Monday, August 4, 2014

Judging book by its cover


Yesterday I went to a book store and started browsing for books. In course of action, I realized my predictable nature and instantly realized how I decide to buy my books. Not that it matters, but here is list of things which determine if I am going to buy the book.


  1. If your book name has ‘Dark’, ’Night’, ‘Silent’ or similar words I am going to pick up your book to read     the synopsis. (‘Into the Silent Land’, ‘Into the Woods’ ,’Silence of Lambs’ ,’Midnight’s Children’, ‘The    Graveyard Book’)
  2. If I pick up a book and in the back page, Instead of synopsis I see an Ann Coulter like smiling pic of blonde Author, I am going to put it down. (Little Sexist?)
  3. If your book cover is overtly colorful or happy, I will refuse to acknowledge its presence. So much for not judging it by cover.
  4. If book cover has a picture of pretty girl who looks happy, I am not going to buy the book. Caricatures on other hand are fine.
  5. If book name is a paradox or difficult to comprehend ( in spite of knowing all words) you have my interest (‘ Fragile Eternity, A Brief History of Time’, ’Wings of Fire’, ’This Book Doesn't Exist’)
  6. If it is about marriage/ family life , good chances I will not even complete the synopsis ( though I did read Freedom a Novel and regretted it )
  7. If you have recommendations and quotes from people and publication I don’t know about, I am going to trust you even less than a book with no quotes /reviews from anyone.
  8. If I have not heard about you and your book has small fonts, I am not going to be very inclined to buy it.
  9. If books has less than 250 pages or more than 1000 pages, I am going to be more skeptical
  10.  Adding 10 point just for my OCD, If it is collection of short stories, I would probably read one story and then not but it.




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