Judging a Book

Sunday, August 07, 2011

A lot of people say that judging a book by anything is a bad thing.  "Don't do it!"  But sometimes I can't help it.  That book has such a pretty cover or such a beautiful design.  How can people expect you not to judge books if we are not truly sure what is inside unless we read it first?  (The same goes with people, but I'm not going to give you a lecture; that would be boring.)

Almost every reader, I know, judges a book before reading it.  Basically, a much nicer phrase for it would be: FIRST IMPRESSIONS.  The first thing I notice about picking up a book in the library, bookstore, or wherever would be its cover.  It's a fact that more people will buy a book that has a good cover than buy one with a bad cover.  Covers can make it or break it with its book sales.  Example:


 











I'm much more likely to buy the book on the right, even though they are the same novel (Royally Crushed is a 3-in-1 book, where it has the entire series Royally Jacked in it).  The one on the right appeals to me more because of its cover.  What book would you choose?

However, the cover is not going to be the only thing you see when you pick up the book and take interest in it.  You'll also be taking a look at the inside jacket, if it's a hardcover or the back cover, if it's paperback.  These places give a small summary of the book, telling what it's about.  If a book was a person, this would be something like a profile.  Summaries are hard to come up with.  These are the words the authors and publishers have to sell readers on.  It has to leave you interested and wanting more.  If the summary doesn't do that than that doesn't really help anyone.  

After the basic FIRST IMPRESSIONS are complete, the reader most likely will make a decision whether to read the book or put it back on the shelf.  Just remember: It's okay to judge... books, that is.

I gave you a few examples on what my first impressions are if I am to pick up a book.  I want to know what makes you pick up a book?  Do you choose to buy a book by the cover?  Do you take the time to read the summary?

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