UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Had a great conversation with nine year olds about recommending books today.

What trigger phrases make you want to read a reccie?

"Couldn't put it down"

"Gripped from the first sentence"

"Still thinking about this book days after finishing it"

I tend to read non-fiction these days, so it's usually something like "very interesting" that piques my interested.

Not particularly any single phrase, but the enthusiasm of the reviewer. If I can pick up the reader's excitement, I'm in.

yes reviewer''s enthusiasm does a lot

Kath wrote: "Not particularly any single phrase, but the enthusiasm of the reviewer. If I can pick up the reader's excitement, I'm in."

Guess that's what my offerings indicate; expressions fuelled by enthusiasm. Of course, I still have to make certain that I like the writing style before diving in.

The premise does it for me. "Snakes on a plane" - that sort of thing.

99p

If I read, 'I've never read anything like this before' I'm definitely interested. There are just so many clones around at the moment.

Yep, I agree with that, Kath. Something I've kept thinking but not voiced - the clones, I mean.

I would love to find similar things - it would make advertising so much simpler!

'Get ready to have your heart ripped out through your throat' re The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

I'm just not sure I'm brave enough to read it...

I don't know that I have a trigger phrase that would make me buy a book, but there's loads that would make me quickly move to the next one.

The enthusiasm of the reviewer tends to be what influences me too - but not if it's too gushing. Phrases such as 'couldn't put it down' are generally an exaggeration (although I accept some people can and do read an entire novel in one go, most of us generally need a few days or at least the odd bathroom break).

Something along the lines of 'I didn't want it to end' or 'I felt I was there' would encourage me to take a look.

Kath wrote: "Not particularly any single phrase, but the enthusiasm of the reviewer. If I can pick up the reader's excitement, I'm in."

Yes, I'm with you Kath. No particular phrases but you can tell from the tone of the review if it's good or not.

Joo wrote: "I don't know that I have a trigger phrase that would make me buy a book, but there's loads that would make me quickly move to the next one."

Same here. I'm actually pretty resistant to buying books (not that you'd know from the number of unread books on my Kindle!)

Actually the trigger for me to buy is probably the 3rd or 4th unrelated recommendation

By the end of the week, the kids were able to properly verbalise why they enjoyed a book beyond 'I liked it', which was pleasing. I'm hoping the new class teacher carries on with reinforcing it.

One of the disappointments of subbing is not being able to be sure of continuity.

Patti (baconater) wrote: "One of the disappointments of subbing is not being able to be sure of continuity."

And when nobody cleans the periscope properly.

'Is that an enemy ship or a dead spider?'