Comments on: Effusive encomia

By: evilphilip

evilphilip — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:36:55 +0000

The two times I have specifically purchased a book because Stephen King blurbed it (online, not on the front of the book) I was horribly disappointed.

Unless someone you love is blurbing a book YOU wrote, I say they are worthless.

By: Jan Markley

Jan Markley — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:21:58 +0000

As an author I read the blurbs, but I don't think the average reader would notice them unless it was a writer they knew.

By: Harry Connolly

Harry Connolly — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:24:50 +0000

As a reader, I never pay attention to blurbs.

However, many of the readers who write me about my book tell me they picked it up because of the Jim Butcher blurb on the front cover, so I know it's important to a lot of people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:25:41 +0000

Endorsements don't mean a hill of beans to me no matter what. If the blurb catches my attention and/or I read a review on the book and it sounded like something I would enjoy I'll get the book. But blurbs? They are so much noise to me and frankly I don't even really read them.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:17:41 +0000

I'm not sure. I read them, but I don't really believe them. It seems that every book has some blurb on it recommending it, so it's not a discriminator anymore.

That said, when I see one from an author I like, I will pay more attention. I generally don't read the back cover copy, I found it gives too much of the plot away. (I like mysteries, and even an allusion to something can sometimes give things away.) However, I'll read the back cover copy if I like the writer that gives the blurb; and if I like the copy I'll buy the book.

What really gets me to buy a book is a friend's recommendation. Or a sales' clerk's recommendation, for that matter, after I've told him or her what books I like.

And what gets me to NOT buy a book is a terrible cover. Sure, good covers are attractive, but that's not what gets me to read a book. A bad cover can make me put a book down, though.

Blurbs? Not so much. I expect them to be glowing and positive.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:01:29 +0000

Suzi, you took the words right out of my mouth!!!

By: Suzi McGowen

Suzi McGowen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:21:22 +0000

As a reader, I don't even see the blurbs. Literally. My eyes just glaze right over them.

As a writer, if I were to get a nice blurb from an author I liked, I'd probably cry big weepy tears and hug myself in delight.

By: Brandi

Brandi — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:08:38 +0000

Did it once, I picked up a book with a blurb from Jim Butcher (whose books I adore), and absolutely hated the book. I decided then that just because I like an author it doesn't mean we have similar taste in books. So, I went back to my policy of reading the back of the book and reading a few pages from the beginning of the book. If it catches my interest, cool, if not, I don't care who endorsed it.

By: CFD Trade

CFD Trade — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:16:45 +0000

Well, I would definitely like to read a book that has been recommended by Dan Brown…:)

By: Melody

Melody — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:10:59 +0000

I only take author blurbs seriously when 1) I know the author giving the blurb, and 2) When that author writes in the same genre.