Fantasy Book Club discussion

So you pick up a book that you saw mentioned on TV, or that a friend recommended. You've heard good things, but it's an author you've never read before. You want to be swept away by the story. You'd love to have discovered a new author you can believe in. But as you open the book and begin those first few pages, is there a hint of nervousness in the back of your mind? Or do you trust each new author completely until they prove you wrong?

Don't think I've ever considered this. If the blurb gets me then I give it a go.

Yes, a bit. I have hard time just picking up a new book to start, be it from the author I've heard about or not. I rarely read more than one book by the same author anyway, so any author is kind of new to me and if I decide to give their book a go, I'm still sceptical.

I also tend to get bored easily, so that's why I always read at least three books at the same time.
One of the main reasons why I love short stories the most, especially if anthology of stories written by different authors.

To answer your question, there isn't an author I completely "trust". ^^

I do that too, Helen. But I'm wondering about how other readers feel after that point; once we've opened it up and started reading. During those first few pages, do you give it a go fully expecting it to be great? Or are you reserving judgment until you've read a bit of the actual story?

I'm always skeptical of books people are raving about. But then, I pretty much know what kind of books I will like, so sometimes I start off confident and then get disappointed.

It doesn't take a lot for me to lose myself in a story, but I'm also not usually looking for a book to blow my mind - I just want a good, solid story.

I'll also dump a book quickly, like within the first chapter, if I'm not digging it. No harm, no foul - just not for me right now.

Nervous? No. Skeptical? Pretty much always, even with big names (sometimes especially with big names). But yeah, if the blurb's nice and the book's been recommended to me, I never hesitate to give it a go.

Not really. I'm usually excited to try a new author and if it turns out I didn't like the book, oh well. But if it's a book everyone loves, it's a bestseller, I do feel a little like I'm the odd one out. I'll admit I was nervous about trying ASOIAF at first because of all the raves, and then I ended up loving ASOIAF. However, probably the opposite is more likely to happen where I'll enjoy a book others don't. Most of the time though I'm with the majority. I do also check to see how an author's rated first. I rarely go in blind.

Jefferson wrote: "So you pick up a book that you saw mentioned on TV, or that a friend recommended. You've heard good things, but it's an author you've never read before. You want to be swept away by the story. You'..."

Totally. I even feel that way about favorite authors with new books.

Nervous? No.
Excited? Definitely.

Every new book is a new story to be discovered. If I really don't like the book, I may be a bit disappointed, but that's all.

But to be honest, I often don't pay much attention to the author (unless he's already well-known to me). In a bookshop I first look for catching covers and/or titles, then read the blurp. Most of my book buying is based on that, author only matters if I'm looking for something in particular.

I think that I'm only really nervous if the new author is really hyped.

No, I'm not nervous when reading books from authors I don't know. I'm often excited and hoping it will be at least good, if not great.

Actually, I'm more nervous when reading new books from authors I love, wondering if a new book can be as good as the previous ones.

I have to say I am excited by the prospect of picking up a new author that may turn out to be all that.
This year I must say that I have discovered several great new authors in fantasy, mostly through this site.

I think I approach every new book, be it by an author I know or not, in the same way. I'm always incredibly hopeful that it's going to turn out to be amazing, my new favourite book - and whilst that rarely happens, the excitement of starting something new never goes away. And I hope it never does!

From my experiance, reading some series in no particular order is the best way in judging an author.

I´m reading The Book of Disquiet now :)

I don't care if it's mentioned on TV, because the books I read after I was a child were classic, so I knew that I don't have to like every book even if they are said to be great books. And recommendations from TV can be more random based on quality...

From friends, it may be more embarrassing if I don't like the recommended books but so far I am lucky I quite like the recommended ones.

I am more hopeful when I start a book since I want to like a book, well finding a book I love is the jackpot, but liking and enjoying is already good.

I'd say more excited than nervous. I'll be really hoping for an exciting new story with characters and settings I've never seen before.

Every time I pick up a new book it's excitement! A new world. A new journey. A new voice. What can be better?

There's plenty of things to be nervous about, but reading isn't one of them for me!

So, I'll second what Stephen said. What could be cooler than discovering the next GRRM, Brandon Sanderson, or Robert Jordan before other people do?

That's why I'm very much an impulse buyer (in both physical and e-book form.); you never know what new book/author might just knock your socks off!!

I also like to frequently recc stuff to my friends (as some people here can attest to!!) that I think they will like, even if they're not necessarily familiar with the author.

Only a happy nervous.
;)

Shadowdenizen wrote: "There's plenty of things to be nervous about, but reading isn't one of them for me!"

True, this.

I tend not to read stuff just because it's hyped up or popular or someone recommends it, so I don't start reading something new worrying about if I'm going to like it as much as I'm supposed to. I read solely based on if a book looks like something I'd enjoy, so when I start reading it I'm excited and hopeful that I really will enjoy it, but if I don't, I quit reading and it's no big deal except I've spent a little time reading a book I didn't like. I have to agree with Mervi, if I'm nervous at all, it's when I'm reading a new book by a favorite author and hoping it's as good as their other books and I won't be disappointed.

Shadowdenizen wrote: "There's plenty of things to be nervous about, but reading isn't one of them for me!

So, I'll second what Stephen said. What could be cooler than discovering the next GRRM, Brandon Sanderson, or R..."

I love your idea of the impulse buy. Picking up on a book/author you're unfamiliar with. Exploring the unexplored and doing it first! Cool. What can be more exciting than that?

I'm not nervous, but more like concious. I tend to notice the writing style and pacing. Unfortunately, as I become wary of those, detaching from the story often happens.

Not really nervous more like annoyed if I let myself pick a shitty book =P problem is some might adore it so you start hopeful...and then it appears not be that great. Had that with Graceling. Ugh...and Im a beginner so there are soo many great books and I happen to pick a lame one xD...

I will trust them. There are many unknown to me authors that are great. I used to stick with just a few authors I really loved. I would read only books written by them. After awhile it gets boring because it seems like after an author has been writing a long time they just run out of good ideas. Then I start disliking their new books. I will not pay for a brand new author unless I feel sure I will love the book. That is very rare for me to do unless the ebook is under $5. I will also check my local libraries first. I was disappointed that I payed that for Night Circus. I had such high hopes for that book. It sounded amazing but fell flat and I really didn't like it.