I LOVE browsing in the bookstore for unusual premises, and several weeks ago I found this book, didn't buy it, but designed to eventually spend the cash. Why did I want it? And why did it stick with me? Because Things Not Seen is about a boy who wakes up invisible and makes friends with a blind girl. Premises don't get much better than that.I bought the book Friday night, just finished it, and really enjoyed the journey. But may I reiterate I bought it SOLELY based on the premise. All right, I'll admit, the packaging helped seal the deal, too. The cover is intriguing, and I love the deckled edge of the book's pages. And the back of the book is a snippet from the story itself, not a mediocre rundown of the novel.
The author, Andrew Clements, wrote in the clever first person present tense and I thought his writing style was solid though simple.
So to you, readers, will you read a book solely because of the premise or do you need more to take the bait? Or are you a sucker for packaging like me?
What is going on with the present first person tense? Is this a feature now of YA novels? Or are other genres doing it as well? I am noticing it more and more, not sure how I feel about it.
ReplyDelete(Sorry, I didn't answer any of your questions just asked a bunch of my own)
I love it! I think it adds a whole new layer for suspense. Read Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games and Catching Fire sometime and see if you like it. :)
ReplyDeleteI read Hunger Games and about 3 chapters in I said, "Hey, this is in first tense, has she been writing the whole time in first tense?" So I went back and checked because I hadn't even noticed. A less skilled writer would make it obvious, and perhaps even a distraction. Like using multiple POV's, I think you've got to be very careful and very good or it will backfire on you.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. :)
ReplyDeleteI would buy a book on the premise IF it really grabbed me. Great packaging could do it too as in fantasic cover art or a truly handsome book-not that there are that many of those anymore-I'm talking old books.
ReplyDeleteI don't like present tense. It jars me. However, Suzanne Collins did it well. But I still don't like it.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy a book unless it's been highly recommended. Too many bad apples out there.
I buy a book for the stupidest reasons. If I like the setting, the premise, the colors on the cover, the price... I rarely base it on recommendation because I don't usually agree with people. I will read and enjoy something bad, just if it is set in Los Angeles. I won't read it twice, will complain the whole way through, but will probably buy the next book for an equally ridiculous reason.
ReplyDeleteHaha, Jane, you crack me up!! I love the spontaneity.
ReplyDeleteTamara, I don't know why, but I feel so empowered finding my OWN book that no one has recommended before and then being able to recommend it to others. It's like I discovered this hidden treasure and get to be uppity about my new discovery.
I am the same way Mary, except I especially used to pride myself with music and picking out the coolest new bands before anybody else had heard of them. Books can be even less well know than music so its a bit harder to be cutting edge with books unless you have a circle of friends that all like a similar genre-even then its been harder to be cutting edge and not just-eh read that.
ReplyDeleteI must admit I'm easy and will buy a book if the packaging looks good. Before kids, I was more strict. Joe and I would go on reading dates and read the books at Borders or Barnes and Noble before buying. Pretty cheesey dates, but what can you do.
ReplyDeleteI think all of those things are essential components to choosing a book. We really do judge a book by its cover (it helps a ton!) and in today's economy, we're even more careful about what we choose to spend our money on. It makes sense that you'd consider all those options.
ReplyDeleteI buy books from the 25 cent pile at the D.I. because, Hey it was 25 cents, and I have a new book now, even if I never read it.
ReplyDeleteThe only book I bought at full price simply because I couldn't resist it, was "The Red Ranger Came Calling". I paid $17 for a kids picture book because when I found it, I sat down and read it cover to cover, and thought about it for days after, until I finally went back and bought it. And I have never looked back.
Most of the time, if something looks interesting enough I will just pick it up from the library. Then I can return it with nothing out of pocket.
I am so cheap.
David, and you even knew Jewel before her time. :) Tracy! I see your comment! It didn't get lost in the blogger world. And Adam and I went to Borders on our hot date, Friday night, so we're as cool as you and Joe were years ago. Looks like you'll always be years ahead of us in coolness though.
ReplyDeleteL.T. Money. Yeah. It's so hard to have the self restraint not to buy every book I want!!
Man, I thought I was doing good buying three books for $2.50 the other day. $0.25? Go L!
ReplyDeleteI think I buy books the same way--I want to read yours! And I love Andrew Clemens--my husband hates his work, but I'm younger; I think I remember being that age that he writes about.
ReplyDeleteI used to buy based on a good premise, or good liner notes. But I'm becoming more frugal and using the library more often.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm sitting here on my couch with my laptop on a Thursday night, knowing that i need to scrapbook (I guess you could call that my obsession). But i wasn't quite in the mood and have been THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINED by this blog! You are so talented, Mary!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel worthy to comment! :-)
Oh, I forgot to say that I totally want to read that book now-it sounds awesome...and I am ALL about the packaging. I own 4 copies of Jane Eyre, one is small and cute and red w/ gold on the pages and I just couldn't pass it up in the store. It's my favorite copy to read. :-)
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