Book Buying Tally 2010 and Why My Habits Surprised Me
Lookin' at Lucky walked all over the Haskell field yesterday. Mwhahahaha. No one can say that Preakness victory was a fluke now. Anyway...
I thought it would be fun for me to visit the reasons why I bought the books I did the last few trips the bookstore. Why these books over the others on the shelves?
Sparkling Cyanide and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie -- There's a whole story behind the purchase of these two books. The short version is I saw the Unicorn and the Wasp (a Doctor Who episode where the Doctor goes back in time and meets Agatha Christie) and decided that I wanted to read a couple of her books. Both of these are referenced in the episode so I grabbed them both because I couldn't decide which one I wanted more.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson -- I have a novel in the works that features a character waking up from a coma (though that's not the main focus of the story). When I found out this book was along similar lines, I had to pick it up.
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore -- this one was another find while I was skimming through Amazon. You may recognize it as one of the features on a New Releases post a couple weeks ago. The summary grabbed me and when I saw it in the bookstore (I didn't even know it was out yet!) there was no way I was walking away.
I thought it would be fun for me to visit the reasons why I bought the books I did the last few trips the bookstore. Why these books over the others on the shelves?
Word of Mouth
Cover/Book trailer
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta -- I've heard so many great things about this novel and I'm on quite a bit of a literary kick so I decided to pick this one up.
Paper Towns by John Green -- This one basically has the same story as Jellicoe Road. I heard a lot of awesome things about it and it's author, I'm on a literary kick, it was a paperback. I had no reasons not to bring it home.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan -- This was another novel that I picked up mostly because of word of mouth. Also because I want to read the Dead Tossed Waves.
AuthorPaper Towns by John Green -- This one basically has the same story as Jellicoe Road. I heard a lot of awesome things about it and it's author, I'm on a literary kick, it was a paperback. I had no reasons not to bring it home.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan -- This was another novel that I picked up mostly because of word of mouth. Also because I want to read the Dead Tossed Waves.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan -- I love Riordan and that's pretty much the reason why I picked up this book. It came out between his two Camp Half-Blood series and I love his use of mythology so I figured, why not?
Looking for Alaska by John Green -- Bookstore didn't have An Abundance of Katherines and I needed another John Green book.
Book in a seriesLooking for Alaska by John Green -- Bookstore didn't have An Abundance of Katherines and I needed another John Green book.
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare -- Read the first two and there was no way I could pass up reading the finale. Not after CoA.
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater -- I read Shiver and there was no way I was going to wait any longer to read this one.
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater -- I read Shiver and there was no way I was going to wait any longer to read this one.
Cover/Book trailer
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles -- I saw the book trailer a few months ago on Pub Rants and decided I had to have this book. I read and enjoyed Perfect Chemistry while I was waiting so as soon as I could, I snatched this one up as well.
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman -- the cover was the first thing to catch my eye on this one as I was skimming through Amazon's new releases one day. It's definite to-drool-over. The concept just sealed the deal for me and when I saw it in the store, I just couldn't resist.
OtherSea Change by Aimee Friedman -- the cover was the first thing to catch my eye on this one as I was skimming through Amazon's new releases one day. It's definite to-drool-over. The concept just sealed the deal for me and when I saw it in the store, I just couldn't resist.
When It Happens by Susane Colasanti -- There were a few reasons that added up to me getting this book. One, I was looking for a nice YA contemp read in the vein of Sarah Dessen. WIH was in paperback so I figured, why not? It sounded like a sweet read so it came home with me.
Sparkling Cyanide and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie -- There's a whole story behind the purchase of these two books. The short version is I saw the Unicorn and the Wasp (a Doctor Who episode where the Doctor goes back in time and meets Agatha Christie) and decided that I wanted to read a couple of her books. Both of these are referenced in the episode so I grabbed them both because I couldn't decide which one I wanted more.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson -- I have a novel in the works that features a character waking up from a coma (though that's not the main focus of the story). When I found out this book was along similar lines, I had to pick it up.
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore -- this one was another find while I was skimming through Amazon. You may recognize it as one of the features on a New Releases post a couple weeks ago. The summary grabbed me and when I saw it in the bookstore (I didn't even know it was out yet!) there was no way I was walking away.
Final Tally
23% Word of mouth
15% Liked author
15% Book in a series
15% Cover/book trailer
8% Similar to another author
8% Referenced elsewhere
8% Similar to a WiP
8% Back summary only
These numbers really surprised me. A year ago back summary would've been a lot higher and word of mouth would've been a lot lower. It really shows how my reading tastes have changed. I was also surprised to see that covers and book trailers were such a large portion of my reading as cover used to be the last thing I cared about.
Take a look at the books you've bought lately and look for trends. Did any of it surprise you?
15% Liked author
15% Book in a series
15% Cover/book trailer
8% Similar to another author
8% Referenced elsewhere
8% Similar to a WiP
8% Back summary only
These numbers really surprised me. A year ago back summary would've been a lot higher and word of mouth would've been a lot lower. It really shows how my reading tastes have changed. I was also surprised to see that covers and book trailers were such a large portion of my reading as cover used to be the last thing I cared about.
Take a look at the books you've bought lately and look for trends. Did any of it surprise you?
Comments
Some great books on that list! A few will have to go on my wishlist :)
Ever since I joined AW, I've noticed that I read more books from word of mouth. That's where I first heard of Jellicoe Road actually!
i get pumped about books from authors i love
also, when enough people rave about them and the premise appeals to me
also, i will pick up a book if i like the cover, then keep it if i like the blurb and first few pages. but thats from the library - no real risk there.
and yay for jellicoe road. love that book so hard
xx