Does a Book’s Popularity Entice You to Read it?
MetaxuCafe, referencing a post at Checkov’s Mistress called The Culture of Impatience And The Real Market, asks Why Buy a Bestseller? In the MetaxuCafe post, Phil Wade asks:
“Does a story seem more interesting to you after you learn thousands of others–faceless, nameless readers–bought it and, by inference, liked it?”
I like this question because it interests me to know how others decide what to read.
Maybe the question does not apply directly, as such, to science fiction since sf rarely makes the NYT bestseller lists. But there are lists of top-selling sf books so the question can still be applicable.
Does a science fiction book’s popularity entice you to read it?
Speaking for myself, my first inclination was to say “no”, my choice of reading material is guided by my tastes. Within sf, sometimes I’m in the mood for space opera, sometimes for military or something else. My sf reading tastes are based on sub-genre, not popularity. I also like to read older out-of-print sf, although some of the review copies we get are getting most of my attention theses days. It has made me gain a new appreciation for the reprint market. But even so, I don’t believe those choices are based on popularity.
Then I remembered a few years ago when I bought Neal Stephenson’s doorstopping Quicksilver. I bought it because (1) it was The Next Big Thing, and (2) friends were planning on reading it after a group trip to see him in Austin. So, to answer the question “Does a science fiction book’s popularity entice you to read it?” I suppose I would have to go the middle-of-the-road route and say…sometimes.
Related posts:
- What Were the First Books You Read by These Authors?
- POLL RESULTS: SF Books Read in the The Top 100
- POLL RESULTS: Fantasy Books Read in the Top 100
- Why Johnny Won’t Read
- Why Do You Read/Watch Science Fiction?
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Popularity alone doesn’t entice me to read a book. But if a lot of people whose tastes in books I’m familiar with (and share) reccomend a book then that makes the biggest of differences.
I rarely read a book BECAUSE it is popular, but popularity will tend to bring it to my attention. Then, if the subject matter looks interesting, I will read it. Often I get interested in particular authors through SF conventions and word of mouth from other fans.
Lee
Yes.
If it gets on the Hugo, Nebula, BSFA or Arthur C Clarke award it will make me think about reading it.
If I see a book in the bestsellers list I’ll also think about reading it.
Even, I read The Time Travellers Wife and are reading Cloud Atlas because they were on Richard And Judy’s book club.
Don’t know why. I could spend the rest of my life reading old SF that I haven’t read yet.
Maybe – depends on what kind of book it is and how it’s regarded at the time. I read The DaVinci Code a year or so ago because it was a bestseller and my wife had it. I read The Time Traveller’s Wife because it was a bestseller and also sci-fi book.
I don’t make a habit of even looking to see what the bestsellers are though.
If popularity brings a book to my attention, AND it sounds intriguing, then I will certainly consider reading it. I don’t read books only because they are popular, life is too short not to read what you want to read for yourself.
I’m more likely to avoid popular books because it seems to me that the more popular a book is, the worse the writing is. It appeals to the lowest common denominator. I will, however, be more likely to read books that have won awards, because I think that the writing is more likely to be good.