Suggested by JM:
I was looking through books yesterday at the shops and saw all the Twilight books, which I know basically nothing about. What I do know is that I’™m beginning to feel like I’™m the *only* person who knows nothing about them.
Despite being almost broke and trying to save money, I almost bought the expensive book (Australian book prices are often completely nutty) just because I felt the need to be ‘˜up’™ on what everyone else was reading.
Have you ever felt pressured to read something because ‘˜everyone else’™ was reading it? Have you ever given in and read the book(s) in question or do you resist? If you are a reviewer, etc, do you feel it’™s your duty to keep up on current trends?
I have felt pressured to read a book because ‘everyone else’ is reading it, but often find that it makes me actually resist reading it. Recently this has happened to me with what I think of as ‘that potato peel book’. Its proper title is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I’ve read several reviews full of its praise. I know that people have enjoyed it immensely, so why am I so reluctant to read it? For one thing (and this is trivial, I know) but I don’t like the title. Mainly, though, I suppose it’s because I don’t like to jump on the bandwagon and also because I have succumbed in the past and been disappointed in a book – The Thirteenth Tale, Labyrinth, and The Time-Traveller’s Wife all come to mind. All these books failed for me to live up to the hype and I don’t like to have my expectations raised in that way.
I can’t put my finger on exactly why I feel that this about some books, because I often read other bloggers’ reviews and think ‘I really must read that book’. But I don’t actually feel any need to read a book just because lots of other people are reading it – it has to appeal to me. I write about books because I want to and I don’t get paid for it so I certainly don’t feel it’s my duty to keep up on current trends. Having said that I do want to know about new books and what other people are reading – I’m just contrary I suppose.
And I expect that eventually I will pick up ‘that potato peel book’, if only to have a look at what all the fuss is about.
BooksPlease 
You’re not contrary; you’re discerning. : )
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I can pick out a book in the recommendations of fellow bloggers. And a few of those turn out good too. However, a mass marketed hyped book puts me off.
I would rather read lesser known authors. I would say Corey Redekop and Mathias B. Freese are two authors to look out for.
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I love recommendations from fellow bloggers; most of them have good tastes in books. :) I did come across some books which are award winners but they didn’t interest me, but of course this is because each reading preference differs.
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My answer is similar. Sometimes I’ve wondered if I’m just contrary, too!
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I feel the same way – a book has to have some appeal to me before I’ll give it a try. Something beyond just massive popularity. I guess I’m contrary, too – I frequently stay away from bestsellers just because they’re bestsellers. I did enjoy the “Potato Peel” book, though – but I agree about the title.
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I loved The Thirteenth Tale and have The Time Traveler’s Wife on my TBR stack, so we may have different taste…I thoroughly enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society but I agree wholeheartedly that the title is awful and makes it sound like a fluffy novel about southern women cooking up crazy pies and gossipping in their kitchens. My friend at Random House said they tried to get the title changed several times, and the authors just wouldn’t have it. I would encourage you to read the book, though, it was really quite good.
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Your answer is similiar to mine. There’s too many other wonderful books out there I’d rather read than one just for popularity sake. I’m probably one of the only people left in the universe who hasn’t read any of the Harry Potter books! I like going off the beaten path when choosing books sometimes. You can find some real gems doing that. :)
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Great answer – of course I am interested when a book is so hyped up, but the deciding factor always comes down to whether I have any interest in the book personally.
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society did not appeal to me, at least the title didn’t ring the bell. But it’s been all over the place and I think I should read it consider how much I enjoyed 84 Charring Cross Rd. So I don’t feel pressured that I have to read it. After all, I’m not getting paid for what I say in reviews, I should only review the ones that I like to read.
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I find that the more hyped a book is the less apt I am to read it. Of course there are exceptions, but it can take years before I get around to reading them.
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Hey, Margaret, I visited this morning, and have been thinking about your post all day. So often I am not touched by ‘hype’ because I so rarely read popular books. I don’t like a lot of books that others love. For example, vampire books seem all the rage and I don’t get it at all. Yuck. The Guernsey book appealed to me, not because I read a lot about it, but from the very first post I read which was Cornflower’s. I just thought, this is my sort of book. And I love, love the title. Potatoes, Guernsey, literary – all speak to me on some level I can’t even begin to explain in words. I feel no peer pressure ever. God knows there is little enough real choice in this world, and “my” book is my own. I would hate being a reviewer. It would be like a movie critic having to sit through awful movies. :<)
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It’s hard not to pick up some of those books because of the curiosity factor, but I also often find myself resisting what everyone else is doing. But, with all the controversy, I couldn’t help contemplating buying at least one of the Twilight books.
Then I came to my senses and remembered how many books are in my TBR drawer. :)
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I understand what you mean about avoiding books that have been heavily hyped. I too don’t want to have my expectations raised only to be disappointed. In cases like that, I usually wait until everything has subsided and then pick up the book after I can’t remember much about what has been said about it.
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Good answer – I often avoid the hype. Having said that, I’m sure you’d like the potato book – but it’s nice to come to it in your own time! And, just think, by the time you want to read it, there will be loads of cheap copies on Amazon!
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I still have several popular books (Water for Elephants and The Madonnas of Leningrad, to name just a couple) in my stacks. I want to read them, but decided to wait until all the hype settled down. Having said that, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an utterly charming book. I, too, didn’t care for the title, but the story is marvelous. I do hope you’ll give it a chance. Eventually. :)
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I am feeling *the same way* about the potato peel book , and yes, that’s how I refer to it, too! I’m definitely going to read it, but once all the hype is gone.
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I don’t think there is anything wrong about only reading the books that appeal–popular or not. I think a lot of people shy away from books when they get too much press. I read the Potato Peel book because it really appealed to me, plust I love epistolary novels. I thought it was very entertaining, but there are other books I am waiting to read until all the reviews fade from my mind. I think I read On Chesil Beach (and didn’t enjoy it as much as I had wanted to) for that exact reason. I had read so much about it that the experience just didn’t live up to what I read. Maybe I’ll reread it someday.
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Gosh – so many comments – thank you all.
It’s good to know I’m not “contrary” but discerning and I’m in good company with those of you who also don’t like over-hyped books.
As for the “potato peel book” I think to some extent it is the juxaposition of Guernsey, potato peel pie and literary society that I find off-putting, but I WLL READ IT – one day. Still Jersey potatoes are lovely, maybe I’ll try a potato peel pie one day. And I’ve checked the library but they only have copies of the book on order (not in stock yet!!) and there is a queue of reservations! It’s a good idea to leave it at while anyway.
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