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What makes you buy a book?

eyez0nme

eyez0nme

New Member
For me I first read the title. If it attracts me than I pull the book out from the shelf and turn to the back. I read a bit of what the story is about and if I am interested I take the final stage which is reading the first two sentences. If the first two sentences do not grab me then back it goes on the shelf.
This all takes place in a matter of seconds. I might be putting down a great masterpiece but I take all of this into considersation when I write.
Is the title attractive? Is that one paragraph describing the story intriging? Are those first words a grabber?

Just wondering what grabs you?
 
Usually I read reviews and synopsis' of books that I hear people talk about, and use those to decide whether I should buy the book or not. The title doesn't come into it at all for me.
 
The deciding factor for me to choose a book would be the synopsis on the back cover. If that isnt available, I usually look for reviews (amazon, friends). If its a known author, and if I already like his style, I would pick up the book anyways.

And sometimes the color/work on the cover also might impress me to buy one :p (Like Eragon, Bartimaeus); Infact there have been times when the title wasnt impressive, but the cover was, and ended up with a good read!
 
1.) The author. If I've read several of his/her works before and enjoyed them, then I'll usually purchase more books from that particular writer.

2.) Recommendations/reviews. Not necessarily from book critics/other writers (though those do come into play every once in a while); rather I'll take advice from trusted friends/family members... people who have the same reading tastes as me and who've consistently told me about books that I've ended up enjoying.

3.) The cover. I don't do this often, but if I really need new books and can't find anything I'll just grab a book with the flashiest/most attention-getting cover and buy it.
 
I'm hearing Flip Wilson's Geraldine in my head as I try to answer this question! Sometimes I'm sure it really IS the 'devil who made me by that book!"

Geraldine aside..I tend to look at a catchy title or cover art that grabs my attention, unless it's a book I've already researched and know I want/need it. If the synopsis looks interesting, I'll bite..but with non-fiction books I will be using for reference, I tend to scan it pretty thoroughly to make sure it's worth plunking down my dollars. My usual M.O is to jot down titles and authors of books that interest me, and then we go home and I look into ordering them through the library..this allows me to preview NF/Reference books at my leisure.

Note to Kavitha: I love that poem by Arnold Loebel! Truer words were never penned...
 
If I like the author, I'll probably get the book, but not always.

I also read the back of books, listen around a bit for recommendations offered by friends and family, etc. I don't really read the first sentences of the book, though. I just open to a random page, read the page, and decide whether or not I like it from that.
 
Look at the title or cover, then read the first page or so. If that doesn't grab me, then I usually put it back. Of course sometimes I get to thinking about it, and get curious. In that case, I go back and buy it. I figure that if I don't forget about it in a day or so, then I might as well read it all the way through.

I rarely ever go on recommendations; I've tried it, but usually, those aren't the books I enjoy the most. I like forgotten books that I find by accident the most.
 
It's usually the intrigue of the sypnosis that causes me to wish to purchase it. If it is by an author whom I am familiar with and like that also factors into the equation. In the event that I still need persuasion I will look up reviews on Amazon or other review sites.
 
I look at the title/cover, read the synopsis, then open it and check the first paragraph. If that interests me enough, I flip to somewhere in the middle of the book to check that things will remain interesting. If I have them, I also consider recommendations from other people. Then, if all goes well, I buy it.
 
The first thing i guess would be the title, unless it's an author i have read before and enjoyed. Then those little descriptions on the back...i rarely know what books i want to get so if those make me interested that's fine. Sometimes i will get books that were reccomended...way easier.
 
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