Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Would you read a book based on a review of the first 7500-words only?

A blogger named Jennifer Hirtler writes these reviews in a column at
http://first7500words.blogspot.com/

She just reviewed my book

Travel To the G-Spot -- The Guide Book

I think it's an amazingly accurate review.

What do you think of her idea?

Would you buy a book after reading one of her reviews?

It's an interesting idea. I wouldn't choose to read a book just based on that review, though. The book would have to appeal to me on some other levels as well.

I'm not convinced. I'm fond of sci-fi and there's often a lot of world-building to get through before the plot properly kicks off. Besides which, in many books 7,500 words wouldn't even get you to the end of chapter one...

I don't think so. To me, the test of a good book is the midsection. All too often the beginning is amazing, but the middle sags, and then the story limps into the end. I want to know that the reviewer has read cover to cover to develop a rounded opinion.

Monica Enderle wrote: "I don't think so. To me, the test of a good book is the midsection. All too often the beginning is amazing, but the middle sags, and then the story limps into the end. I want to know that the revie..."

I agree Monica

Maybe it's for people who don't read the free samples available for most books nowadays?

I'd rather read a synopsis or "back cover blurb" that gives an overview of the book. While that's a fairly big portion, I believe it's too easy to misinterpret what the book is about without some sort of plot overview.

I am with Sherri; a synopsis is going to give me a much better idea of whether I'd like the book.

I don't think you can judge a book properly on such a short chunk. You can tell whether a writer can write well - but whether they can write consistently, maintain a plot and reach a conclusion without (at worst) plot holes and characters acting out-of-character for no reason or (less annoyingly) just running out of steam and coasting to the end - cannot be judged without reading the whole thing.
I wouldn't make a judgement whether to buy based on the opinion of someone who wasn't gripped enough even read the whole thing. If a book is that great how can you resist?

I'm a mixture of Nicki and Michele, I wouldn't read a book based on a review or even a short chunk. There can be so much going on in a book up until the very end that to limit the amount your going to read could lead to missing something really good.

Bookus interruptus...yes, that would be problem. Makes me wonder about the poor blogger who only reads the first 7500 words of book after book after book.

So, may I ask, what does make you take a chance on a book by an author you haven't read before?

Steve wrote: "...So, may I ask, what does make you take a chance on a book by an author you haven't read before?"

A well-written blurb will grab my attention, then I'll read the first few pages to decide if I like the writer's style. A good review can send me looking for a particular book, but more often than not it's down to random browsing.

'Bookus interruptus' makes me think of when I lose my place on the page due to the jolting progress of South London buses...

A review or word of mouth will catch my attention. But what makes me buy a book is the first few lines AND some random pages from elsewhere in the novel. I always flip around in a (physical) book to see if the writing holds up as the story unfolds. If I'm as compelled on page 81 and page 158 and page 249 as I was on page 1, I'll buy. That's more difficult with Amazon's preview, but that's where the review and word of mouth become even more important to my decision making. If the reviewer hasn't read cover to cover, her/his review is useless to me.
Moreover, as an author, I know that spit-shining the first three chapters of a book doesn't mean the rest of it won't be a turd. (Pardon my bluntness.) The middle of the novel is where the challenge really exists for the writer. And tying up all the threads, creating a neat, logical, and satisfying ending that brings the reader full circle is the ultimate reason for writing a book in the first place.

I'm mainly a random browser, too. But a review can get me interested in a book or author, even if it's only a review of the first 7500 words. Good writing is mostly all I care about. I can tell in the first paragraph if it's something I want to read.

If you had to choose between an author who has a good plot and tells a good story, or a good writer with not any story to tell, which would you choose? I've always thoguht Stephen King was a better story teller than writer. Ernest Hemmingway was a good writer. He put words together beautifully, but he had no story to tell. My favorite author, Nelson Demille is both. What do y'all think?

I buy in 2 situations. If my random browsing throws up an interesting blurb I'll check out the reviews, then look inside. Alternatively, and this is the way I've come across some really good novels that I wouldn't normally have selected, I'll allow myself to be tempted purely on the review written by someone whose opinion I trust. There are some good reviewers out there - honest and fair - and I know from personal experience how extremely hard it is to write a good blurb.

For freebies I'll download if others online at the time are saying they enjoyed it. No, cost, no risk bar the time it takes to read the first few chapters and decide if I want to finish it or ditch it.

I'm trying to get in the habit of leaving a review as a way of saying thank you, either for a freebie, if I liked it enough to finish it, or for giving excellent value for money. Where else but an eBook would you be able to get hours of enjoyment for just a few pounds?

Jay wrote: "I buy in 2 situations. If my random browsing throws up an interesting blurb I'll check out the reviews, then look inside. Alternatively, and this is the way I've come across some really good novels..."

I love what you said about leaving a review as a way to say thank you. I have now written about 70 reviews from authors I've found on goodreads and twitter. As an author I've given away thousands of books and gotten very few reviews. They are as hard to come by as hen's teeth.

I know, Peggy. I've had about 6,000 freebie downloads over the last year, new reviews from that 4. Not a very good rate. But I console myself with the thought that they might enjoy it at some point (freebies always got to the bottom of the reading pile) and maybe spread the word... I won't hold my breath though lol!

Peggy wrote: "If you had to choose between an author who has a good plot and tells a good story, or a good writer with not any story to tell, which would you choose? I've always thoguht Stephen King was a bett..."

All the stories have been told many times over, and in the case of an author like Stephen King, quite obviously. That doesn't seem to bother his fans, but for me, it's the writing.

Still, I notice that many readers love genre books, and non-genre fiction is a tough sell. I guess consumers want to know what they'll be getting. I want to be surprised.

As for FREE BOOKS! Don't get me started! I'll just say I don't think it's the same thing as plunking down some dough for a book, even if it's just a couple of bucks for an ebook. In most cases, a free book's not even worth the paper it's not printed on.

I sincerely hope my books don't come into the description you give for freebies, Steve. I've had my first book on freebie promo 3 times, just to get it noticed as the work of a new author on the block that may be worth readers' interest. I've put my heart, soul and an awful lot of time and effort into writing the very best work I can do. I believe it's worth buying, but if no-one knows it's there to be bought I don't have a hope of getting any kind of following.

Following the promo periods I did achieve significant sales. It may well have been the wrong route to go, but as an indie author who knows about writing but not marketing/promotion I had limited options in the time available.

How would you suggest I get a buying public?

Steve wrote: " In most cases, a free book's not even worth the paper it's not printed on. "

Hmm. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I wonder on what you base your conclusions, since it doesn't meet up with my experience at all.

Sorry, I think I've got a bit lost here - what conclusions are we discussing now?

Jay wrote: "I buy in 2 situations. If my random browsing throws up an interesting blurb I'll check out the reviews, then look inside. Alternatively, and this is the way I've come across some really good novels..."

Jay, I'm so pleased to note that you write reviews for books you have read. If only more readers would realise how important this is for authors, I'm sure more would take the trouble to do so. As a relatively unknown author every review is precious to me. How else can our books become known. I always take the time to rate and review the books I read.

Kate Loveday

I said, "in most cases," free books are worthless. I'm sure you can find some good ones.

There's distinction in my mind between a book you pay for and one you get for free, that's all. A lot of people will download anything that's free, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're interested in the book or the author. That's how you get 6,000 free downloads and four reviews.

A lot of authors tell me they sell more after they give some away, though. It could be the new normal and it's me who's behind the times.

What this thread started with was a question about if you'd "buy" a book based on a 7500-word review.

If the first 3 chapters or something like that were offered free, I would be able to decide if it was going to be for me or not. However I wouldn't buy based on another person's review of that sample. I'd have to judge for myself.