Booking Through Thursday
Mood
Thoughtful
I was looking through books yesterday at the shops and saw all the Twilight books, which I know basically nothing about. What I do know is that I’m beginning to feel like I’m the *only* person who knows nothing about them.
Despite being almost broke and trying to save money, I almost bought the expensive book (Australian book prices are often completely nutty) just because I felt the need to be ‘up’ on what everyone else was reading.
Have you ever felt pressured to read something because ‘everyone else’ was reading it? Have you ever given in and read the book(s) in question or do you resist? If you are a reviewer, etc, do you feel it’s your duty to keep up on current trends?
It's pretty easy for me to resist popular series in the works because I really dislike putting up with unfinished work. Just because I have so many unfinished series that I've read and am trying (and failing) to keep track of. It's mostly mangas, but for a while I tried to keep track of the Wheel of Time series too, which was a nightmare (I gave up). Once I know that the Twilight series is finished I'll most likely start picking up copies from the library. Is it?
Usually when I see a book that's become popular, either from Oprah's book club or because it's being made into a movie, than I'll see what it is about and what people have to say. If it piques my interest I'll pick up a copy from the library to come to my own opinion about it. Depending on how interesting it is I either pick it up from the library or go out and buy it.
On the one hand I've read The Alchemist because of all the hype, checked it out from the library. As a concept book, it worked. As a novel, for me, it didn't. It would have been much better a non-fiction presenting life theory then as a fiction that tried to awkwardly force characters to do it for them. On the other I also read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that I went out and bought, years before it became a movie, and I loved it. I'm glad that I didn't miss out on it just because it was a popular book at the time. Now insanely popular because of the movies.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is a book has to be more than popular to get me to read it. It also has to have that certain something that interests me personally. And, an even more certain something to get me to buy it! Though, I have to admit, it being popular will help me overlook some faults I might not have otherwise, particularly the popular books that come from the library. I figure, what's the harm? It's free.
Posted by Bitsy at 05:33 AM Comments
Welcome to BTT.
You make a good point: wait until you can get it from the library! That way it doesn't cost you, if you don't like it.
Posted by: Sally on September 4, 2008 12:54 PM
Library reading is always the best, FREE!
I too have trouble trying to keep up with unfinished series, I end up forgetting where it left off since I read so many other books in the meantime!
Posted by: Lyn - A Blog in the Rough on September 4, 2008 02:31 PM
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