Guest post by Erastes
Not Erastes
Most people who read books get to choose what they read. There are many ways we are tempted to pick that book off the shelf, as we know – a cover, a blurb, a tempting display, that kind of thing. Within our genre, too, there’s only just enough to satisfy the hungriest of readers.
For those of us who do reviews however, we have to read whatever comes along. I’m lucky here on Wave’s blog, because she treats me like the fussiest of Persian Cats: she waves tasty morsels under my nose and says “would you like to review…?” so I can review what I like the look of–but over on Speak Its Name when a historical comes my way I generally have to read and review it no matter what my opinions are of its outward temptation.
They say, never judge a book by its cover, and we’ve covered that many times on this blog and elsewhere, but I can’t help it – I do! So if the cover is covered with ugly buglies, or nonsensical skulls it creates the same feeling in me as I discussed last week, where I want to push it to the side of my plate and put it off until later. In last week’s post, I said that this is my default mode for Westerns – and what I’m trying to say is that despite everything, I often pick up a book which I’ve done EVERYTHING to avoid reading, only to find myself sucked, giggling like a loon, and enjoying myself immensely – so really – you’d think I’d learn, wouldn’t you?
Take the book I’m reviewing this week (on Thursday); I wasn’t mad on the cover and I read the blurb and made a face. “That’ll never work. That’s just silly.” I said to myself. And I have to admit, I started to read almost like a hostile witness–and the book charmed me. So much so that within a couple of chapters I was entirely won over by a device that I had thought was entirely implausible. The book isn’t perfect, but I enjoyed so much that I’m now looking forward to the author’s next book.
I’m also put off by hype. I resisted reading Swordspoint for ages because of this, and did myself a disservice so it serves me right. Right now, I’m reading “The Lunatic The Lover and the Poet” by Myrlin Hermes which I have had for 2 weeks and I have put off reading because I have issues with “fanfic” and … well – lots of reasons that would probably need Niles Crane to sort out – and it’s actually really rather brilliant. Not to everyone’s taste, to be sure, but I would have been cutting my nose off to spite my face if I hadn’t read it, and I am glad I did.
Same with westerns–I have to be frogmarched to the PC, and I sit there scowling at the page as I read, but 9 times out of ten, I find myself enjoying myself–I would never have discovered Kiernan Kelly’s wonderful “In Bear Country” series or Mark Probst’s “The Filly.” I’m also stupidly prejudiced (due to some horrible experiences in fandom) over jointly written stories, but without them, we’d not have Jamie Craig, or many of the other hugely talented writing partnerships we have around. Covers don’t mean nuffin’ after all – some of Parhelion’s novellas have the worst covers I’ve ever seen, and yet I’d crawl over broken glass to read Parhelion’s next book.
So one of my new year resolutions is (OK – it’s a bit late…) is to have a much more open mind. I haven’t actually EVER been repulsed by a book that I was expecting to be repulsed by (that’s always come as a surprise) so I shall remember this in future and when I read a blurb that sounds a little trite, or see a poser cover that makes me want to stick pins in my eyes, I’m going to kick myself in the teeth and tell myself not to judge by first impressions, and scoff my way through all my reads. Ok that would be a BIT difficult with no teeth, and the imagery sucks, but I know you know what I mean.
Nom Nom Nom
What do you think? I know you shared your coffee creams with me last week, but have you ever been delightfully surprised by a book you were expecting to hate?
Of course, I have “forced” myself to read some books and found I enjoyed them more than expected.
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However you said ” I haven’t actually EVER been repulsed by a book that I was expecting to be repulsed by ” which I think is less depressing than being excited by the blurb, loving the cover and then …. BLAH!!! I’ve had a few of those and they hurt. I shan’t name names because I’m sure others loved them but it annoys me and I somehow feel tricked. Not that they purposely set out to dupe me but usually I trust that if the blurb (and to some extend the cover) appeal to me then I SHOULD like it. Sigh.
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I have also found I’ve bought books because something about it really appealed and by the time I get around to reading it … meh. I no longer have any interest so it sits. Obviously something attracted me to it, but like a one night stand after too many cosmos the glamour is gone the morning after.
Yes, you make a good point, and I hesitated whether to make that – about being disappointed – but I wanted to keep it upbeat – but yes – so many many times. You go to bed with Sean Bean and find you wake up with Mr Bean…
Strangely, that only happens to non-fiction books. When I think “oh boy, this is going to be hard work” and I’m totally gripped by it and it goes through my jaded defenses…that’s a good non-fiction book.
In terms of fiction, I’m making up my mind after about 5 pages, and then I only finish it to validate or counter my own expectations.
I have an instant aversion to any text books – i blame school. I have hundreds of ’em and all I can do is dip in and find the information I need – I would rather stick my head in a blender than read one for pleasure!!
Love your post..
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I am a mood reader so books no matter how exalted they seem at the time, if I am not in the mood I just bypass them at every turn..
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ZA Maxfield is an author that I love her style however the cover of Family Unit so does not appeal to me and I have been dragging me feet on it..
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I read it this weekend and I was so not dissapointed… so I can totally relate to a cover that is like a wall you have to face before you can read a book..
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I also read alot of spec fic and those covers are not known for there beauty – but I am constantly surprise at the quality of the story that is behind those covers…
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All the best with your resolution – I know this is not something I will overcome… I know I will end up eventually reading the horrible covered books, but I think I am more enjoying the books that I am reading to fill in the time inbetween…
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Cool post..
E.H>
Thank you, Erotic Horizon!
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ZAM has been mentioned again with a different book, so I see that I’m not the only one with this particular phobia!
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I agree with you about spec fic books and the covers – some of them are so ghastly and they really do affect the way I approach them. Mel Keegan’s new Narc covers are simply terrible (imho) with the worst kind of fake Poser figures – and I simply can’t bring myself to buy them, although I generally enjoy Mel’s writing.
Why buy books you are expect to hate? I rather spent my hard earned cash on something that I think I will like.
A not so nice cover can be made up by a good blurb and an even better excerpt.
A gushing review on this site helps too of course.
What Tam says about wanting to read a book but not having time at that moment and a few weeks later you think “meh” happens to me too.
To this date I have refused to read Harry Potter. I think I am of the few people on this planet who haven’t. There are more books that I refuse to read just because the rest of the Netherlands thought it was such a great read. I know I can be rather stubborn. I have a reputation in the family *g*
Well it’s not really a case of books that I’ll hate, it’s a silly prejudice that makes no sense.
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I don’t blame you for not reading the Potter books – at all. I was a huge fan, and after the sheer bloody mess of books 6 and 7, i wish I had never started!
I am not a reviewer so I only read what I buy. I do find that I might initially be excited about a book, but then put it off for long periods of time. Usually because there are other books that just keep bumping it down. Then when I finally get around to it, I think why did I wait so long! A Note in the Margin was one of those for me. I read great reviews & loved the blurb. But then immediately after I purchased it I no longer wanted to read a story that involved the homeless(depressing). Once I started reading, I was engrossed in the story.
Hi Deanna – yes, I do that – particularly at the library – I order a book (generally a piece of gay LITERATURE) and then I simply can’t open it. Usually because I know it’s going to be unremittingly depressing.
Great post, Erastes.
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Hmm, I can’t think of an instance where I’ve been put off a book by its cover, but I have avoided books (that I ended up loving) because of the genre. I bought the first book in Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English series because several reviewers spoke so highly of it, then had it sit in my TBR pile for ages because it was a mystery, and mysteries aren’t my favorite things. Several months later, I won one of Josh’s short stories here on Wave’s site, and felt like I should read it since he was kind enough to send it to me with a very nice email. Well, I absolutely LOVED the short story and immediately bought and read his whole backlist, all the while kicking myself for avoiding his books for so long.
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I’ve also been put off by book titles. A few months back, people were talking favorably on Good Reads about an m/m book called “I’ll Be Your Drill, Soldier”. I avoided it for a while because it sounded like pure porn, but finally broke down and bought/ read it, and it was actually a lovely romance. There are still a few books where I can’t get past the title, though– “Beautiful Cocksucker” comes to mind.
thank you, Nichem! I thought no-one would be interested in this ramble.
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I’m EXACTLY the same about Josh’s books, and that’s utterly stupid of me, I know – many of my online friends, whose opinions I value have said that Josh’s books are good but I still haven’t started on the AE series. Don’t ask me why. Hopeless. Perhaps it’s because I’m scared I won’t like them and then people will mock me, or something. But I’m sure I will.
Yes, we’re all probably guilty of the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover!”.
I almost *didn’t* get “Change of Heart” by Mary Calmes due to the cover (not a fan of cartoonish depictions) and would have missed out on a fabulous story. The blurb finally convinced me to take the plunge and I’m now a fan of hers!
The same with the Adrien English mysteries by Josh Lanyon. I don’t really know what it was about the covers that turned me off – but they did. And the blurbs didn’t pull me in either. And again, I finally relented and was thrilled with the stories (and was especially happy that was able to get all 5 at the same time!)!!
Am happy to see that you’re not the high maintenance, prissy Persian, Erastes 🙂
Thank you, Sherry – no that’s me, falling asleep with my face in the food bowl, most definitely. 🙂
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As I said to Nichem, I’ve been the same about Josh Lanyon – didn’t like the blurbs, the idea of a whiny protag, or the covers or the hype, but I really must go ahead and do it now – so many people have recommended them!
I bought a copy of “Crossing Borders” by Z.A. Maxfield because I heard so many wonderful things about it, but every time I open the file, the cover creeps me out and I end up reading something else. I have Adobe Writer, so I can delete the covers from most ebooks, but Crossing Boards sadly isn’t one of them.
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The November book of the month for the m/m group on GoodReads was “Tigers and Devils” by Sean Kennedy. I skipped participating entirely that month because I can’t stand sports… and nearly everyone else loved the book.
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I’ll give them both a try *someday*.
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Btw… the white cat at the top of the post looks like a vagina. I’m just saying it seems more appropriate for a F/F book review site 😛
I’m worried about the vaginas you’ve encountered, Diane, if they look like that!!! LOL!
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I have to say, I would have skipped the sports book too, but after reading Dash and Dingo, I might give that one a go!
Buying/borrowing a book I hope I’ll like and then hating it has stuck in my mind much more than the other way around.
Had a couple recently, though – Gilbert Adair book (send up Agatha Christie) that I got from a charity shop for a bedtime read and enjoyed greatly and Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy which i adored and aren’t the sort of ‘heavy’ thing I ever read.
That cat looks like Yoda…
Oh I agree, I’m more often UNpleasantly surprised than the other way around – but there’s so much negativity that I thought it would make a nice change, specially from me.
I´ve purchased the firsts two books of AE because of the great reviews.I tiptoe around them for weeks now.The covers are not so great,crimes and mysteries are not really my thing.I can`t get myself to read them because I´m afraid I don`t like them…..strange..!
But..the opposite is much more dissappointing.
Beautiful cover,interesting blurb….and a bad book.
Harry Potter?-Same here.1-4 good ,5-7….eh,no!
Thanks Simsala – perhaps we’ll both have to be brave about the mysteries! I have read a couple of Greg Herren’s gay mysteries and I wasn’t expecting to like them (look, Wave, I have read a couple of contemps! 🙂 ) but I found that I really did.
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And thank you. It breaks my heart how involved I was with Potterdom and it all went so very very wrong once she started saying “you will not edit me!”
I usually find it’s the writing that’s a deal maker or breaker for me. Although I have a natural aversion to some genres, I can get sucked into most anything if the author has a feel for the language and can turn it into the stuff of magic. Wonderful prose leaves me spellbound.
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On the other hand, even if I’m reading something in a favorite genre, I can’t get past the second page if there are repeated errors or the dialogue sounds stupid or the sentences just woodenly limp along. For me, it’s like having to listen to someone vomit. (Uh…sorry. :-))
Yes, I think that’s exactly it, KZ – I may loathe a particular genre (or think I do) and then I start reading and I’m simply lost which is the case with the Hermes book I’m reading right now.
I’m a voracious m/m reader and will often pick up books after only a quick glance at the blurb… when I finally get around to reading the book I’ll often think it sounds like crummy rubbish and can’t figure out why I bought it. But then I’ll completely surprise myself by really enjoying the story. So I figure it’s a choice of believing either the author was so skilled (s)he was able to turn a silly concept into a great book or I’m an unacknowledged lover of crummy rubbish. Let’s go with the former.
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I love a good cover! It can make or break a purchase. I have a very hard time with Poser covers. Ugh.
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I thought HP7 was particularly bad.
Heh – I’m glad it’s not just me that this happens to, and yes… HP… nuff said.