Comments on: BTT: What's Hot?

By: Carleton Place Public Library

Carleton Place Public Library — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:58:26 +0000

I feel very similar. I am a children’s librarian and although many of our patrons are checking out this series, I don’t feel the need to read them, either. I also talk about the books, read reviews, and get feedback from people who have read them in order to be able to answer general questions as well. Sometimes, this is enough, I think. Do I feel guilty about it? Sometimes. But I also feel like I have to be true to myself and not waste my precious reading time on something that I won’t enjoy.

However, I’ve been thinking maybe I should read the first book, just to see what it’s like. Maybe just a quick flip through………

Oh, the guilt!

Thanks for the interesting viewpoint on a common problem.

By: Melody

Melody — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:43:08 +0000

I can imagine how you feel about working in a bookstore and having to read some books which aren’t your interests… I suppose every job has it down side. But hey, I’d want to work in a bookstore anytime!!

By: marie

marie — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:53:54 +0000

having to read books you don’t like is one downside of being in the book biz. as a librarian i read in my speciality and there are some things i would bypass if it were up to me. i haven’t had to read anything horrible (yet) but it can be a chore sometimes.

By: Violet

Violet — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:18:45 +0000

Hey thats the first I read about James P not writing his books. That is so sad. I just read Sam’s letters to Jennifer by him and though it was a typical mushy, romantic story, I loved it.

And planning a midnight release party for Breaking Dawn? It must have been hectic and total madness.

By: BooksPlease

BooksPlease — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:16:13 +0000

I agree it’s good to step out of your comfort zone – but I can’t think I’d ever read the Twilight series as it just doesn’t appeal to me and as you say life is too short to read books you’re not interested in.

By: Swapna

Swapna — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:13:06 +0000

I completely agree about being well-rounded – not just reading what popular!

By: Ti

Ti — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:10:03 +0000

I never really thought about it but after this post, I have to say that I do try to stay away from what is considered “hot”. At least, as far as the bestsellers list goes. I never understand how some books get to the top of those lists. I like to read books based on what close friends have said or by hearing about them on the book blogs I frequent. People that basically love books are a good resource for me.

I still, to this day, will not read Eat, Pray, Love.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:20:37 +0000

That was a great answer – and its different than most because you do work as a book seller. I guess you would have to be ‘up’ on the current trends. You reminded me that I can keep up with them without having to actually read them, thanks to the publications you mentioned. I agree with you that life is too short to waste time reading something you don’t really care about.

By: nicole

nicole — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:57:04 +0000

I just checked out your earlier post on Eclipse, which I hadn’t seen, and everything keeps confirming how much I won’t like these books.

And somehow I still almost want to pick them up.

I think it’s a sort of train wreck fascination, I want to read them to see (a) how bad they really are and (b) if I can understand how anyone else could possibly like them.

But for my own mental health I will continue to stay away.

By: Sally

Sally — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:14:26 +0000

Like you, I can “get a good idea of what a book is about” by looking at the cover.