So I wanted to do a survey to find out what prompts people to get a book and read it. Yes, sales are down and I’m still on the learning how to self promote curve. It’s a very steep learning curve, and I haven’t gotten out of the flat part. Like does posting blogs on the internet really do anything? Is name recognition really what it’s all about?
I’m really clueless. And while other people’s statistics could maybe help me know where to focus my endeavors I’d like to ask you, the readers of my blog. What prompts you to pick up a book and read it? Do you buy books? Borrow?
This would be better with a fancy ap that allows you to click a button and calculates the totals and sends back a report. but I don’t know how to work that out soooo.. you’ll just have to make comments and I’ll have to read them!
Alternatively, you could just tell me a story instead. A funny one, please. I dearly love to laugh.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I received my first loan when I was a teenager and it aided me very much. However, I need the credit loan as well.
Thanks for the funny stories, y’all! I love to hear other people’s stories. I’m not sure I’m any wiser about where people find books, or how they find books but your answers were very interesting!
Thanks for playing along with me.
If Nancy Pearl says something is a good read, I pick it up at my library. If I like it, I look for it in any of three bookstores on my block (lucky, I know).
However, the best sources of books for me are those that don’t really support publishers. In Seattle, we have Half Priced Books, which is a small-ish chain of bookstores that buy books from people, then sell them back for really cheap. And about 3 times per year, maybe more, they have a “warehouse sale,” where everything is a dollar. Similarly, the Friends of the Library book sale is a spot where I pick up anything I’ve been meaning to read, or by authors I already like.
Funny story? I once attended a Half Priced Books warehouse sale while mildly intoxicated on the day of the Kentucky Derby and purchased the following: The Shipping News, a Norton Anthology, a book about advertising, A Wrinkle in Time, and a “Purple Rain” on vinyl. Unsurprisingly, Purple Rain gets the most play, and a Wrinkle in Time has been loaned out at least 5 times since I bought it.
Also, it’s Banned Books Week, so read your favorite naughty novel!
What Bethany said about Lani/Luci; had read her Dogs and Goddesses because of Crusie, then I went in search of her solo stuff. But, sadly I am unable to purchase books, because we are chronically poor. I requested my library buy them all instead, and they did! I only buy from independent booksellers, no box stores for me. I have been known to track down a favorite authour and see what he/she reads (many have a list) and then go looking for those titles/names.
I’ve gotten some really good recommendations from blogs recently but not the big blogs, little personal blogs like yours (and mine and Lora’s and Kelly’s etc). I sometimes read reviews but usually don’t buy (or borrow) what the media is selling, I’m a rebel like that.
Funny story? My daughter just tagged me on twitter with “shitmymomsays” so that made me laugh. I’ll go tweet your blog some more and see if we get any new folks for you.
A blog has never convinced me to buy a book, and I buy lots! Actually, I haven’t been much into blogs until recently, and I’m still in the learning process. If I see a name in posts, forums, classes I’m taking, etc, I usually check them out and now that I have a Kindle, I may be more apt to try a book I’ve read about on a blog. I’m looking forward to that.
Blogs do help me buy books. I had read Dogs and Goddesses but none of Lucy/Lani’s other books before she started blogging and I realized how funny she was. I then hunted her books down and started reading them. Still in search of a few because I’m old fashioned and love physically finding books rather than just using Amazon (though I will use Amazon and Abebooks.com if it’s something specific like a textbook or an expensive sociology book).
The blog thing might be gender biased though. I’m not sure how many men would buy a book because they felt a connection with the author through the author’s personal blog. No idea on the research though, just an idea.
Other than blogs and recs from friends, it’s browsing and looking at back cover summaries. Letting a new genre author into the mix is a really steep curve for me at the bookstore just because of what I focus on. I will pick up new authors more easily at my used store and will sometimes try an author at the library before going and buying his/her books. Just went to Borders yesterday to buy Soulless after borrowing from library, loving it, and buying the next two.
Meeting an author will also make me more likely to read his/her work. I think it’s similar to the blog although meeting in person still has greater impact than online for me.
Browsing tends to be all in person rather than online for me. Online is only if there’s a big rec and I can’t possibly get it physically in a store or at a fair.
Funny story?
I thought my cat was trying to brain me by knocking books off a shelf towards my bed while I slept the other night–turns out he was just trying to make a path to my dresser bar so he could nom on the paper tops of my bitters bottles.
I may not be the best example, but here’s my strategy if you can call it that.
I don’t live near a bookstore. I do not often get the chance to drive 90 minutes to one. Consequently most of my books are from bn.com.
I’m a brand slut, meaning that if an author I love wrote it, chances are I will buy it. If I like the title, I’ll read about it. I’ll read excerpts and reviews and even bn.com look up a title I adore and see what readers who bought that one also purchased or recommended.
When I was at Target in May I bought The Luxe because it has a pretty cover. Yes, that’s why. I read the whole series.
If I buy one book by an author (like Alice Hoffman) that I like but I think doesn’t have repeat readability, that’s when I switch to the library as a source for her other books.