Ladies and gents, Fall TV is back, which means you will soon be subjected to Bachelor and ANTM references and generally be made to wonder how it is that I can be a literary agent who loves Ian McEwan and Melville while also being a tad too obsessed I mean fascinated by questionable-at-best reality television. I heart Fall!
But let it not be said that I am reading less because of all the good TV that’s on — I figured the debut of “Gossip Girl” on the CW was excuse enough to read the eponymous YA novel. Have to say — I really enjoyed it. Such attitude! Such dish! Such bad human beings! I loved it.
Meanwhile, back in book land, the little ole publishing industry often gets accused of not doing enough market research on its customers. Some people think we should be more scientific and, you know, figure out what kind of advertising works. Well! Let’s change all that. This is a HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC survey of REAL READERS that will result in some NEBULOUS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE.
So here’s this week’s You Tell Me: How did you decide to buy the book you’re reading? Friend recommendation? Advertising? Book club? Random impulse buy? Debut CW series produced by Josh Schwartz featuring teenagers behaving very badly? (guilty – although I’ve been meaning to read it for a while. Which I guess is kind of worse.)
Let’s show those “scientists” where they can put their “formulas.” I bet they made all that stuff up anyway. Can’t fool me! Quadratic formula my foot.
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Jen says
Hi Nathan,
I’m reading STRAY by Rachel Vincent — she’s friends with several of my blogger friends and I heard about it through them. I’m also reading LORD JOHN & THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE — heard about that through the writer’s forum I belong to, where Diana Gabaldon is also a member. And finally, REBEL ANGELS by Libba Bray. I picked up the first book during a cold walk through in the YA section at B&N — enjoyed it, so I got the second.
What this says? Umm, not sure. (g)
Vinnie Sorce says
Most of what I read is from recommendations but I have discovered some wonderful things while listening to NPR as well. I discovered J.A. Jance (who I was lucky enough to meet at the Sedona library) at a garage sale. Can’t afford new books… lol
When I find an author I like I stick to them. MATSUTAKE is one of my particular favorites…
Melanie Avila says
I just started Catch-22 because it’s ‘one of the classics’ blah blah, No marketing involved here. But, I cannot get into it. I’ve read about 30 pages and can’t bring myself to pick it up again. Time to head back to the bookstore, where I’ll grab whatever catches my eye…
Tammie says
The last 2 books I read because they were recommended by commenters here at this blog.
But I just finished a small book in one day after seeing her on Oprah – Louder than Words by Jenny McCarthy. In all fairness I had heard about the book prior to her being on tv and would have probably picked it up anyway as I found her experience with doctors interesting – not just the autism topic.
C.J. says
a friend’s recommendation coaxed me into finding out more on wikipedia, from there i picked it up while i was at the book store, then it sat on my dinning room table for two months until a different friend recommended it and… voila!
Jena says
I recently moved to a small town with no bookstore (the horror! the horror!) so until I make a trip to the city, I’m stuck with what’s on drugstore and supermarket shelves – best I could do on my last trip was Kathy Reichs’ BREAK NO BONES. Not trez faboo, but it’ll do.
When I’m in the city, a friend working in an indie bookstore is a fantastic source. If he’s not in, I pick up books at random in the mystery section – I go for an interesting title by an author I don’t know, read the first page and a middle page, and if it grabs me, I buy.
I try to ignore cover art, blurbs, and I *never* read the back cover.
James says
Two books right now. I like to have a novel and a non-fiction book in my bag to match the mood:
A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – given to me by a friend
and
Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller – loved the cover, loved the ad I saw in the New Yorker, and couldn’t wait to read it. Ha, I say, Ha. Never read it and had it on my bookshelf from last year’s public library Big Book Sale.
Tom Burchfield says
I’m currently reading “The Black Camel,” a Charlie Chan mystery by Earl Derr Biggers. Most mystery readers should be aware of this ancient series, written in the 1920s and 1930s. My copy is a first edition in fair condition I picked up for 8 bucks at an antique store in Niles California. My collector’s antennae led me to it. It’s actually quite good, even though it is dated, esp. the dialogue. Chan is as witty as he is wise (and human)and the book makes many tart comments about anti-Chinese racism.
Anonymous says
One I heard of from a blog, the other from a friend, and the last one (yes, three at the same time; different times of day, though)from a story on NPR. I buy a lot based on NPR stories.
Jeanne says
I’m reading MIDDLESEX, which my sister recommended. Usually I go by personal recommendations or book reviews.
Linnea says
I had nothing to read and asked my son to pick up something for me from the library. He brought me ‘A Detective Under Fire’ by H.R.F. Keating. I’m only a few pages into the book but am already wincing. Where are the editors! This sentence drove me crazy. ‘Rain was streaming down IT, and a thin pool of IT had collected on the little strip of window-ledge at ITs foot.’
Yikes.
J M Peltier says
I’m reading Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. I heard about it mostly by word of mouth. Then came Scalzi’s Campbell award.
Dave F. says
I just finished “The Reincarnationist” and although it’s an exciting story, I didn’t like the ending. I found it on Amazon
And I’ve just started “An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England” … The idea for which came from your blog.
sarah says
I’m reading the new Greenspan book (quite good), and the Dick/Felix Francis book, which I’m a third into, and it’s surprisingly wonderful. Koontz’s The Good Guy is up next.
Scott says
I’m reading three.
1. Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
I had forgotten I’d ordered this book before our discussion of openings here. I saw it on Amazon and thought it looked useful.
2. III Henry VI by some dead English dude
Last year for Christmas, my wife got me a collection of Shakespeare’s plays in individual hard-bound volumes. Since then, I’ve been working through them all, at least one a month. This is just the next one on the shelf. (And, by the way, has an opening scene that’s hard to beat. When a guy with a claim to the throne shows up and sits on the king’s throne and refuses to get up, demanding that the king abdicate, it kind of builds tension and makes you want to know what’s going to happen.)
3. Sagen, Legenden, Geschichten aus Mittelfranken by Alfred Kriegelstein
Saw it on a shelf in Nuremberg. I had just finished another book of legends from that area and wanted more.
sarah says
Left out the important part. The Greenspan came from my husband, the Francis from a friend’s rec. I auto-buy Koontz.
Elver says
Currently reading…
Terry Pratchett’s “Fifth Elephant”. Because I’m a Pratchett fan and this is was the first Discworld book I found at the store that I hadn’t yet read. Originally got into Pratchett’s stuff after a friend recommended his writings.
Collection of Anton Chekhov’s short stories. It was like $2 at the bookstore and pretty much every short story writer has listed Chekhov as his/her major influence. I’ve been meaning to read his stuff.
Fareed Zakaria’s “The Future of Freedom” was mentioned by a friend of mine when we were discussing politics.
Ursula K. LeGuin’s “Left Hand of Darkness”. Just because I wanted to get into LeGuin. And because she was mentioned many times in the writing-how-to books by Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm.
And I recently finished Iain M. Banks’ “Excession”, because I wanted to get into Banks. Several friends have recommended his stuff.
Susan Flemming says
I recently finished Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. It was featured in the Barnes & Noble newsletter along with a coupon for a 37% discount. The description of it intrigued me, so I picked it up the next time I went to the B&N. I loved the book.
I’m currently reading two books.
The first is Wizards, a fantasy anthology. I picked it up because I like anthologies and this one sounded interesting. I was about halfway through when my husband “stole” it from me. Now that’s he’s finished I can get back to reading it.
The second book I’m reading is Word Work by Bruce Holland Rogers: Striving and Thriving as a Writer. This one was actually recommended by the author himself, after he came across my website while doing a search. His letter to me through my “Contact Me” page piqued my interest, so I ordered it from Amazon. I’m really enjoying reading it.
Kimber An says
The book I’m currently reading, HANG A THOUSAND TREES WITH RIBBONS by Ann Rinaldi is a YA Historical, which I Googled, searching for the finest in YA Historicals to inspire me while I’m writing my own YA Historical.
The book before that, MASTER OF VERONA by David Blixt, was sent to me by St. Martins Press to review on my blog, Enduring Romance, which actually reviews all genres except Horror and Erotica.
I’ve learned tons about marketing to readers through my sister blogs. Probably the best column I’ve written on the subject is “How Sally Reader Overcame Her Fear of Buying New” which I posted on my Star Captains’ Daughter blog May 31st of this year.
I also wrote one entitled “Wooing the Readers I know” on June 16th of this year, Star Captains’ Daughter blog.
Agnieszka says
Nathan, if I wrote in English I’d definetly query you: I’d love an agent with the same taste in televsion. =)
Anyway, I’m reading “Wild Swans” by Jung Chang because I saw it when I was surfing on LibraryThing.com and it looked interesting. Plus, the cover looks pretty.
Anonymous says
I tend to do a lot of impulse reading. One book is from a stash I got at a used book sale, one I saw lying around at Borders, and my current audio book is by an author I always enjoy.
Scott says
>Word Work by Bruce Holland Rogers
I read that a while ago. I really enjoyed it. I should read it again. I’d definitely recommend it.
neal says
The Prestige, by Christopher Priest. Way better than the movie. I wanted to compare them.
Anonymous says
I am reading North and South by John Jakes. I was in the mood for a big historical saga-type book and poked around Amazon until I found that.
I would say 90% of my purchases are just random books I pick up at B&N that look good. The other 10% are recommendations but I read at least 3 books a week so I find most recommendations by friends I’ve already read.
urbansherpa says
I’m currently reading GOSSIP GIRL, too. Because of the CW series and because I’m marking a YA novel that has some TV interest.
But next I want to read: GARDEN SPELLS (read about it in PW) and THE ARSONISTS GUIDE… (also PW)… and ANGELS ON SUNSET BLVD. by Melissa de la Cruz (interview on cynopsis.blogspot.com) because she’s got so many really good-sounding YA books out now. Wow.
So many books… only so much time… and it’s FALL (I’m a bit of a reality show junkie, too.)
Miss Viola Bookworm says
I often find great titles while playing around on Amazon and researching books I already love to see what pops up that is similar. I also find many great reads through websites like readinggroupguides.com or from agent or author blogs.
Often I read new projects by favorite authors or what is suggested by friends, and I hate to admit it, but I’m a sucker for hype. If it interests me, I often pick up whatever is the talk of the season, and I love to read something by a first time author who makes it big. An example is Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl which I absolutely loved. I’m not sure I would have picked it up, the the original title, along with the hype, just made it something I couldn’t resist.
I also enjoy perusing the shelves and front tables at bookstores, so an intriguing cover, display, title, or blurb from a favorite or well-respected author can definitely catch my eye as well. In that sense, I guess I’m saying that advertising and marketing really does work.
Susan Helene Gottfried says
My wish list (of 1300+ books) is culled mainly from Publisher’s Weekly reviews. However, buzz will always catch my attention, especially if it’s for a not-very-well-known author.
Christopher M. Park says
I used to belong to various book clubs, but don’t anymore. Now it’s basically what I can find in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of my local bookstore, as well as whatever else strikes my eye when others recommend it. I know a lot of readers, both online and off, so I’m never hurting for recommendations in all genres. I don’t know how those I get recommendations from find their books. I doubt it’s from advertising, though.
Peter C O Johansson says
Shadowfall, by James Clemens, bought on impulse when I was at the bookstore looking for coursebooks. I didn’t feel like reading any of the “big names” in fantasy fiction, so I went with a name I did not recognize.
otherkatie says
Next on my list is Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger because I fell in love with the characters on the tv show. Plus, I’m from Texas, ya’ll.
Jen says
I’ve been meaning to pick up Gossip Girls too, all because of the TV show. Bleh.
I’m currently reading HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE by Diana Wynn Jones, which I heard about because of the movie they made of it.
Susan Sundwall says
You’ve heard about chain smokers, well, I’m a chain reader. One right after the other. The two I’m finishing up now were on the “what’s new” shelf at our local library, THE DEAD ROOM by Heather Graham and NEXT by Michael Chrichton. I frequently get recommendations from friends and just a few minutes ago ordered THE RAVEN PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt because someone blogged about it at Bookends. I also ordered John Grisham’s latest, PLAYING FOR PIZZA. If I find an author I love, I read them to death. Elizabeth George can’t write fast enough for me. I found her by accident while haunting the libary.
Oh, I’m also reading my own second mystery, over and over as I pound out each new chapter. Been there, done that have you?
Christa M. Miller says
I found TRANSGRESSIONS on the shelf at Borders, and I picked it up because it was edited (and features a novella) by Ed McBain. A number of other authors contributed, whom I’ve been wanting to check out, so this book seemed a good way to do it.
Normally, though, I get recommendations from bloggers I trust, whether they’re reviewers or not.
Liz says
Just finished reading a library copy of “Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade.” I keep track of Diana Gabaldon’s latest books because I love her Outlander series.
The last books I purchased to read were Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series. I bought books 1-3. I read a blog she contributes to and have been impressed with her posts. The books didn’t disappoint.
LD says
I usually read books my family members send me or pick up books I’ve been curious about at the library. The books my family recommends are always hits, but the library picks are often misses.
RED STICK WRITER says
A friend recommended Greg Iles’ book, The Quiet Game, to me a number of years ago. After reading that one, I have read everything he has written. Only one of his books, The Footprints of God, disappointed. The rest are golden. I’m currently doing his most recent one, True Evil. His and John Grisham’s interesting manner of using personally familiar venues as their backdrops inspired me to finally write a long contemplated novel.
Katrina Stonoff says
I’m reading A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas. I picked it off the shelf at my local, independent bookstore, and I’m loving it.
Usually I learn about books from friends or bloggers, or sometimes NPR.
Other Lisa says
I’m sooo square. I get most of my recommends from book reviews (paper/magazine/online). The book I’m reading now is by an e-friend. Otherwise, my mom and several of my reading friends keep me in pages.
MaryAnnTheRest says
I always take too many books out of the library. An attractive presentation in the library sucks me in every time. World War Z by Max Brooks was recommended to me by a friend. The other books I’m reading are Nancy Werlin’s Are You Alone on Purpose? (nice library display) and a nonfiction book on ghosts (for research for my NaNoWriMo novel) that was also displayed well at the library.
Ooh, I didn’t know Diana Gabaldon has a new book out … that’s an auto-read.
sex scenes at starbucks says
THE ANDROID’S DREAM
Recommendation–though I was a bit tipsy at the time (I know, big surprise there) and I think I might’ve gotten the wrong book! But it’s still really good.
Kris says
I just mentally rattled off a list of recent reads (purchases and library loans). In every case these were recommendations from other people. Not surprising, since I think word of mouth is the best advertisement. But here’s a twist: in every case, these recommendations came via the INTERNET, from bloggers I read or mentions on writer’s boards where I participate. I find that to be very interesting indeed.
Heidi the Hick says
I picked up PRISONER OF TEHRAN by Marina Nemat because she was a member of my writer’s group when I first joined a couple of years ago. She’s an elegant and funny woman which made me curious to read her memoir. Besides, I’ve made a decision to buy books by people I know, whether it’s in real life or in blog world!
It is a fascinating read. I highly recommend. Not just because I like her. It’s both harrowing and hopeful.
Anonymous says
Hi,
I’m reading SKULLDUGERY PLEASANT, by Derek Landy because I saw it mentioned on a number of blogs for children’s books. I’m always looking for books my kids will enjoy, since they have to read such dull books in school. So far, SP is a lot of fun.
I must say, I get most of my reading pile from kids’ lit bloggers. Last year’s Cybil award list was chock full of gems and kept me busy through summer.
I’m ready to return to adult fiction, so I love lists like these, thanks everyone!
R.C.
Anonymous says
I have a favorite little independent bookstore near my apartment and they are always helpful with recommendations both for me and for my daughters. I also read the NYTimes book review.
Right now, I just started RUN by Ann Pachett. I loved BEL CANTO, so it was a no-brainer.
WendyNYC
Sandra Lambert says
A friend is taking a “Gender and Nature” course and gave me one of her required readings – “My Year of Meats” by Ruth Ozeki. I don’t know if I’ll finish it, but I’ve had a chuckle or two so far.
As a former bookstore owner, I trade book reviews with friends the way other people gossip.
Helen says
I’m reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin. I saw it on Amazon and thought that the title was absolutely fantastic.
Marlene Dotterer says
As a scientist, I won’t take offense at your denigration of scientists. Honest.
We (my husband and I) make most of our choices straight out of the science fiction book club catalog. Or the Scientific American book club catalog.
Yes. We are pitiful. Thank you for asking.
Sometimes we read a book that’s been recommended by a friend. That’s how we ended up reading The Singularity is Near. My husband thinks it’s great, but he’s an engineer.
I also pick up recommendations by reading author’s blogs. I like to see what other science fiction authors like to read. AND – I read the Book Review section of the newspaper. Hoping, of course, that someday I’ll read about MY book, there.
Chris Redding says
I usually pick up a book either by its cover or its title.
Bump in the Night is a collection of novellas one of which is JD Robb.
cmr
burgy61 says
Night Sins was given to my wife by one of her friends, I think.
But I am planning on buying “Writing On The Wall” by James Goodman. He has a portion of it posted on his Myspace site. It’s a horror story about bathroom graffiti, it looks interesting.
Patrick McNamara says
I would say that most of the books I read are ones I find either in the library or bookstores.
The Internet does seem to be an important means of advertising now, but it’s fragmented so it’s reach depends upon the popularity of the site it’s advertised on. And even then there’s no guarantee those who see the ad will be interested in buying it.