Aussie Readers discussion

Over the years, I've seen some stunningly misleading book blurbs: blurbs which make book more enticing, more interesting, more relevant, more sale-able. Blurbs which may well have been written by a person who has never even read the novel. Blurbs which make a really poor novel sound interesting.

What's your experience, can you give us some examples? Do you pick a book solely by the blurb?

Never ever ever! I sometimes use the blurb to help guide me as to the genre of the book though. Sometimes the very thing the blurb is promoting is the thing that turns me off!

JennaKay wrote: "In writing groups and conferences and the like, writers are told that readers do the following:

Look at the cover
Look at the back blurb
Look at the inside blurb
Read a bit inside the book

We're ..."

Pretty much what I do - I also read reviews from friends I can trust to give information without giving it all away. I look at the comments here in group discussions as well. Comments are important with ebooks as blurb alone isn't always reliable.

Great thread Bette!

I will read the blurb (to give me an idea, similar to Phrynne) then I usually find the book on GR and check out the ratings. Too many low stars and I'll decide against it, high ratings generally will get me looking further.

With favourite authors though, I will just buy the book; I don't even read the blurb! I just know I want that book!!

I always read the blurb although depending on who the author is and how much time I have, I may just skim read. I have been known to start books not fully appreciating what the book is about and then I get to a point where I go back to the blurb to check whether I should have been aware of something major or if it wasn't mentioned! But I agree - it's not always my fault as some are terribly misleading!

I use the cover normally to guide me away from books I definitely WON'T like - if there are vampires, sci-fi-y sorts of things, women busting out of corsets or scantily clad bodies wrapped around each other on the cover, there's a good chance it's not my sort of book!!

I don't use the GR ratings of a book to guide my decision, in general, but if friends with similar taste have read the book, I take their ratings into account.

Kathryn wrote: "I always read the blurb although depending on who the author is and how much time I have, I may just skim read. I have been known to start books not fully appreciating what the book is about and th..."

I totally agree with this: I use the cover normally to guide me away from books I definitely WON'T like - if there are vampires, sci-fi-y sorts of things, women busting out of corsets or scantily clad bodies wrapped around each other on the cover, there's a good chance it's not my sort of book!!

The first thing I will go by is the cover. If there is blood on the cover I won't even pick the book up. It took my daughter a long time to convince me to buy her the twilight books for that very reason. Then I will read the blurb on the back. That will convince me to buy or not.
After I buy a book I always look inside for a little run down on the author. I love to know a little about them and their interests.

I very rarely read blurbs. I tend to buy on whether I know the author, or whether I see good reviews (by reviewers I like/trust). Star ratings/Goodreads don't sway me too much either... it's more about whether I follow that reviewer/reader, and know that her/his tastes match mine.

I do pretty much the same Michael, except without the app!!

Brenda wrote: "With favourite authors though, I will just buy the book; I don't even read the blurb! I just know I want that book!! ..."

Same here. Often I have it on preorder as soon as a new title is announced!

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "With favourite authors though, I will just buy the book; I don't even read the blurb! I just know I want that book!! ..."

Same here. Often I have it on preorder as soon as a new tit..."

Haha! They'd best not send us a brummy;P

No, I definitely don't go for books based on blurbs. If it's not an author I know and love, I check out reviews here. The cover's what attracts me to the book, and it used to be a factor in my buying choices, but now I've learned that the prettier the cover, the worse (generally) the book. Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish was one blurb that misled me: the book was drivel IMO. The Shadow of the Wind was another, because the book was less about the cemetery than the search for an author.

Kathryn wrote: I use the cover normally to guide me away from books I definitely WON'T like - if there are vampires, sci-fi-y sorts of things, women busting out of corsets or scantily clad bodies wrapped around each other on the cover, there's a good chance it's not my sort of book!!

Tanvi wrote: Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish was one blurb that misled me: the book was drivel IMO.

I'm with Kathryn and Brenda on this part and agree wholeheartedly with Tanvi; Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish has a really misleading blurb. As a rule, I check out reviews of GR friends or those I'm following, the rating, the genre, the author and then finally the blurb.

But I did recently read partly due to Mish's review but also because of the superb cover!

As books come to mind where the blurb has absolutely nothing to do with the actual book, maybe we can list them? So we can all be warned!

as a misleading blurb/title, how about Atonement (Briony will have witnessed mysteries, and committed a crime for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.)in which there was never any atoning attempted. It was my first Ian McEwan novel and despite the excellent writing I was so mad at the end I only gave it 3 stars. Luckily I unbent and read Enduring Love and then Sweet Tooth, so didn't miss out on some great books. And I will continue to read this author, but that one book nearly put me off him entirely!

Marianne wrote: "as a misleading blurb/title, how about Atonement (Briony will have witnessed mysteries, and committed a crime for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.)in which the..."

So true, Briony never atoned although the film had her alluding to an atonement. The impact of her actions would have been more substantial if they'd kept to the book.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah; the blurb on the book said two sisters returned home to care for their dying father. I picked this book because I'd just spent three months caring for my Dad up until he died. But in the book, the Dad dies two days after they get home. I wanted to read of others' experiences as mine was quite profound. The blurb was totally wrong in that regard.

I agree Bette, sometimes they are totally misleading. Other times they give away far too much detail

Having been published only by small publishers I have been, to my delight, allowed to have first go at writing the blurb and each time my blurb was (more or less) accepted.

It's an art, that's for sure. Intriguing the potential reader without giving too much away. In fact, I quite enjoy it and wouldn't mind having a go at blurb writing as a side gig.

In fact, it's a little like review writing. That also requires the skills of saying enough to put the review in context without spoiling the reading experience. My recently published novel got a fantastic review in a really important magazine, and yet I found myself really annoyed by the review because it gave away too much. Nothing profoundly important...but enough to give potential readers an insight that they weren't supposed to get until about p 50 or so.

As I said, it was a really enthusiastic review so I can't really complain...BUT...

I write reviews and I agonise over telling without revealing It is not easy. I saw a review of a mystery (that I had actually read) where the person who wrote the review said that she never guessed that Jo blow was the murderer. Yes she actually gave the name away!!! That post on her blog came down a few days later but wow - what was she thinking!!!?

That is really terrible Sally! You're not wrong - what was she thinking??

Sally906 wrote: "I write reviews and I agonise over telling without revealing It is not easy. I saw a review of a mystery (that I had actually read) where the person who wrote the review said that she never guess..."

Jonathan (Jo) Blow is a very prominent video game developer so I was very confused for a moment there Sally :P

Adrian wrote: "In fact, it's a little like review writing. That also requires the skills of saying enough to put the review in context without spoiling the reading experience. My recently published novel got a fa..."

Agree wholeheartedly Adrian with your comments re reviews and blurbs

Sally906 wrote: "I write reviews and I agonise over telling without revealing It is not easy. I saw a review of a mystery (that I had actually read) where the person who wrote the review said that she never guess..."

Or not thinking!

Jo Blow is a common name if you don't want to use the real one. Sort of a citizen Smith type - maybe the video developer wants to be anonymous :)

I am chiming in late with this thread so *ahem*...But blurbs...i sometimes think they can be a hit or miss just like the book itself.

I've read books where I've thought the blurb sucked and then I've read some amazing blurbs that pulled me straight in but the book itself was disappointing.

I oddly enough (which is silly) go on more what the cover looks like....I KNOW that makes no sense but if I am turned off the cover then I usually ignore the book...Not logical but oh well..

Laura wrote: "I am chiming in late with this thread so *ahem*...But blurbs...i sometimes think they can be a hit or miss just like the book itself.

I've read books where I've thought the blurb sucked and then I...

I oddly enough (which is silly) go on more what the cover looks like....I KNOW that makes no sense but if I am turned off the cover then I usually ignore the book...Not logical but oh well.. "

Laura, I am like you; I am often swayed by the cover. A certain type of cover can totally put me off a book; I wont even bother reading the blurb or any reviews!

Oh cool..Glad to know I'm not as crazy as I first thought..lol Still, the counter this cover idea if you purchase the books via an e-reader then it's really different kettle of fish so I am more likely to read a blurb then.

Bette Booklover wrote: "Laura wrote: "I am chiming in late with this thread so *ahem*...But blurbs...i sometimes think they can be a hit or miss just like the book itself.

I've read books where I've thought the blurb suc..."

I actually had an episode with a book that I disliked the cover so didn't read the blurb etc. Then I met the author and discovered the book was a genre I enjoy, so I read it on my kindle, really enjoyed it and contacted the author to let her know whoever chose the cover did her an injustice as the cover was NOT indicative of the book. She was pleased and shocked at the same time, and ended up asking me my opinion on the cover for her second book:)

That's pretty cool that she listened to what you had to say about the cover and then to ask your opinion on the second cover is sweet. Did the second cover look much better than the first or did you have to make a suggestion for a change?

No the second cover was much better - she had spoken to the publisher person (cover deligator(!)) with what I had said about the first one, so between them they came up with a much better cover - I basically confirmed it for her:) And yes, it sure was pretty cool!

Yaay! That is great :D

Brenda wrote: "No the second cover was much better - she had spoken to the publisher person (cover deligator(!)) with what I had said about the first one, so between them they came up with a much better cover - I..."

That is a great story.
It's hard with covers, I make some and I have no idea how anyone who has not read a book can design a cover for it, or write a blurb for it either. But obviously most of the time that is the case.

Thanks Stephen, yes I was pretty amazed about the choosing process! Doesn't make a lot of sense really - if they want to attract the reader, do it right!

I think the designer should read the book before they do the cover - to get a feel for what is inside.

Totally agree Sally! They certainly are not qualified unless they do...also the blurb; how can you write one if you haven't read it??

Seriously? Do people actually write blurbs without reading the book?

Adrian wrote: "Seriously? Do people actually write blurbs without reading the book?"

I reckon they might, Adrian. All they'd have to do is get an outline from the author, add a few teasers and voila!

It's a sad case if this does happen. But I have read blurbs so wildly off-course the theme of the book, I can only presume they have never even turn a single page:(

I would have thought that most blurbs would be written by the editor. In any case, I wonder if sometimes there's a bit of remedial marketing gong on?

Adrian wrote: "Seriously? Do people actually write blurbs without reading the book?"

I was actually talking about the designer of the cover. Often the cover has very little to do with the story - I've even seen the hair on the cover not match anyone inside in the story. Mountains in the background and there were no mountains in the story. Stuff like that :)

As for the blurbs. Not sure - but I know the blurbs written on the back of wine bottles are written by marketing people and not necessarily the wine maker! So wouldn't surprise me if the publisher did all that. But have never written a book so don't know.

Sally906 wrote: "I think the designer should read the book before they do the cover - to get a feel for what is inside."
Completely agree! Or if they don't have time as designers are often put under the pump to just produce things quickly (personally been in this situation before) then given at least a better understanding of the book somehow.

Adrian wrote: "I would have thought that most blurbs would be written by the editor. In any case, I wonder if sometimes there's a bit of remedial marketing gong on?"

As an author yourself, I guess you would like some input into what the blurb is, yes? Or is that simply taken out of the hands of the author completely?

Author and prolific blurber Gary Shteyngart, is quitting book blurbing :(

He will be missed but here is a collection of his blurbs; http://shteyngartblurbs.tumblr.com/

Bette BookAddict wrote:
As an author yourself, I guess you would like some input into what the blurb is, yes..."

Having worked only with small publishers I've been fortunate enough to have quite a lot of say with regard to design and blurbs etc. I wrote the blurbs for both Mr Cleansheets and Straight Jacket, and they used a picture my wife took for the cover of Mr C. I also proposed a cover for Straight Jacket which the publisher wasn't sure about but would have used...but it was rejected by a meeting of major bookstore buyers. Just a week before it went to print they scurried about to get a new cover (which I really like) but I had no idea the major bookstores had so much say in these things.

Michael wrote: "Author and prolific blurber Gary Shteyngart, is quitting book blurbing :(

He will be missed but here is a collection of his blurbs; http://shteyngartblurbs.tumblr.com/"

He certainly is different. Loved those blurbs - I've never heard of him before.

Sally906 wrote: "Michael wrote: "Author and prolific blurber Gary Shteyngart, is quitting book blurbing :(

He will be missed but here is a collection of his blurbs; http://shteyngartblurbs.tumblr.co..."

He is a great author too

Adrian wrote: "Bette BookAddict wrote:
As an author yourself, I guess you would like some input into what the blurb is, yes..."

Having worked only with small publishers I've been fortunate enough to have quite..."

Bookstore buyers having a say in what a book cover looks like? I'm pretty floored by that information! I'm pretty horrified as well.

I like your cover on Mr Cleansheets.

Usually book blurbs are great at summarizing a novel and inspiring me to read it, however several have also spoiled things for me. I hate reading a blurb and discovering that, for example, two characters fall for each other, when it would've been more exciting to be left thinking. I suppose they are important to the novel, but different wording would be great.

Bec wrote: "Usually book blurbs are great at summarizing a novel and inspiring me to read it, however several have also spoiled things for me. I hate reading a blurb and discovering that, for example, two char..."
That reminds me when TV guides do that with shows..Very annoying :( Or with online streaming sites like iview they put a photo in and sometimes it can spoil the whole episode...Had it happen more than once, wasn't nice.

Bette BookAddict wrote: Bookstore buyers having a say in what a book cover looks like? I'm pretty floored by that information! I'm pretty horrified as well..."

When you consider the standard carve up of book revenue (bookstore 40%, distributor 25%, publisher 25% and author 10%) which is inversely proportionate to the time and effort of each contributor, it starts to make sense. I doubt whether bookstores and distributors have much power regarding big publishers covers etc, but I even had to fight for the title of Mr Cleansheets. The distributor didn't like it and the publisher asked me was I prepared to change? I said absolutely no way, and fortunately the distributor gave it the thumbs up. It was their biggest selling fiction title in 2010 and they distribute for over 100 small publishers. (You'd be amazed how many there are.)

Thanks for your kind words re the cover of Mr C. I love it and it sure stands out in a bookstore. My wife (Kazzie) took the photo and put it through various filters, then my nephew changed the signage with photoshop to make it relevant to the story. Then the publisher did the rest with graphics etc. I love the way the various angles give the impression of imminent collapse - so apt for the story.