Question #3
How important are titles? Will a catchy title make you try a book? What about settings? For historical novels, what is your favorite setting? Are there any story locations that would keep you from buying a novel?
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June 1st, 2006 at 2:02 am
Titles may catch my attention, but they are not why I buy or try a book. The back cover blurb and excerpts are usually what get me to try a book.
Settings do not affect my interest either. I like a variety of settings. I love Scotland, England, the Old West, etc.
I cannot think of any setting that would keep me from buying a book. If the story sounds interesting, then I will buy or read it.
June 1st, 2006 at 9:11 am
Titles and covers will catch my attention but the actual story will be what hooks me. If I think the story sounds really good I will try it.
Sometimes settings will also catch my attention as well. I love regencies. However, again it is the story that will ultimately hook me. I have read books in a variety of settings. It is great to travel while sitting in the comfort of my home. If the story is intriguing enough then the setting or time period won’t turn me off. For instance , I am not into prarie or civil war settings but if the story is great I will try books in those settings.
June 1st, 2006 at 10:19 am
Though I find some titles to be quite clever, the title is not what makes me buy a book. The story does. I love historical romance and my favorite settings are England and Scotland. There are no locations that would keep me from buying a book.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Titles and especially covers are eyecatcher, when I browse through a bookstore when I am in the US, but normally I have to depend on additonal information (coverblurb) from the net, when I have to buy my books from Amazon Germany.
My favorite settings are England and Soctland
June 2nd, 2006 at 6:05 pm
A title of a book may catch my attention but it is the main plot that I look for when reading a book. I love to read all sorts of different settings so I don’t have one particular favorite….I like city/country(small town)/US/ England/Scotland/Ireland/ect. I think its fun to find books that are set in different places! And I havn’t read a historical romance yet that I have been disappointed in
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:42 am
I don’ look at titles and often don’t remember them. What I do remember is the story and whether I enjoyed it or not. Also, I remember the author’s name so I know to look for her/his next book if I liked the way he/she writes.
I do not care for time travel, if that can be considered a setting. Other than that I enjoy visiting different locations through reading. It is a pleasure after the end of the day to be taken to a different place with a good book.
June 7th, 2006 at 9:50 am
Like most everyone else, titles may initally grab my attention, but it is what’s inside that counts! I have to like the synopsis to actually buy the book.
And as far as preferences for historicals..I am not choosy at all! I like all settings..
but I am partial to England and Scotland. Setting would not stop me from buying a story that sounded interesting…I am a very open minded reader.
June 7th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
A title will grab my attention like the others said. I like settings that take place in and of the European countries. I can’t think of any story location that I would not want to read about.
June 7th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
I’m glad to see that all of you care more about the story inside the book than the cover or the title! Still, from a marketing point of view I guess titles and covers are important since there are so many books on the shelves and a reader has to notice a book and pick it up to buy it. For me, certain books will catch my eye over other ones but it’s definitely the story description and maybe sneaking a look at the first page of the book that makes me decide whether or not to try it. Friends recommendations are important too.
As for settings, I’m sure you can all tell I love England and Ireland
June 9th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Titles don’t compel me to buy a book. Reading the back blurb and excerpts peak my interest. I love England, Scotland and the Old West. I can’t think of any setting that I wouldn’t read.
June 10th, 2006 at 10:15 am
A catchy title will make me pick up a book in the bookstore but not necessarily buy it. I always go to the store with a list and don’t sway from that. It’s too costly if I do. haha! If I see something else, then I write the title down and go home and read more about it.
If the story is good then it can set anywhere and I’ll be happy. I’ve never been out of the U.S. so it’s always interesting to read about something new.
June 12th, 2006 at 10:08 am
I love titles that catch one’s attention(attention grabbing) but go by the blurb at the back of the book or a review I have read or excerpt.
If the story is to my liking it can be set in any location.
June 12th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Usually titles don’t affect me much. I tend to go to authors I already know or try new ones when I received good recommendations, or read an excerpt that hooked me and made me wish to read the rest.
I like a lot of settings, but my favorites are England, Egypt, India and American historicals. I can’t think of a particular location that would keep me from buying a book.
June 21st, 2006 at 10:22 pm
I agree with those who are more attracted to the back cover material [and the inside ‘teaser’] than the title of a book. Regency England is my favorite setting, by far. Times and locations nearest these will draw my attention, also.
I do tend to rely on authors whose works I already know, but I am always willing to try a new Regency [as long as it doesn’t appear to be too tame, too flippant
or too depressing — I hate slogging through hundreds of pages of angst and misunderstandings, to have the happy ending magically appear on the last page].
What puts me off certain authors’ works is the poor editing, spelling, and other misuses of language and “information.” In the past couple of weeks I’ve read of cardinals and blue jays in an English garden, a woman prostating herself on a chaise, and the proverbial American confusion between a beast of burden and one’s derriere! Since I lived in England for five years, perhaps I’m overly sensitive about such matters.