Tuesday night I went to the bookstore for browsing for the first time in a very long while. Most of my browsing has been done online in recent months. When there was a bookstore in our mall, I used to browse there at least once a week (as often as I was at the mall) but since that bookstore closed last year**, I don’t find I’m hitting the stand alone Barnes and Noble very often at all. But I found myself with a 25% off coupon that was expiring last night so I left Josh and Brianna at home and took myself off to the bookstore.
I pretty much knew I was going to buy Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank which released yesterday, but that didn’t stop me from spending 45 minutes browsing the store. So here’s thirteen thoughts or things I observed.
1. I heard two younger kids (maybe 9 or 10) within minutes of each other say “but Mooooom, it’s only $6″ (when told he could only have one book, not two) and “but Mooooom, it’s only $12.95″ when told she couldn’t have the book on dogs because it’s too close to Christmas. I thought it was delightful that they were whining about BOOKS. Of course, *I* didn’t have to listen to them whine.
2. I’m more likely to notice books facing out. I guess this is a given but I was paying attention to my browsing habits.
3. I’m also more likely to notice books at my chest level or higher. I’m less likely to browse down, than up.
4. Covers matter. (dark and sexy will catch my attention every time, whether it’s paranormal or historical. I ignore books I think have bad covers.)
5. So do titles. Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun? GREAT title.
6. And yes, size matters, too. I was more likely to notice a trade paperback when scanning just the spines of books.
7. If you have a paragraph that’s an entire page long–on page 3–my brain will shut down and I’ll put the book back on the shelf (even if you have a great title. See #5).
8. And no matter how great the cover is or how much I love the blurb, if it’s first person, present tense, I won’t even consider reading it, let alone buying it. I’m prejudiced against first person, present tense and that’s not likely to change.
8. I don’t like “cute” paranormals. They just don’t “do” it for me. I like ‘em dark, long and intense. (and yes, I know there are two #8s, I’m cheating)
9. I have a fear of commitment. Maili blogged about something like this a few days back, and indeed, I only ended up buying one book despite my lengthy browsing. However, I now have a whole list of books I wanted to research and see if anyone had read, get feedback on and find out more about the book (thus the bonus Thirteen for today).
10. I spent twice as much time in the fantasy/sci-fi section as I did in the romance section.
10. The bookstore employee who has multiple piercings and tattoos and who I felt bad for immediately pegging as a sci-fi geek? Yeah, totally a sci-fi geek. 15 minutes into my shopping trip, he had another employee cornered (she looked like she wanted to rabbit at any minute) and talking about some sci-fi book with the passion of a true geek (I can say that, I’m a total geek. See #13). And yes, I know there are also two #10s. Anyone noticed my issues with committing to just 13 on these things?
11. There are books out there that I found myself wishing I hadn’t read so I could discover them all over again. Most noticeably, The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe and Poison Study by Maria Snyder.
12. If your name is Laurell K. Hamilton and your book is on a display at the front of the store, like any addict, I will still gravitate to that book, even if I’ve sworn off paying money for your books. I’m visiting my LKH recovery support group this weekend to help with the resulting cravings and shakes.
13. And my thirteenth thought while at the bookstore? I’m a geek for making notes for this blog post while hanging out in the bookstore. Total. Geek.
**My friend Shawn is the leasing manager at our local mall and he told me just last week that he gets complaints every week that there’s no bookstore in the mall. He said they’re going to try to get a Books-a-Million here, in the mall area (not in the mall but next to it, which is better than none at all, I guess).
Hee. Can I join that recovery group? (#12)
Interesting observations–it’s been a while since I’ve browsed in an actual book store, but those sound quite familiar.
The second 8, 9 and 10 all apply to me.
So on December 26th you’ll be at the bookstore turning all the copies of Surviving Demon Island face outward, right? Because you wuv me, right?
:giggle:
Oh yes, it’s already on my list of things to do. I’ve got you covered
Funny how I have a lot of the same habits. Though I now seem to spend more time in the Romance section than I do in the sci fi section. I also love to buy books from people I know. Even if it’s not normally something I’d read. :cheer:
What a great post, Angie!
I find myself doing a lot of the same…browsing, browsing, browsing…but so much differently than I did even five years ago.
But also, because I know so much of what’s coming out, I tend to look at the books in a different way. It’s more of: Oh, I’ve heard of this person…saw this cover…remember this person from conference…read about this on X blog, etc., etc.
In other words, though, it’s not a “new” experience for me. I rarely find books that are a surprise to me. Sometimes, mainly outside my genre, but most books I see aren’t a surprise to me. So it’s not that joy of discovery.
But…having said that, I do pick up the books that intrigue me (by cover, not usually by title, but sometimes), then look at back cover blurb, read the first page, flip through, etc. And then I decide.
And I know I’ll be turning SDI face-out, Jaci. I sneaked in a few pages last night as a treat.
:cheer:
I spend hours browsing in bookstores, and I too often only leave with a one or two things. Maybe it’s all the choices. When I lived abroad, and visited bookstores, I would leave with many more books, probably because the English-language section would be pretty limited.
I’m with you on #4 and 5. And to go along with #5. I wish some publishers would make them more legible on the spine of the books. I primarily do my book shopping at Borders and they shelve all the romance trade paperbacks together and nothing is faced out so I scan the spines for interesting titles. But sometimes the script that is used is so funky that I can’t read what the heck the book is called.
I am the same way when browsing, although I spend more time in romance, but to catch my eye to pick it up it has to have a great title and a great cover. That’s what makes me pick it up. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but … meh … what are you going to do.
Also my daughter’s name is Brianna. So I know you have good taste! :boff:
When I can get to a bookstore (without children) I spend a lot of time browsing too. I seem to have a method where I go straight to the best sellers and go through them looking for my favourite authors or books next out in a series I’m reading. Then I start wandering around looking at everything or looking for titles I’ve heard about but am not sure about. I love books!
Oh, great list. I haven’t been to the local B&N for months, but I could browse for hours and hours. I, too, need a LKH support group. I have not allowed myself to buy any hardcover from her since Incubus Dreams.
Absolutely
I find my recent trips to the bookstore-instead of my usual “I want that, and that, and ooh that looks good” I am studying the blurbs and looking for familiar authors {I’ve found a few-thats almost as good as seeing my name would be :}
I actually walked through empty handed the other day and hubby looked at me like I was an alien. “Who are you and what have you done with my wife?” LOL
I went and got a book just so he’d feel better. Really. I did it for him.
:heart: Angie and Colleen
:giggle: I just want to know if you love me as much as you love Jaci. Did you turn my books out?
What book did you buy?
Yes, Shi, I was actually at the store every day for a month making sure your book was faced out. Your book…umm…that one…what was it called again? :neener:
And I bought Jacob: The Nightwalkers by Jacquelyn Frank
This is a great list. I haven’t been to a bookstore for myself in way too long. Whenever I go, I have two twelve-year-olds and a ten-year-old with me, so I don’t get to shop for myself.
I agree with pretty much all of your personal book buying preferences…except first person, present tense. I feel like it has such an immediacy–you’re right there, in the middle of the story. But that’s just me.
The bookstore at our mall recently closed too. I commiserate.
Okay, on how you notice books, ME TOO. Same also on the LKH…
Sounds like a great trip to the bookstore, even though you only came out with one book.
Since moving to Germany, I haven’t browsed bookstores too often myself, since there’s only one English-language bookstore in the city. So most of my book-browsing is online.
First person, present-tense – what don’t you like about this?
Have a good day.
Caylynn & Dragonheart
http://caylynn.blogspot.com
http://dragonheartsdomain.blogspot.com
As a mom who goes through this on a regular basis, I can say that if books are your children’s wantwantwant of choice, it’s no different than children whining for PS2 games or Hot Wheels.
And I HATE first person, present tense. Since I don’t read pages in the bookstore—only the blurb—I’ve gotten burned by that.
Aww…thanks for your support! I have an E-Book habit to maintain ya know. Seems some Burton chick has me hooked. I am thinking about inventing an electronic device that will allow me to mainline her stuff in my sleep.
Jaci, I will turn your books face front if you will turn mine
I have to get in on this Thursday Thirteen thing. It’s way fun! And I have to say I love B and N…truly I do, but browsing for hours and reading book backs is what I love, too, and while the heart is willing, the stamina is not. Long story short, Amazon is the only way I can browse in comfort hour after hour these days. Which kinda sucks cause don;t you just LOVE the smell of a bookstore?! :kissie:
And i keep forgetting to hit the darn notify me box! :whip2: