Posted on 8:23 am | Posted in Other book stuff | Posted by | 14 Comments
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Do you buy based on RT?

I’m curious to know, of 36 people who answered, 21 do read RT. Not a great large number, but I’m wondering if you buy books based on the reviews? Do you just read the reviews to find out what the book is about and when it’s coming out, or do the reviews sway your book buying? In what way? Are you more likely to buy a book that got a Top Pick or even four stars than one that got 3?

I’m only including two answers, because it’s hard to make an answer to fit everyone. So you can add your own answer to the poll (just click the Add Answer link just under the poll)

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14 Responses to “Do you buy based on RT?”

  1. Karen April 26, 2006 at 9:14 am #

    I have zero confidence in the RT reviews. A big chunk of the magazines profit is from advertising for the same product they are reviewing.

    Really, they could leave the review out completely and just put the book blurb, and I’d be just as happy. And a great deal less cynical :muahaha:

  2. Rene April 26, 2006 at 10:21 am #

    The review itself might not effect whether or not I buy a book, but if it got a bad review I’m guilty of going in with that coloring my judgement. I know, I know…bad me. :oops:

  3. Cheyenne McCray April 26, 2006 at 10:27 am #

    I’ve found you Angie and now have you re-bookmarked. :)

    As far as RT, I do read a great portion of it, and it’s good to see what new books are coming out. :away:

    Chey
    who chose the last icon because it’s so cute. :D

  4. Jane April 26, 2006 at 11:16 am #

    I would say, in general, that reviews affect my buying decisions both negatively and positively, but RT reviews seem too ra ra for me. RT reviews fall under the same category as Harriet Klausner.

  5. Alyssa April 26, 2006 at 2:33 pm #

    I’m not entirely sure how to answer this. A review may bring a book to my attention that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise, but positive or negative doesn’t usually affect me. RT reviews usually aren’t detailed enough for me to decide whether I would agree with their opinion or not.

    I have bought books that I’ve seen in RT, though.

  6. Tara Marie April 26, 2006 at 6:59 pm #

    I read the reviews for the synopses, but I don’t base my buying on the actual stars given.

  7. Jaynie R April 27, 2006 at 4:46 am #

    I only read the reviews to get blurbs on new books. I find the quality of reviewing terrible in RT and don’t read the little line stuck on the end about what the person thought of the book. :wiggle:

  8. jmc April 27, 2006 at 10:38 am #

    Like Jaynie R and Tara Marie, the opinion of the reviewer doesn’t influence my buying. Reading the blurbs may bring new books or authors to my attention, though. My main purpose in looking through RT is to check out the ads and lists of upcoming books.

  9. TeeBee April 27, 2006 at 2:03 pm #

    You want the honest to goodness truth?
    I look at the scores on RT, Amazon, Likesbooks, fictionwise. Then I look pretty much anywhere for blurb LOL.
    I also rate books when i read them, because I am data-obsessive LOL. Historically, I deviate by 28% from likesbooks scores, 13% from RT, 3% from Fictionwise and 2% from amazon (data-obsessive, data-obsessive, not enough hobbies LOL). So, I tend to pay attention to amazon and fictionwise the most. LOL

    …well, you did ask… :pengydie:

  10. TeeBee April 27, 2006 at 2:05 pm #

    Forgot to say; 50% of the time (that’s an approximate figure hehe) I complete ignore what the numbers tell me, and go with the story that grabbed me with its excerpt LOL

  11. Jana April 27, 2006 at 10:15 pm #

    I finished the May RT today; I look at the Top Picks. Those tend to be the books I will most likely either read or buy. Otherwise I don’t pay much attention to the reviews.

  12. Angie April 28, 2006 at 11:52 am #

    I actually use the reviews as a summary of the book. For me, RT magazine is an alert for books I might not have otherwise known about. Though, I must admit, I pay particular attention to those that get Top Picks. And yes, if a book gets one or two stars, I might raise an eyebrow, but I can’t think of one instance where a bad review from RT has caused me to not buy a book.

  13. Cece April 29, 2006 at 8:04 am #

    I’m with Cheyenne……I read more to see what’s coming out. Occasionally I’ll find one that makes me go “OHHHHHHH” but the last couple of books that I did that were ones I’d originaly found elsewhere (on blogs or in PW) first.

  14. ag April 29, 2006 at 11:44 am #

    I’m one of those who don’t read RT magazine, for the simple reason that I can’t see myself having this shipped to me when I could blog hop and hear it straight from the readers.

    I don’t let the reviews affect me too much, because I know different books draw different reactions from different readers.
    So, I guess this poll oesn’t really apply, heh?

    :nocomment:

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