Judging A Book By It's Cover?

[RitaE]

I'll pretty much read anything and I really don't care what others think of what I'm reading. I'm old, I'm educated, I work hard --- I've earned the right. Beauty of the Kindle though - nobody can see your covers. I've read Nora Roberts but from what I can tell she's written pretty much the same book about 58 times now. Its a good book and she sure does milk that cash cow. Good for her.

There are a LARGE number of NYT bestselling authors that started out under one of the Harlequin imprints.

BTW, when I judge it book I'm solely judging it on whether or not I want to read it. I don't think more or less of somebody else if they're reading habits are different from mine and I think most people are like that. I know many successful well-educated women who are romance novel junkies. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[luvmy3]

Most books I read are on a recommendation, or just fantastic reviews. When I am searching for a book all by myself I do judge it by the cover.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Author's don't choose their covers. The publisher's come up with that.
I judge a book by it's title and it's cover. Then I read the back and if it looks good, I read it.

 

[pperfectmom]

Most of those romantic suspense writers do write trash. It's entertaining "trash" but trash, nonetheless. To me that's not even a bad thing to say. I openly admit to reading "trashy" novels on occasion and love Nora Roberts' books. She's no Steinbeck, that's for sure, but really isn't meant to be. I will read just about anything from the most critically acclaimed stuff to absolute fluff. I love it all! Who cares what anyone else thinks?

 

[DMickey28]

I enjoy Nora Roberts, Barbara Delinsky, Fern Michaels and Debbie Macomber. I do not think they are "Harliquin". I can barely stomach those books ... sooo cheesey. They are not nearly as scripted as Danielle Steel. I can't even read her anymore.

So what book are you talking about? What author? I am always looking for new books to read, especially since I got a Kindle for XMas and am reading a lot more a lot faster!! I also like the chic lit books, love Jennifer Lancaster. She's so funny. I have read all her books and looking for something similar but the few that have tried I don't like.

 

[bookgirl]

I don't think it's really about the covers as much as other people judging others reading choices. I read a lot of different sorts of books from bestsellers to "trashy" romance to non-fiction to graphic novels. I enjoy what I read. Sometimes it's for information but sometimes it's just brain candy because I want to be entertained.

When people make remarks about my reading materials I just blow them off. In my job I have to help people find books that I think are crap everyday, but I guarentee you no one ever knows that I think that.

If you don't like an author don't read them, if you don't like what I or anyone else is reading then shut the hell up before I give you my one hour lecture on intellectual freedom and how censorship behaviors makes you a lesser life form.

um yeah I'm a librarian.......


Probably ought to add that I don't mind when people tell me they don't like an author or type of book (that's just discussion and debate and that's what makes life fun), it's just when they try to tell me it shouldn't be published or that it's wrong to read it, or that it's not acceptable or real literature. That's a big pet peeve.

 

[CdnCarrie]

In that case, I would probably give them a try..

Unless the story took place somewhere other than the United States.. Crazy - I know - but I just can't get interested in a book when the story takes place somewhere in another country.. Guess I'm a "U.S." snob - LOL..

Are you serious? That's insane?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't think it's really about the covers as much as other people judging others reading choices.

That was my big issue with this, I don't care what they read, why do they care what I read? And I just think that calling something "trash" without ever reading anything that person's written is ignorant.

 

[RitaE]

I enjoy Nora Roberts, Barbara Delinsky, Fern Michaels and Debbie Macomber. I do not think they are "Harliquin". I can barely stomach those books ... sooo cheesey. They are not nearly as scripted as Danielle Steel. I can't even read her anymore.

So what book are you talking about? What author? I am always looking for new books to read, especially since I got a Kindle for XMas and am reading a lot more a lot faster!! I also like the chic lit books, love Jennifer Lancaster. She's so funny. I have read all her books and looking for something similar but the few that have tried I don't like.

oh and see - Debbie Macomber publishes through Mira, which is a subsidiary of Harlequin. Hope you still like her.

 

[DMickey28]

oh and see - Debbie Macomber publishes through Mira, which is a subsidiary of Harlequin. Hope you still like her.

I suppose that is why I put Harlequin in quotes (even though I spelled it wrong!) The books about the women stuck in a cabin in the winter, no power and a random neighbor rancher shows up to take care of her, they end up falling for each other, spending the days in bed and then that's it ... those are the books I don't care for that much!!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I think that the world "judges a book by it's cover" across the board.....I'm sure many will deny it and try to say that they don't but if you realistically look at life something attracted you to that item 1st before you peeled off it's layers and maybe liked or disliked it for other reasons. Think about the people you've dated, the food you eat, and yes the books you read. Usually it is the appearance or what you see on the surface that made you investigate it further and discover that you liked or disliked it for a deeper reason.

 

[disneygals]

Most of those romantic suspense writers do write trash. It's entertaining "trash" but trash, nonetheless. To me that's not even a bad thing to say. I openly admit to reading "trashy" novels on occasion and love Nora Roberts' books. She's no Steinbeck, that's for sure, but really isn't meant to be. I will read just about anything from the most critically acclaimed stuff to absolute fluff. I love it all! Who cares what anyone else thinks?

totally agree! I read a lot of chick lit books (even though I am old and married) Some are well written, some are not. If someone called them trashy, I would not be insulted. Fluff is all I can handle, regular life is hard enough.

 

[mjkacmom]

Sounds like Nora Roberts to me...

I was a Nora Roberts basher. I thought all of her books were useless fluff and I refused to read them. Then I got desperate one day and my cousin forced one of the trilogies on me. I actually enjoyed it and I went on to read a few more. Overall, though, I only end up liking about 25% of what she has written. She has a few standout books and the rest are terribly formulaic. I honestly feel like I'm reading the SAME book over and over again. The only changes are the main heroine's name, the location, the hot guy's name, and whatever "intrigue" is going on (supernatural or criminal).

I've tried Nora Roberts - I've probably read abut 6 books (out of desperation of having nothing to read, and people tend to pass these on). They're all the same, with cheesy romance.

 

[NMAmy]

Here's the thing--some books are "trash." They're mindless and fun and there really isn't anything wrong with that. I'm not a fan of romance but I do like to read chick lit when I'm travelling--it's light, it's fun, and it's easy to put down and pick back up again later. I could care less if other people think I'm reading a trashy novel.

I do think it's pretty normal to judge a book by it's cover--there's no way I would touch a Star Wars or Star Trek book or a western. The covers help those that are attracted to a certain kind of book find what they're looking for--be it romance or science fiction or westerns or chick lit.

 

[2girlsmom]

Here's the thing--some books are "trash." They're mindless and fun and there really isn't anything wrong with that. I'm not a fan of romance but I do like to read chick lit when I'm travelling--it's light, it's fun, and it's easy to put down and pick back up again later. I could care less if other people think I'm reading a trashy novel.

I do think it's pretty normal to judge a book by it's cover--there's no way I would touch a Star Wars or Star Trek book or a western. The covers help those that are attracted to a certain kind of book find what they're looking for--be it romance or science fiction or westerns or chick lit.

Hmm, good point. I read everything from the cheesy Harlequin/Silhouette "fluff" books (which are light and basically meaningless, though I agree they do repeat themes WAY too often), sci fi, fantasy (which is my fave, currently reading the Wheel of Time series), mysteries, military themed novels, psychological thrillers, etc... not much horror cause sooner or later I will get creeped out, and prefer not non-fiction, but have read almost everything else, and will happily re-read if needed. I read on average probably at least 5 books per week, so kinda have to reread or I would run out of books! I am not a huge fan of westerns, either, though, although I have read several, usually they are too dry for me. But while I am the first to call a number of the books I read fluff, and I do recognize people like different styles, I do think it crazy when people are all insulting about authors/books without any first hand knowledge. For example, the Twilight series, which gets insulted ALL the time, usually by folks who have not read them. They are absolutely not a challenging read, but they are interesting characters, good or bad, and I would bet a fair number of the people who insult them all the time have never read a page.

 

[englishteacha]

I try not to judge a book by its cover (English teacher, you know). We had some great books in our library that never get checked out because they have "lame" covers. Our library got a grant and replaced some of those books with newer editions with good cover art, and those books are now being checked out regularly! Middle school kids definitely judge books by their covers!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Hmm, good point. I read everything from the cheesy Harlequin/Silhouette "fluff" books (which are light and basically meaningless, though I agree they do repeat themes WAY too often), sci fi, fantasy (which is my fave, currently reading the Wheel of Time series), mysteries, military themed novels, psychological thrillers, etc... not much horror cause sooner or later I will get creeped out, and prefer not non-fiction, but have read almost everything else, and will happily re-read if needed. I read on average probably at least 5 books per week, so kinda have to reread or I would run out of books! I am not a huge fan of westerns, either, though, although I have read several, usually they are too dry for me. But while I am the first to call a number of the books I read fluff, and I do recognize people like different styles, I do think it crazy when people are all insulting about authors/books without any first hand knowledge. For example, the Twilight series, which gets insulted ALL the time, usually by folks who have not read them. They are absolutely not a challenging read, but they are interesting characters, good or bad, and I would bet a fair number of the people who insult them all the time have never read a page.

I know quite a few people who have not read Twilight and "don't like them." Ironically enough one of those people also used to "hate" Harry Potter, and refused to read the books. Until she saw the movie, got interested, and now Harry Potter is her life, she owns dozens of books about the books and the books themselves in several different languages.

 

[pixiewings71]

Ya, unfortunately most authors don't get any input of any kind regarding their book covers. And by the time they do get input, if they are writing a series, it wouldn't make any sense to change the type of cover art. I knew an artist who wrote Harlequins first, then she wrote a couple of more suspenseful books that didn't qualify as Harlequins but she hated the cover art for both books......they actually made no sense at all after you read the book. LOL
I look at book covers and I look at book titles, then I look at the author, if one of those catches my attention I will then read the back, that determines for sure if I will buy the book or not.