AAR #1

Author's Advice for Readers

Tip #1 - 3 Steps to Finding Your Next Favorite Book

1. Get recommendations from friends. 

They know you. Friends know your likes and dislikes. They even know if you're patient enough to wade through fifty pages of background info-dumps before you get to the first exciting part. Friends know if you want action on the first page. Friends are a reasonably reliable resource. (Hah, alliterations!)

2. Read the first few pages or chapters before you buy.

Read the first few pages or a chapter excerpt to help you decide if you like the author's style or their storytelling. Does the plot grab you. Is the main character someone you can care about? Do you want to know more? Did the author hook you? These are all important factors if you're going to enjoy the book.

• Take the time in your local book store to sit down and read. I've been known to sit on the floor, cross-legged with a book in hand, even in some of the larger retailers. Sometimes people walk by and give me an odd glance, but most of the time, observers smile.
• Try Amazon's "Look Inside" feature or try a Nook sample. I typically won't by a book if I can't get a peek inside. 

3. Read reviews with caution.

Yes, I did write that. Anyone can review a book. 

Be skeptical of all those 5 star ratings. Just because a book is rated highly, doesn't mean it's good. In an ideal system, if all reviewers were honest, it would. But they're not.

A good review contains 2 main elements, the rating and why. If you see a 5 star review, you should also see reasons why the reviewer gave that book such a strong rating. Similarly, a negative review needs to have reasons why the book didn't meet the readers expectations.

Have you ever heard someone say this? "I gave it 5 stars, but I haven't read the book yet." I asked them, "How can you review a book you haven't read?" It happens - so read reviews with caution.

There are so many good books on the market by established authors and newbies, alike. However, there are also many self-published books available that, to quote Anne Lamott, are nothing more than "shitty first drafts.” It's sad that these works make it to the market without so much as a beta read by an editor. I understand the occasional misplaced comma or transposed letters, but there is no excuse for inconsistencies in plot or character. I recently read a book, or tried to read it I should say, with absolutely no plot. I read a third of the book and didn't know who the main character was or why I should care about them. I didn't finish the book. Sometimes it's better to just put it down and not force yourself to the end.

Time is valuable. Wasting it reading a poorly written or unedited novel is unacceptable. In my experience, after reading a mediocre work, it can take me weeks to recover. When I am ready to pick up another book, I am tentative. Thankfully, with a little scrutiny, there are many reads worthy of the time investment.

Use the available resources and you're sure to find your next favorite book.

Happy Reading!