.5
It's one of those books I'm supposed to have read but never got around to: +1
* If friend A and friend B both recommend a book, the recommendations are independent iff A and B came to hear about the book independently (i.e. not from each other). Such recommendations are cumulative.
Do I recognize the author?
Like the author: +3
Love the author: +5
Think I've maybe heard of the author: +1
I stopped reading another book of theirs partway through: -4
What genre is it?
SF/F: +3
Literary: -5
Romance: -5
(I know, I'm a jerk. Sorry.)
Front cover?
Cool picture: +1
Embarrassing to be seen with: -2
Back cover?
Intriguing plot: +1
Cool SF/F concepts: +1
Critic/author blurbs only: -0.5
Still not sure? Read the first paragraph.
Boring: -1
Insulting: -1
Infodump: -1
Bookstore employee has to tell me the store is closing: +7
How about you? How do you decide which books to buy?
That's brilliant and I laughed out loud at the end.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so much put off by embarrassing covers because I grew up in an age that thought sci fi was only for men - so half naked women were de rigueur even when they had nothing to do with the plot.
Also, I'm in training for being an old woman who wears purple, so I don't let stuff like that get to me.
This was great! I especially liked -5 for romance and +7 for needing to leave the closing shop!
ReplyDeleteNice, fairyhedgehog. My criteria is generally, "Do I want my wife to see this?"
ReplyDeleteHehe, I appreciate your honesty. I've been surprised by how much covers influence me, but I know it all my personal preference. I'm drawing to gorgeous cover art—have to at least see what the book is about if it's shiny and pretty.
ReplyDeleteI shop based on mood though. Lately I'm looking for "lighter" books. So if something sounds really angsty or high suspense, I'm currently avoiding those. But that may change in a few months.
I'm similar, Adam, but the independence of the recommenders isn't such a strong requirement for me. If A and B both really liked it, it doesn't matter to me if B heard about it from A or not.
ReplyDelete-M
I love this -- it speaks to my left brain so clearly (and I also love that literary gets -5 :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anna. I felt bad cuz I know some of the blog readers like romance :-)
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I'm with you. There are three things that will draw my attention to a previously-unknown book: recommendation, know the author, like the cover. A good cover makes me want to like the book.
Matty, I think I like independent because I think that A's love a book might influence B or something. Makes sense not to care too :-)
Glad you liked it, Bane. I'm never ashamed to be analytical (as you know).
Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI heart you for that iff statement.
ReplyDeleteAnd what? I haven't converted you to romance yet? LOL