Play Book Tag discussion

What elements go into choosing your next book to read -
Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"

So my idea was that I would post a Focus on Reading discussion every Friday if it goes well.

I don't think I have to be the only one to do this. If you want a turn just let me know.

I think this is fun and I love to discuss what drives our reading. I hope everyone else does as well.

Great idea, BnB!

First I have to check whether any of my F2F book club books need to be read (I'm usually working several months in advance, but occasionally one slips past me).

Then I look at whether there are challenges I want to meet, including PBT tag.

I usually am reading 3-4 books at a time: 1 (or 2) in text version; 1 audio in the car; a second audio on my MP3 player.

What to read next:
- I have so many monthly challenges, that is always what "helps" me choose what to read next.

- Add to that, I (usually) try to go for one that's been on my tbr longer than others.

What to add to the tbr (because these two are different!):
- first and foremost, summary. What is the book about? The blurb.

- will admit that, sometimes the cover will draw me in before reading the blurb, but the blurb decides it more for me than the cover alone. Sometimes a nice cover will put it over the edge, though.

LibraryCin wrote: " first and foremost, summary. What is the book about? The blurb.

- will admit that, sometimes the cover will draw me in before reading the blurb, but the blurb decides it more for me than the cover alone. Sometimes a nice cover will put it over the edge, though.

What in a blurb will hook you?

I know, I sometimes buy or put a book on my wishlist because of this, and sometimes I do not even know why, so I'm interested in others reasoning.

What covers attract you?

In deciding what to read next, I also go by book club choices, and then by challenges. But sometimes a book just strikes me at the library and I have to read it immediately.

What in a blurb will hook me? A great sense of place or historical era, strong women characters, the strength of the reviews. But I usually then go to GR to look at reviews here. I like to see some of the positive and negative to decide if I really want to read it.

I am influenced by covers to pick up a book and then look at the blurb or info, but not to buy/borrow it just because of the cover. Covers with historical scenes or unusual locales attract me, also bright-colored covers. (Bright-colored anything attracts me, I have bought backpacks, notebooks and bedding intended for children because I like the colors!)

Thank you for doing this Booknblues, I have enjoyed your questions!

@Robin - bright colors and cute patterns will have me buying kid sheets!

I like your explorations, BnB. It's great to talk books and reading generally, not just a specific book.

I am a bit all over the place as a reader. Both a mood reader and someone who has to plan reads for challenges and Feminerdy Book Club. I do read exclusively from my TBR for challenges. Since that is massive and eclectic, I rarely have trouble picking out both what is needed and also fits mood.

Often at end of a very busy work week, I put aside whatever I am reading and disappear into a contemporary or regency romance or three, or genre books with Christmas settings, or mysterys, suspense or thrillers. Then I go back to the more serious read early in the week.

I also will stop everything to read a new book in a series, or by an author I love!

Here's how I choose my books:

*If I like a certain author, I tend to read more of his/her books.
*I follow several people here on GR, whose taste in books is similar to mine. If they love a certain book, there's a good chance that I will too.
*I like browsing books at my local library. If I see something interesting on the shelf, I'll try to read the first several pages of it to see if it "grabs" me.
*I have a very small, constantly changing TBR of books that I'm most interested in. I will often reserve them at the library and then read them as they come in.
*Book covers can beckon me, either with their titles or with their art work. (The art work on books these days reminds me of album covers back in the day - So original and captivating.)
*I'm a slower reader. Since I read fewer books than many of you here, I let the monthly tags be a general guide, but that is all. I tend to read what I'm really interested in.

What elements go into choosing your next book to read -

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover? - A great cover can definitely pull me to pick up the book, or enter a give away. One book comes to mind

It turned out to be only a 3 star read for me, but still my favorite cover, ever!

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?-I always read the blurbs. I need a sense of a book before I will commit to it.
Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book? New books from favorite authors are always first in line for me. Like Theresa, I have a firm rule that challenge books must come from the TBR shelf.
What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?" A blurb from a favorite author about a fellow author will draw me in immediately.

What elements go into choosing your next book to read -

I am always looking for books and have quite a few areas of interests which will catch my eye- nature, history, some travel, survival, journeys, adjustments, animals, village life, country living, hardship.
I am very interested in newly released books.
Sometimes it is just what I am in the mood for which will push me to read.

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
I used to love a black and white or sepia covers, but those have become less common.
I am more influenced not to read a book because of the cover. No bodice rippers for me.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?

Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?

PBT is a big help in choosing a book. I also read articles about books that are soon to be released and best of the year/season.
I also try to pay attention to book awards and prizes. Check what is being read on Literati, Obama's reading lists.
Recently, I've been watching some youtube book reviewers and that is kind of fun.
What can I say, I am always on the look out for a good book.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"
I preorder books from favorite mystery series and some favorite authors.
Sometimes something just grabs ahold of me and I know, I have to read the book. That was the way with The Salt Path and when I finished it I knew I needed to read her next one, The Wild Silence.

Booknblues wrote: "What in a blurb will hook you?
What covers attract you?..."

With regards to the blurb, I think there are too many things to comment on, since I read such a wide range of topics/genres. For history/historical fiction, if it is about an event or person I have a particular interest in.

Biographies/memoirs, about the same, I think - if the person's situation or the person themselves (though I don't read many celebrity biographies) is of interest to me.

Thrillers - well, they're my current favourite genre, so if someone goes missing or is found murdered... I'm sure there are plenty more scenarios that catch my interest.

Science/nonfiction - almost anything about the environment. Survival stories...

Sci-fi/fantasy are a bit tougher for me. Dystopia is maybe more likely to catch my interest.

I'm sure there are plenty more not coming to mind...

Covers?
That's trickier on memory. I'd have to look at a list of books to try to figure that out. Maybe colours that I like might catch my attention?

I also get ideas from the free library magazine, Book Pages, the commercial magazine, Bookmarks, https://www.bookmarksmagazine.com, and the NY Times Book Review. Those are things I add to my Want to Read shelf. I try to read for challenges from my Owned shelf. I just looked and although I have gotten rid of maybe 200 books in the last couple years, I still have over 450 Owned, which includes physical, audio and ebooks. And believe it or not, I am right now going out to a local library book sale! Hey, I have to support them. There were no sales for over a year but now they have had a few. (I bought a lot more ebooks during the shutdown/reduced library times.)

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?

I don't know if an attractive cover actually causes me to read a book. If I'm browsing the shelves of library or bookstore it will definitely induce me to pick it up for a look/see. A beautiful cover and/or gorgeous illustrations will cause me to buy a paper copy, rather than or in addition to digital text. I'll also collect multiple editions if the illustrations, cover, or binding enhances my love of the text.

I agree that is a beautiful cover. ( I also enjoyed the book) But these also caught my eye:



Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?

I read blurbs and reviews. If a book is getting mixed reviews, I might read it just to form my own opinion.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?

I have 13+ years of being influenced by PBT readers, some more than others, but I'm always grateful for the thoughtful reviews that are posted here.


What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"

Looking at my virtual TBR and the stacks of unread books in my house, it appears that almost anything makes me think 'I have to read that'

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
Generally, no, I don't read based on the cover, though I do appreciate beautiful covers!

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
Before adding a book to my TBR, I read the blurb. By the time I get around to reading it, I do not re-read the blurb to avoid spoilers. I just trust that I had a good reason for adding it.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"
I add books to my TBR based on reviews from people with similar reading interests and tastes. If they have given a book a positive review, I am likely to add it.

In general,
- I select books mostly from my TBR
- I am likely to read books listed for prizes, such as the Booker or Pulitzer (but not GR Choice books, which I find usually do not appeal to me)
- I choose books based on the PBT tag and challenges I have signed up for
- Each month, I create a "Pick It for Me" list. One of my GR book clubs pairs up those who have signed up to choose books for each other - we each pick one or more books for someone else off their lists. l love this and do it every month!
- I keep a list of favorite authors and add their backlist or latest books to my TBR

Jgrace wrote: "Looking at my virtual TBR and the stacks of unread books in my house, it appears that almost anything makes me think 'I have to read that' "

Truth!
I have some books, which I just wonder why and what appealed to me at the time.

Joy D. wrote: By the time I get around to reading it, I do not re-read the blurb to avoid spoilers. I just trust that I had a good reason for adding it.

This made me laugh, because so many times I have no idea why I put a book on my shelf.

Joanne wrote: " Joy D. wrote: By the time I get around to reading it, I do not re-read the blurb to avoid spoilers. I just trust that I had a good reason for adding it.

This made me laugh, because so many times ..."

I totally agree with Joy. It's amazing how often there are spoilers in the blurbs inside the cover of hardbacks or on the back of paperbacks. It's fine if I read them back when I chose the book because I will have forgotten about them by the time I come to read it.

French books have the opposite problem. There is no blurb. On the back there may be a couple of sentences or just a quote from the book. The French who read take it seriously and follow what books are coming out, so I guess they know what they want, or booksellers recommend things. It is illegal to sell new books at a discount in France!

Thinking on covers, some which I recently added to TBR had some nice covers, in my opinion.













A few I don't have on my TBR:

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
Probably not. I belong to a group where we submit three books every month in two categories. One is for Ugly covers and a companion challenge of three Pretty cover nominees. About the 25th of each month one of the participants will choose one of the three based purely on the cover. You do have some control over what is chosen since you nominate the covers. It'# fun and I've read some great books that way.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
I usually only read the first line or two. So many of them have spoilers.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
No one specific but I do look at books that fellow members recommend. I'm not a huge fan of literary fiction except I do often read books recommended from PBT. I've learned to appreciate it more, I think. I usually have over a hundred challenges going over the year, so lots of my reading is based on finding something for those.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"
I have favorite authors and I will read anything new by them. Goodreads does a great job of recommending books based on favorite genres. I really enjoyed the Edgar nominee reads. I'm lucky in that I have a big budget for books. When I retired I was able to funnel all my fashion, beauty, and shoe budget into books.

Joanne wrote: " This made me laugh, because so many times I have no idea why I put a book on my shelf..."

It's funny. Sometimes I read them and wonder whatever was thinking when I added it?!

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
Definitely, it isn't the end decider but I will click to read the blurb more often if the cover is is eye catching to see if I'm interested. However on the flip side, a cover that is not exciting does not deter me from reading the book if I know it is something I'm interested in.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
I do before deciding to add to my wishlist but just as easily forget what they say. I've read a couple of books in the last month and was completely surprised by book and then realized that the surprise was clearly stated in the blurb...

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
Mostly friends on GR or people in groups like PBT who I feel have similar tastes in books who give a book a good review.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?
I missed the storyline thread but possibly the storyline. I like quirky characters, stories about other cultures and especially adapting to or learning new cultures, thoughtful reads, reads for pure escape, an author that I regularly enjoy, something that looks fun.

Thanks for posting the questions! I'm glad to manage one. This month has been too busy.

Love this idea, btw! Would love to keep it going!

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?

Yes, perhaps shamefully so! I am a sucker for a beautiful cover, despite the old adage. I also took a book design class in college many moons ago and that made me a little more critical of covers. Sometimes I will avoid a book if its cover seems poorly designed (the bad ones look less professional to me and it makes me question the quality of the book inside). That said, I've definitely read books with gorgeous covers that I hated, so it's not my only way of judging.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?

Yes, always. There's usually something about the description that piqued my interest, although as Joanne and Joy were discussing, sometimes I put something on my TBR so long ago I go back to the blurb and am now confused as to why I put it on there! I should really start leaving myself notes, I guess.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?

Not often. Sometimes when I'm reading I'm curious about the opinions of friends, but book recs tend to only make me put a book on my TBR where it can languish for several years before I get around to reading it.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"

Usually a combo of a good cover, title and intriguing synopsis. I've been burned by a synopsis a lot more in recent years, though. I think the publishing industry is getting sorta underhanded with some of their marketing tactics. The most egregious example I can think of recently is Darius the Great Is Not Okay, which seemed pitched as a funny yet bittersweet YA LGTBQ+ love story set in Iran, and all I really got was a teenager struggling with depression.

Jen K wrote: "However on the flip side, a cover that is not exciting does not deter me from reading the book if I know it is something I'm interested in. ..."

Good point! I'm in agreement with this.

Booknblues wrote: "Thinking on covers, some which I recently added to TBR had some nice covers, in my opinion.





[bookcover:Dark, Salt, Clear:..."


This confirmed what I said about color - the first 3 slid totally by my attention, but the next 3 grabbed me. I wouldn't decide what to read that way, but I would decide what to look at to see if I wanted to read it. But if I had a recommendation or great review to follow up on, the cover wouldn't stop me.

Heather Reads Books, I've also been burned by bad synopses/reviews that make me think a book will be funny or uplifting and it turns out to be depressing (or full of Nazis!) Same thing with movies, the review sounds like it is a quirky family, but really they are horribly dysfunctional (especially true of French movies!)

I used to be more organized about choosing but that was because I went to book stores and libraries and would look at titles and covers, read front and back covers and the first paragraph, to choose a book.

Doing more over the internet, I no longer do that.

I've started a post to this so many times and been interrupted or had tech issues ....

But I never give up.

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?

I am not attracted all that much to read it, per se, from my massive TBR Towers and Lists, especially as the advent of ebooks kind of negates the effect of a cover. BUT I am definitely seduced into buying a book solely based on its cover. Many of those posted fit that for me. I even bought The Night Circus solely because of the cover - scooped it off a display table on way to cashier with an armload of books. Never even looked at what it was about or genre or anything until I got home.

I have also never been prevented from reading a book by an ugly cover.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?

Most of the time yes. But often just the first line or two in order to be sure it's not something I won't touch like child kidnapping theme. If I'm reading a book for Feminerdy Book Club, I often will not look at the blurb unless I've started reading it and can't figure out what is going on -- then I'll read it for clues.

I've been burned recently badly by publisher promotions and jacket blurbs that are pure spoilers and actually undermined what the author was intending for the reader to experience, and that spoiler had a seriously negative effect on my reading. That was The Three-Body Problem.

But like many here - by the time I actually read a book from my TBR, I usually have completely forgotten most of what the blurbs say, and it's not a problem. Except for books for Feminerdy Book Club, the only book club I belong to, all my reading comes from my TBRs, and even if there are recent purchases, I'm not likely to remember more than vague descriptions.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?

I read reviews in magazines, newspapers, email newsletters, blogs, catalogues like Bas Bleu, and monthly Book Pages, but erratically. I like checking for favorite authors next books, upcoming Christmas publications (they start in September and are pretty much all out by mid-November). I especially follow crime fiction.

I don't read reviews on Amazon or even much on GR. I often leave GR reviews until I have read the book. I prefer making my own judgment mostly. When I've bowed to the months of raves and read something that did not appeal to me at all when I read about it on first publishing, I've disliked it --- I'm looking at you, Wolf Hall.

@Robin - I know just what you mean about no blurbs on French books! They have so many literary magazines and even radio and tv shows, all are informed that way.

However, if a friend or family member specifically recommends a book to me, I listen. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James was recommended by my friend Ellen and she was so right. Brilliant book. A Gentleman in Moscow was promoted by my friend Lauretta, and I just adored it. I would not have have read either when I did but for my friends' recommendations.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?"

Someone saying a book captures a place perfectly, or has a great puzzle or atmosphere. I'll read Christmas themed/set anything just about. If set in certain places like Paris or France, Istanbul or Turkey, for example -- there are many more. Someone talking about beautiful writing. I'm really a fiction reader so telling me how informative a non-fiction book is about something is guaranteed to make me run -- I spend my days reading and writing non-fiction as a lawyer, basically. I don't want that in my relaxation.

All those saying you sometimes wonder why you added a book to your TBR once you go to read it? Oh, for sure. I know sometimes it's because I'm a mood reader and an impulse book buyer. Plus I may have read a couple of books set in academia for example that I really enjoyed and so I pick up a few more set in academia -- only they don't appeal and never get read because the academia setting no longer appeals.

I find that happens more often on the virtual Want to Read list on GR than in my actual purchased TBR Towers.

Robin P wrote: "I've also been burned by bad synopses/reviews that make me think a book will be funny or uplifting and it turns out to be depressing (or full of Nazis!)"

omg, I really think books should be legally obligated to tell the reader beforehand if Nazis will show up! I've never experienced that exactly, though I did read halfway through what I thought was a historical fiction book set in Victorian London before all of a sudden there were vampires. Nothing in the blurb/genre listing indicated it had anything supernatural in it and I was thrown for a loop. The book got steadily worse from there, compounded by the fact that I felt misled going in.

Publishers, please always disclose Nazis and vampires!

Theresa wrote: "Plus I may have a read a couple of books set in academia for example that I really enjoyed and so I pick up a few more set in academia -- only they don't appeal and never get read because the academia setting no longer appeals."

Oh man that happens to me too! Sometimes I go through my massive TBR and I can see exactly what I was in the mood to read based on a set of books all about the same topic added on the same day (i.e. books set in Russia, crime thrillers, high fantasy, etc). And I'm like "I don't know what was going on in my life on May 7, 2016, but this is obviously the rabbit hole I was down..."

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Plus I may have a read a couple of books set in academia for example that I really enjoyed and so I pick up a few more set in academia -- only they don't appeal and never get read b..."

Yup.....

Theresa wrote: "All those saying you sometimed wonder why you added a book to your TBR once you go to read it? Oh, for sure. I know sometimed it's because I'm a mood reader and an impulse book buyer. "

Me, to a tee. I read by mood and buy on impulse.

My book buying habits might be more influenced by covers than choosing my next read. I am easily pulled in by a beautiful or interesting cover, or cover with cool color combination. Likewise, a dull cover that makes a book look like a genre I am not interested in could deter me from a purchase.

However, when I pick what to read I have to hit a few criteria:
- book club pick for 3 book clubs, 2 of which I always to to read / finish as much as possible
- any buddy read for that month
- (this year) Fly the Skies

If that fills up my month I will be capped out.
If not, I will try to fit in something else and it usually just something I am excited to read.
I get excited about different books randomly, so maybe a bookstagrammer or friend's recommendation, or a review that really gets me interested. There is not much consistency. Mostly based on what I hear about and my mood.

1) #1 priority is the books for my IRL book clubs. We plan for the whole year, so I can read early if it fits a tag or challenge.

2) #2 priority is reading books from my physical TBR. I own over 2,000 books - about 1,500 of those are unread. (Most picked up from FOTL sales and most are in a series.) When the monthly tag or a challenge is issued, I go through my TBR to see which books work.

3) I am almost always reading - or reading part of - one of the Outlander books or novellas, as I participate in many Outlander discussion groups.

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
I love a good cover! Having said that, I won't turn away from a book because of a boring cover.

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
I will read a blurb to put a book my my TBR. I'm far more likely to be influenced by reviews here on PBT, and GR in general.

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
- I've been greatly influenced by our fellow readers here on PBT. I especially like our group's annual Top 10. I pick a book or two every year from last year's list and I've never been disappointed. I also love seeing books that get a lot of discussion from our group.
- I belong to a couple other groups here on GR where they have a set of books everyone reads each month. I've fallen out of the habit with those other groups, but I still often put the monthly picks on my TBR.
- I have some favorite authors whose books will automatically go on my TBR, and a couple whose books will automatically get pre-ordered on Amazon.
- My TBR is 100% virtual now, so I'm not trying to work through a physical stack. That had been a problem for a long time and the guilt was taking the joy out of my reading. I usually use the monthly tag to help me create a small subset of my TBR (which is giant now that it's virtual) - and then I pick through those books for the month.

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?
Other than favorite authors, generally the books I actually pick up are based on my mood.

I was thinking about the blurb question - I almost never read blurbs, but I do look at WHO blurbed, like favorite author blurbed a book, etc. But in general I don't trust blurbs.

Do you think that authors are paid to write blurbs? I do. Apart from that, if an author's publisher or friend asks them for a blurb, are they really going to say, "No"? I look at blurbs, but don't put a lot of stock in them.

Holly R W wrote: "Do you think that authors are paid to write blurbs? I do. Apart from that, if an author's publisher or friend asks them for a blurb, are they really going to say, "No"? I look at blurbs, but don't ..."

I am not sure if they get paid, but certainly there is overlap in friend groups of blurbs on books. Stephen King will blurb anything! Never trust Stephen King!

I'm not so influenced by the short blurbs, like "greatest book ever!" - more the description on the back or inside. Sometimes there are excerpts from actual reviews from critics.

What I dislike about blurbs:
- they describe a different book than the one you are about to read
- they compare it to some amazing books you probably have read, and set expectations way too high
- the person writing it has often not even read the book
- writers are crafting complimentary blurbs for each other, no matter whether they truly like the book or not

I read the description of the content, but skip all the quotes/blurbs about them (which is really only geared to selling me something)

Robin P wrote: "I'm not so influenced by the short blurbs, like "greatest book ever!" - more the description on the back or inside. Sometimes there are excerpts from actual reviews from critics."

I consider that a "review" (so to speak). What I call the "blurb" is the actual description of what the book is about.

Joy D wrote: "I read the description of the content, but skip all the quotes/blurbs about them (which is really only geared to selling me something)-..."

I also skip the quotes, but I definitely read (what I consider) the blurb - that is, the description of what the book is about. I don't consider those quotes the "blurb".

So maybe in this discussion different people have been using the word "blurb" a bit differently?

Actually, it is the publisher's PR and marketing department that crafts the blurbs - those quoted phrases - true in entertainment biz too - and how do they do it? They come reviews...published and solicited...and extract the phrase(s) or sentence(s) they can use to positive effect. Tbey are taken out of context. For example, the review may actually be really negative, but if one positive statement is to be found, or a phrase that if out of context is good, not negative, it becomes the blurb.

How I know this? I count quite a few clients as in the PR and marketing biz for publishing and entertainment. I have seen their work and read the blurbs in their real context.

Oooooh, I see.
If you are talking blurbs, quotes, or synopsis I almost never read any of them.

If it is a book club book, or buddy read a lot of times I don't know what it is about really.
I tend to pick up books I have seen promoted by people I trust or readers that align with my tastes.
I typically read synopsis when reading articles about books or all of y'alls reviews.

What elements go into choosing your next book to read?
-Well, actually is Next to read folder. I add some books in there and after I finish my book, I go on my Next to read folder and choose in there.
Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?
-Yep, I was attracted to a book by its cover because it was nice and interesting. And I avoid the book because the cover is bad and ugly😅😅😅
Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?
-I always get ebooks because it was nice to me. I am likely to be influenced by reviews here on PBT.
Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?
-No, actually I pick my own book. Like this one seems good and I read the description and it seemed nice to me, I'm going to add it to my TBR list.
What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?
-I think the description of the book.
Anyway, the questions were great and interesting. I'll promise, I'm going to comment on this post. Thank you for posting this PBT! I love this group!

What elements go into choosing your next book to read -

Are you attracted to a book by its cover and would you avoid a book because of the cover?

Yes, definitely attracted

Do you read the blurbs about it to make a decision?

Yes, although I tend to only read blurbs after I've seen the cover!

Do you have influencers who will push you to choose a book?

Not really?

What makes you think "Oh, I have to read this book?

If it's set between 1660-1830 and/or by one of my auto-buy authors

Did I say this back then? I really get drawn to a title more than anything else. First the title, then the blurb. Unless the cover is amazing, or something draws me in, its less relevant to me.