RSVP Blog

The kids are with me this weekend and they are finally asleep. Love them.

I sometimes wonder why we buy a book. Advertising, critical reviews, the need to be trendy, bookclubs, our friends (maybe peer pressure), bookshops and their means of displaying books (maybe the incentives they receive to sell a book). We live in a commercial world. And you have to wink to be noticed!

I bought a book a few months ago that had a great cover, It promised brooding, unsettling adventure: Dracula as Jack the Ripper. It came with great reviews. However, I have yet to finish it. I really found it hard going (OK, I also skimped on Tolkien’s the Silmarillion), and perhaps was misled by the cover, the reviews, and the display in the bookshop.

Then again, the paperback cover of Perfume misled me. It was unattractive to me, whereas I found the book to be captivating, unique, insightful, and sad.

So it goes without saying that I try not to judge a book by its cover, or its place in the bookshop, or the reviews that you find on bookcovers.

Posted by: ilikechocolate500 at February 28, 2010 2:03 AM

A pleasant surprise was reading some of the books in the Bombshell deries put out by Mills and boon. Being a guy i actually enjoyed reading some of them like the medusa project

Posted by: tangaroa81 at December 26, 2009 6:30 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at June 5, 2009 1:33 PM

when you have finished reading Pride & Prejudice and Zombies you should try reading Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Posted by: notahothouseflower at December 22, 2009 11:28 PM

Posted by: tigergirl18 at November 25, 2009 9:57 PM

Ok, you say it's ok to judge a book by it's cover ...but you go for author and title??? does this mean that you don't read anything by an unknown author or an not- popular author and not-known title, it seems to me you are the least likely to comment on anything which is pre movie! or post movie?
smell the roses and take the time to to sift through all that garbage. garbage is good!

Posted by: barataria at December 4, 2009 11:33 PM

Cover art is supposed to draw you in and say "hey, this book is great and you should buy me". It's the typical marketing ploy. It's not only books but anything and everything you buy is like this. The true "test" if you will, is sifting through all that garbage and finding something that you think is worth it. There are some real gems out there if people would only stop and take the time to smell the roses. I don't just mean books... we as a society are so driven towards looks that we forget that sometimes the simple things that we usually take for granted are often the best. :) BTW, I too usally go for author's name and title rather than the cover.

Posted by: tigergirl18 at November 25, 2009 9:57 PM

I'm a Patrick O'Brian fan and loved the Geoff Hunt covers and they brought the series to my attention in the first place.

A couple of years ago they came out with a new photographic design of a troubled man for the covers and it just didn't represent the series at all.

Covers do make a real difference and having ones that reflect the nature of the book, author and audience is a real art. I think kurlyg is right with the comment that sometimes the artist doesn't get to read the book, nor get a good brief and it shows.

Posted by: creativegirlme at September 21, 2009 7:31 PM

You have to keep in mind that the cover artist probably hasn't read the book and may not have been particularly well briefed on the content, thus some covers are totally out of step with the actual storyline. I tend to go for author's name and /or title.

Posted by: kurlyq at August 28, 2009 11:02 PM

Compared to Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters era, I think we are becoming 'lazy' in judging literature to read. From what I can tell, the original covers of books from the forementioned authors were pretty bland. So it makes me question what caught the eye of the prospective reader to pick the book up, let alone to start reading the content of say Wuthering Heights?

Posted by: loyalcreativeladyk at June 28, 2009 10:45 PM

I guess when it comes to a book, the author is banking on potentially good sales to keep him/her in the lifestyle to which he/she is accustomed or to just give him/her enough money to pay the bills so the cover could be extremely important as far as attracting customers. The title does need to stand out boldly I feel and certainly good colour and content draws my eye to a cover. Of course that does not always mean what lies between the pages will be worth reading but if we have picked the book up to glance at it, we can read the "forward" and determine from that if it has peaked our interest enough to buy it.

When it comes to people, I don't think we can always "judge a book by its cover" yet too often we tend to do this, myself included although I do try to keep an open mind mostly about decisions I make about people until I get to know them.

First impressions do though seem to stay with us and we would be more inclined to think someone who is nicely dressed would be more interesting and a nicer person than one who is covered with tattoos and piercings however that is not always the case. Until we have spoken to the person and learned more about them we cannot really ascertain what type of person they are. I don't think things will change much in that respect although I think generally speaking we do tend to "judge a book by its cover" even though appearances can be deceptive. Also could be a sheep in wolves clothing lol!

Posted by: sweetmixture at June 6, 2009 10:09 AM

Lately I've been more attracted by titles (and there is no connection here to judging people).

I really liked, "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death" by MC Beaton (Marion Chesney), and I'm about to start, "The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro".

My most recent audiobook is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: a Regency Romance Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!" by Seth Grahame-Smith, Jane Austen. This will be my next themed amusement (after I work my way through the Sopranos DVDs and The Sopranos Family Cookbook). I'm going to read "Pride and Prejudice", then watch the BBC miniseries (has to be the one with Colin Firth ... mmmm Mr Darcy and the lake), then watch "Lost in Austen" and lastly, listen to "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". Like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, really.

(and, yes, it will be a lot of DVD watching even over months, but I spin or knit at the same time ... well, that's my rationalisation, anyway!)

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at June 5, 2009 1:33 PM

You know I always judge a book by its cover. Books cost me time and money; and you can tell a lot from a cover. You can see the author, publisher, plot, character, genre; even the production values of the publishing. The cover allows you to draw on the experience of other books you have read and informs your choice - covers are good things. A cover might not guarantee a good read; they do however lessen the chances of a bad one. But this is not what we are talking about here is it?

When it comes to judging people, which is of course the topic of discussion, I have observed a certain dichotomy. While we may take a long time to reach a conclusion about what we do like; what we do not can often be recognised quite quickly. I think, as with our book based analogy, we are informed by past experience to recognise much in another from that initial visual impression and those first few words of conversation. Things like tastes, preferences, attitudes, interests and a whole bunch of things that influence compatibility. Certainly we might deceived by a carefully constructed 'cover' but it is about limiting the chances a bad choice not guaranteeing a good one - after all there is an investment in this choice too; an investment that most of us would hold more valuable than money.

All I can say in the end is that if the book is not selling it might be wise to return to the cover design; make sure it reflects the truth of the writing.

Posted by: edgerunner at May 26, 2009 11:36 AM

Coulrophobia is fear of clowns. Apparently it is quite a common phobia. I don't like clowns but I am not phobic. They just don't look friendly to me and with all that aggressive paint on their faces look macabre. My youngest daughter would scream like mad if she ever saw people dressed up as vegetables. I took her to the opening of a fresh fruit barn once with all the bells and whistles, balloons etc.,and she saw a tomatoe walking around and that was it..........we were out of there fast. She still hates them and can't stand seeing Santa Clause costumes either.

Posted by: iaminperth at May 16, 2009 5:33 PM

I judge a book by its cover always..then take the time to get to know it.. no rush.... but i need to like the look of it first.

Posted by: barataria at May 1, 2009 9:28 PM

OK ... lets get this right..., Customs are something which you are bought up with.. you know .... inheritence etc..something of your past which makes you...you! .... if you don't have inheritence....then who are you...... have you got it yet Dizzy??
Customs and inheritence are good things to have.... ..

Posted by: angela11 at April 9, 2009 8:05 PM

dizzy.. .. you got it!.. now apply that to religious sales people.

Posted by: angela11 at April 2, 2009 6:25 PM

s the painted-on smile, there is such a huge potential for it to be masking evil, or we could all just be suffering from Stephen King related paranoia. In the novel, from memory (mine is none too reliable) Pennywise was more about purging society of anyone who was considered deviant, am I right? Homosexuals, prostitutes, and the children. I found the novel more disturbing than the film. Re: LOTR Elves, I am now considering my dislike of them a reaction the their 'children of the corn-like' physical appearance as opposed to their singing. I have also become quite taken with the idea of singing people into your home by way of greeting, thanks for that Angela. Ive found it quite effective for keeping door to door telstra salesmen at bay

Posted by: dizzyme at April 2, 2009 10:43 AM

I haven't seen the movie, 'It'. I was into the books before the films, and one film (can't remember which, now) seemed so 'B' grade. I suppose that's the problem with horror stories. 'Misery' was a great film, though. I'll have to check out 'It' now ... wonder if I can get past the clown ....

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at April 1, 2009 7:05 AM

When i was little girl and lived in Sydney , my parents would often take us to Luna Park. I used to look at that clowns mouth and get scared, then I'd see the b......y clown at the turnstiles and kicked and screamed becaause i didn;t want to walk past him but even more, i didn't want him to see me!
eventually they'd drag me in and all was ok.
Phew , survived the clown again.
By the way the IT movie, turned me onto Steven King movies, never read his books tho.
and Legolas in LOTR.... is an archer & the elves were required to be represented in the task, the best in Middle Earth, thats why he was chosen .
It's been a long time since I read this (1974)
I don't know anyone who has the original music by a Swede called Bo Hansen, other than myself.(on LP & CD) there is a lot I have forgotten , but I picked it up tonight and it might very welll be worht another read. soon. a))

Posted by: angela11 at March 30, 2009 10:13 PM

Not sure about the singing, though it's a nice custom in our world ... guess it's a case of you'd have to be there ... but I do find the elves interesting in that they seem to have a darker side. Legolas has to be a kind of assassin elf. They mostly seem sinister to me, in spite of their beauty in the books.

Similar to clowns for me ... I find them very creepy and a bit sinister. When I was younger, I couldn't understand why so many people thought they were funny and harmless. Reading Stephen King's 'It' was very interesting ... Pennywise the Clown ... I felt like telling everyone, "See! See!" There must be a term for clown-phobic.

Posted by: lafileuse at March 30, 2009 8:05 PM

Dizzy..... These would be welcoming songs like some native cultures here on first earth.
for instance, the natives of Papua and Pacific Is sing when they know strangers are approaching their village, as a welcoming/ greeting.
It's nice, but as city dwellers I think we've lost this type of hospitality but put on music when we have company, Sound familiar?
Are yu sure it's their singing or just the elves themselves that peev you ? Elves can be like that ... he a )

Posted by: angela11 at March 30, 2009 11:51 AM

Here's an unrelated question for you. Is anyone else irritated by Tolkiens elves, why do they have to perpetually burst into song every time they meet someone new in LOTR?

Posted by: dizzyme at March 29, 2009 8:20 PM

Yep. ole Richard sure has a way with everything. a born entrepenaur (think I spelt right) he started when still in high school with a magazine fo rstudent called 'Student"' would love to get my hands on a copy of one.
He started an advisory board in the mag so students /young people could write in with questions on contraception, legal rights, sex, the a word 'abortion' parents etc which were unspeakable back then, and this board still operates today, well at the time of writing his auto in 1998. The prologue is titled 'Screw it, lets do it" !
then went into records because it peeved him that he had to go to dept stores and deal with old farts who didn't know anything about young peoples music, so he purchased the back catalogues and started his record mail order busines , which is now history
The name 'Virgin' came about when he and his fellow school mates tried to come up with a name and a girl said ' we're all virgins at business." He has made it sound so easy but there was a lot resistance from the cronies in particular Lord King from British Airways who tried many times to put Virgin Airlines out of business.
anyway,I highly recommend it,
Richest Man mainly dealt with being a good empoyee and saving,paying off debt, and seeing opportunites, the good thing is it gives you a formua to get ahead,does make sense also. A))

Posted by: angela11 at March 27, 2009 5:02 PM

Posted by: angela11 at March 13, 2009 6:50 PM

One tempering the other? :-D

Must find Richard Branson's book ... I can't look at a picture of him smiling and not smile back. I've suspended the serious stuff for a while (well, except for the massage text books) and have been reading a great book about natural dyes, and listening to an audiobook by Tara Moss, Covet.

Posted by: lafileuse at March 25, 2009 8:22 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at February 18, 2009 8:00 AM
Yes, the Richest Man in Babylon and then Richard Branson's auto 'Losing my Virginity'.
Two completely conflicting points of view.
One on how to save, work hard,be methodical the other, make your dreams a reality , bborrow, work & play hard! loved it!. A )

Posted by: angela11 at March 13, 2009 6:50 PM

Sooooo ...... read any good books, lately?

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at February 18, 2009 8:00 AM

I think it's important to find the right cover for a book because this is the first introduction the reader has to the concept the author is trying to communicate. It's part of the "experience" of reading. It's an essential ingredient and when authors take the time to find a design that fits, it can really supplement that experience.

I would say that covers have a strong influence on me in that I am more inclined to read something if it catches my eye, or piques my interest. I don't think it's wrong to be attracted to the external, but I do think it is shallow for this to be the only judge of something's worth.

one example would be the silverseries of penguin classics. another would be the selection of artists to do covers of work by David Mitchell...just sublime.

Posted by: dstyleseighty at February 3, 2009 10:16 PM

Posted by: docalfa at January 25, 2009 10:01 PM

"... I love to go wandering around bookstores looking at what's on offer... and nothing beats a good abstract or introduction.

I agree, always good. :-D

Online-wise I've been following recommendations at librarything.com, and checking out what other people in my FriendFeed list are reading. (Good for expanding musical horizons, too. I was introduced to Steam Punk through FriendFeed.) I also follow up on my favourite authors.

Posted by: secretcreek at January 19, 2009 11:52 PM

"What is there to be learned in the 2000s from reading romantic novels besides escapism?"

I'd have to say that much of the fiction I like is escapist: thriller, crime, suspense, mystery ... and they usually have somewhere in them a relationship between two people, but I wouldn't call them romantic novels (I wouldn't call Lee Child's books romantic fiction, but Jack Reacher usually hooks up with someone in each book.) If by romantic novels, you mean those where the *primary focus* of the book is the romantic relationship, I suppose I'll be reading my first romantic novel soon ... a friend has just had her first novel published. Before I start it, I need to finish the fiction audiobook "White" by Ted Dekker, and the two non-fiction books I've started (yes, I regularly read non-fiction): Clive Hamilton's "The Freedom Paradox" and Esther Perel's "Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic". Sometimes, often actually, I just read for entertainment.

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at February 2, 2009 8:41 PM

It's a good question these days with so much stuff out there trying to capture our dollars!

I use 2 strategies - firstly, these days if you know what you are looking for, roughly, then a search of amazon or powells can give some ideas of what books are out there.

Secondly, I love to go wandering around bookstores looking at what's on offer... and nothing beats a good abstract or introduction.

And thank goodness most stores have sections that fence off the pulp material so I can avoid it safely :) :)

Posted by: docalfa at January 25, 2009 10:01 PM

I know what to look for on a book cover that will let me know it's not for me. It's important to know what you don't want.

a) This author will knock xyz of his/her perch
b) A contentender for the Booker or Miles Franklin award
c) Won the Booker/ Miles Franklin award, or any other award for that matter.
d) Won the Noble Prize for literacy.

But that's just me.

Posted by: stephen54 at January 23, 2009 11:53 PM

Hello All

Firstly, this is addressed to secretcreek.

Generalisations are dangerous and rarely win you friends worth keeping. Perhaps the women you know have no interest in the things you describe and, if that's the case, perhaps you need to expand the circles you move in. In regards to what can be derived from reading romantic novels – very little, but when has the educational content of an activity ever been its measure?

Now to judging books by their covers 

I must admit a beautiful cover catches my eye! However I never buy a book without reading the blurb or, if it’s one of those strange books without a blurb, the first page.
I can’t stand covers with bubble writing on them or those darn cut-out covers, ugh, those drive me nuts. The most effective cover is durable, true to the story inside and as timeless as possible.

Posted by: siobhanirwin at January 23, 2009 10:29 AM

Just like there may be many different things about people that spark your interest, I find myself responding to many things about a book to get to the point of picking it up. The cover's just one facet.
I have a rule of thumb, however. I don't read books that have the author's name in a larger sized font than the title. Perhaps that's like some RSVP members who place excessive emphasis on some aspect of themselves that I value less than others...

Posted by: independentmiss68 at January 22, 2009 11:46 PM

Posted by: secretcreek at January 19, 2009 11:52 PM
:0) For your info, I dont read romantic novels. Surprised? Yes, like you said what to get out of them? More dreams, more tears? :0) Oh, how boring for ones brain!

Posted by: ahappyending at January 20, 2009 7:38 PM

Hi, digest these two propositions, cogitate and respond. Why do so few women seem to be interested in regularly reading non fiction, history, sciences,anthropology etc? 2. What is there to be learned in the 2000s from reading romantic novels besides escapism?

Posted by at January 19, 2009 11:42 PM

Posted by: secretcreek at January 19, 2009 11:52 PM

Posted by: softfeather at January 13, 2009 12:56 AM and Posted by: softfeather at January 13, 2009 1:12 AM

My first food fight was at uni, freshman year ... though I didn't participate. Just sitting there, in the dining hall, eating my meal, when all of a sudden, there was this strange electricity ... you just knew something was going to happen! Something that might not be good to be in the middle of, but maybe ....? I just ran outside, and next thing I knew, food was flying everywhere! It was amazing!

"Fighting over the spoon" was a tradition in my house. I grew up with 3 brothers - no sisters. My mother was a true diplomat.

"vanilla bean icecream, fresh mango mush & lotsa choc topping" Mmmmmm! :-D

"Entree & desert are my most favourite sections" ... a woman after my own heart! Two of my favourite desserts are from an hotel in Scotland. The first was called "Whisky Sour Cakes" and can be approximated by a doughnut (the unglazed, dusted with cinnamon and sugar kind), doused with a combination of whisky and maple syrup (must have been a Canadian connection there), and topped with whipped cream (the real stuff), served warm. The second was about the simplest dessert I can imagine, but blissful with it. A scoop of orange sorbet, topped with Cointreau ... *absolute* bliss. :-D

Never seen these in a book.

Posted by: lafileuse at January 13, 2009 7:57 PM

PS. Sorry I forgot to mention I enjoy cook books. The cover is not what sucks me in.

Entree & desert are my most favourite sections. Something exciting to tempt the palate. Then a desert made in heaven to finish the meal so you feel completely satisfied at the end..... Naturally I prefer fresh & home grown.

Yep cook books are bliss...... :)

Posted by: softfeather at January 13, 2009 1:12 AM

Ohhhhhh yes..... food fights.... stinking hot nights like we've had in WA brings to mind visions of sitting on the floor in front of an open fridge door having a food fight.... my fridge is packed with so many delights I'm sure there would be something to tempt a man to play with. (I'm a midnight huntress for vanilla bean icecream, fresh mango mush & lotsa choc topping). Is it suck, lick, slurp? or the other way around?

Personally I detest those spray cans of whipped cream but I'm sure I could relent for a good cause!.....

hmmmmmm :)))) SF

Posted by: softfeather at January 13, 2009 12:56 AM

Posted by: istj54 at January 11, 2009 9:55 PM

That's OK, if I get the whipped cream and the chocolate ... we can fight over who licks the spoon!

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at January 12, 2009 1:04 PM

...love Helen Mirren...could look at a whole calendar of her for a year

Posted by: unknownauthor at January 11, 2009 11:19 PM

Lafileuse...that's the one...food for thought...would be fun...I think...maybe not...bags the cupcakes...you can have the buns:))

Posted by: istj54 at January 11, 2009 9:55 PM

Posted by: istj54 at January 10, 2009 9:50 PM

The Helen Mirren Calendar Girls? ... Fun to think about!

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at January 11, 2009 7:29 PM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at January 11, 2009 10:38 AM

Oh ... yeh!
:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at January 11, 2009 7:07 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at January 10, 2009 5:04 PM

Death by Mud Cake would be better ..........Chocy OD big time but what a want to go :)

Posted by: outbackdrifter at January 11, 2009 10:38 AM

lafileuse...pictures from calendar girls come to mind:))))))

Posted by: istj54 at January 10, 2009 9:50 PM

I never lend books, I learnt my lesson a long time ago when I lent Slapstick by Vonnegut to a friend and never got it was never returned.
I recently prurchased a book for a friend who expressed an interest in reading, after I told her about it.
I also never give away or donate boks.
they are mine . all mine
A personality glich perhaps but I'm happy with it. It stays.
A

Posted by: angela11 at January 10, 2009 8:19 PM

The covers of cookbooks are almost always attractive. Makes the books hard to resist!

(Hmmm ... maybe I should remake my profile as a recipe ... wonder if I would get away with a picture of the Death By Chocolate Cake as a profile picture?)

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at January 10, 2009 5:04 PM

When choosing a book I do consider the cover but it is one of several considerations including:

Is it based on what I am interested in.

Does it have an interesting title.

Is it a books in a series - read the next one.

What the book summary on the back of the book says.

Is it a comfortable reading level.

Is it an author I like.

The picture on the cover.

Has someone recommended the book.

Posted by: brusewain at January 6, 2009 10:45 PM

Never lend books - Just consider them given.

If I give a book as a present I make sure I read it first. That way we both enjoy!

Just don't damage it or "horror" bend over the pages to bookmark them!

It's a present remember. It must look pristine.

Better not read it in the bath

Posted by: stephen54 at January 6, 2009 12:41 AM

H2H read badluck and trouble by Lee CHild over christmas eve and christmas. Just back from Mount Gambier. Off to Sydney via the coast from tomorrow. so no reading for some time.
Stephen you are correct. It is difficult to give books away. But it is worse when someone borrows a book and then passes it on to someone else and the book disppears. Lost "Woman of substance" by Barbara Taylor Bradford that way.

Posted by: melrsvp at January 5, 2009 8:14 AM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 25, 2008 2:21 PM

I re-read All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Remarque over Christmas..well i bought it for my son and couldnt resist reading it.

It reminded me of being back in school as we studied it back then.

I loved it then and still enjoyed the read :)

Posted by: sweetenuff67 at January 4, 2009 9:59 PM

:o))) Hello ....I havent been in here for some time. I had "given up" on RSVP ...but back again...dumb I know...sucker for punishment?

BOOKS...at the moment I am reading OP's(other peoples) the Twilight series..up to book 3...easy read for holidays....and of course one book that I picked out for myself? "Adultery for Beginners"...what does that tell you??? And of course another one I just finished about Dating "It's not you its Him"....

Anyhow hello all and hope the hols have been good to you...back to work for me tomorrow ..!! Yeeehhaaaaa

Posted by: sunkissedqldr at January 4, 2009 9:32 PM

Books I got for Christmas (OK, one is a text I ordered weeks ago and it happened to arrive just before Christmas, but I wrapped it up just the same :-D ):

James Patterson's The Midnight Club (haven't started it yet, but I've liked his books, especially the Alex Cross series); Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts' Spinning in the Old Way: How (and why) to make your own yarn with a high-whorl handspindle; and Braun and Simonson's Introduction to Massage Therapy.

Posted by: lafileuse at January 4, 2009 7:43 PM

Posted by: stephen54 at December 28, 2008 4:48 PM
"Giving away books is like giving away friends"

I feel that way, but I'm giving away a lot lately. Mostly texts and reference books that I haven't looked at in years. I have boxes of books here that I have no room for (as well as boxes in storage at my brother's place in the US). Until a few years ago, the only textbook I ever got rid of was one called "Fluvial Geomorphology", and as I was pretty sure I wouldn't need to make any mathematical models of the way water moved down a slope in the future, I figured it was safe to give away.

As well as "Books I Wish I Had Not Given Away" we could have "Books I Will Never Give Away" and "Books I Wish To Hell I Could Remember Who I Lent Them To".

Posted by: lafileuse at January 4, 2009 7:32 PM

H2H, my bro gave me Christos Tsiolkas' The Slap. Fantastic book. Spent Boxing Day reading it from cover to cover. I highly recommend it.

Stephen, I partially agree. Giving away some books is like giving away friends. There are others though that I have been glad to send on their way.

Posted by: richpalette at January 4, 2009 6:57 PM

Maybe we could have a blog of "Books I wish I had not given away"

When I said at a family Bar-B-Q that I had given a load of books away to the local library my dad said "Giving away books is like giving away friends"

I think he was right!

Posted by: stephen54 at December 28, 2008 4:48 PM

I didn't get it for Christmas but I did read "The Perect Storm" by Sebastian Junger - Which was a bit all over the place but I didn't put it down until I finished it.

Posted by: stephen54 at December 28, 2008 3:49 PM

I didn't get it for Christmas but I did read "The Perect Storm" by Sebastian Junger - Which was a bit all over the place but I didn't put it down until I finished it.

Posted by: stephen54 at December 28, 2008 2:17 PM

H2H...I got a Val McDermid novel but have managed to finish it already...what with all my socialising...and no blogs to read...may have to hit the book shops later to see what I can find for the New Year...

Posted by: istj54 at December 28, 2008 12:09 PM

While I think it's true you can't tell a book by it's cover (will I enjoy it?) it certainly helps quickly puts it on the interest/no interest "readometer"

If it wasn't so, publishers could save a lot of money by just binding books in brown paper with a synopsis on the back.

Posted by: stephen54 at December 27, 2008 4:05 PM

Anyone get some good reads for Chrissy?

T:)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 25, 2008 2:21 PM

This isn't exactly the slowest of the blogs, but I think it's in the running.

Started reading "What Could He Be Thinking? How a Man's Mind *Really* Works" by Michael Gurian. Interesting but I think he may be generalising a bit ... really needs to be discussed with someone with a background in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology - so, not many clues here.

I'm 3/4 of the way through Ted Dekker's "Red" (second in the Trilogy: "Black", "Red" and "White") on audiobook. Interesting theme ... parable, really. Hadn't read any of his books before.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 14, 2008 6:44 PM

Last month I was reading another interesting history book "America's Hidden History; Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation" by Kenneth C. Davis. It was a real eye opener ... especially about some of the major players like George Washington. Legend has it that he was famous for being a great commander and telling the truth, but it seems he was reckless and a liar, covering up a war crime with a lie to disguise his hand in starting the French and Indian War (AKA the Seven Years War in Britain). *Very* interesting book.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 13, 2008 7:47 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:08 PM
Thank you! How nice to hear this. :0) You know I am quite interested in history or that kind. And I so love travelling. :0) Yes, I know I have said that. :0)

And thank you, too, angela11. :0)

Posted by: ahappyending at December 12, 2008 12:00 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:08 PM

I think you're right, wasn;t Mexico called Alta California when the Spanish missionaries settled along the west coast.

will have to look this up to be sure.
A :)

Posted by: angela11 at December 11, 2008 10:02 PM

Posted by: andnow at December 10, 2008 6:43 PM

"... I thought this was a book review blog,not a geography lesson! you could always write a book about your experiences around the world,then we could all review it ..."

Apologies. The posts were getting a bit thin on the ground ... and the topic of German developed from a post about a novel in German. The blogs tend take people where they want to go.

... and one more geography post in reply (even includes a book review):

Posted by: ahappyending at December 9, 2008 1:15 PM

" ... they say that California belonged to Mexico before ..."

It first belonged to Spain, when Mexico itself belonged to Spain, and then to Mexico before the Bear Flag Revolt that saw it become part of the US. (Now that is an interesting subject ... was a kind of keystone cops kind of revolt.) This says nothing of the Russian settlement (Fort Ross) north of San Francisco, or that it is believed (or at least used to be believed) that Francis Drake landed at - wait for it - Drake's Bay and claimed California for the British. A good book to read about some aspects of Californian history is "The Last Days of the Late Great State of California" ... can't remember the author. It is written as if California finally was destroyed in that earthquake that is often talked about, and relates how it used to be. (I particularly like the end imagined for the then Governor Ronald Reagan.)

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:08 PM

I thought this was a book review blog,not a geography lesson! you could always write a book about your experiences around the world,then we could all review it :]
regarding the actual topic:-i definitely choose a book by its cover.If it is visually pleasing or interesting then i check out the title then read the blurb on it.I loved the 'Marley and me' book cover,drew me in straight away.Mind you that wouldn't be hard as i am a dog lover:]

Posted by: andnow at December 10, 2008 6:43 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 9, 2008 8:05 AM
:0) Oh, yes, definitely, good to know a bit of the native tongue in a country we visit. But dont worry too much, as people speak English in Quebec (you meant Canada, right) :0) It is a very small city, anyway, with one main hilly street featuring very French shops of that typical airy casual style, but not much fashion though. But knowing French is definitely handy if you are also visiting Montréal, a place very holy, making one feel so close to God. A place I can just get lost easily, as French is spoken and written everywhere.

:0) yes, about California, especially LA, there are inhabiting so many Spanish-speaking people. Walking in its CBD feels like in another country rather than in USA. :0) But it seems that they say that California belonged to Mexico before, being in a war between America and Spain, as such, when American won the war some Spanish people stayed and built their homes there.

It is so interesting to know a place, and it is so enjoyable travelling and seeing the world. But I have been to so many countries now that I wanted to see, so I am not keen to go for a while now, except Australia, and later, some exotic areas overseas that hopefully one day I will have chance to explore them.

Hope you have a nice and memorable journey soon. :0)

Posted by: ahappyending at December 9, 2008 1:15 PM

:-D
Know what you mean! I was born and raised in California ... so we had Spanish from kindy. By the time I got to HS, I wanted a change and took German, also did a term at uni. In that whole time, I never encountered a native speaker of German to practice with, so it slowly disappeared. Helped a bit when travelling, though. More recently, I've been studying AUSLAN and French (planning on a visit to Quebec).

The French isn't as easy as the others, and interestingly, when I'm trying to remember a French word ('learned' in the past few days) the Spanish or German equivalent will turn up instead. I think learning the new language has stirred up the detritus from the bottom of my brain! :-D

Posted by: lafileuse at December 9, 2008 8:05 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 8, 2008 6:56 PM
Talking about German, it was one of my subjects in uni. It covered the beginner level. I think I quite liked it and did quite ok, too. But never had chance to use it, so I have forgotten it completely for many years. And only a dictionary left, that I brought with me when I came to Australia. I have learned four languages besides my own. My first foreign language learned was Russian, that was taught in my 5 years of primary school, and that I really liked and did very well. But unfortunately it met the same fate of German in my memory. The first year I started high school, it was the year I learned English abc. :0) Unbelievable, now thinking about it! And it is the only foreign language that has rooted in my head! :0) I dont think it will never want to leave the cell of my brain, as it is so welcoming and accommodating. :0)

Posted by: ahappyending at December 9, 2008 12:12 AM

Ah ... Dreams ... Reading novels in German ... colour me impressed! :-D

Wish I got far enough to do that ... actually I do have a copy of Der Tod in Venedig left over from high school ... but will admit I've never read it!

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at December 8, 2008 6:56 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 6, 2008 9:43 AM

Oh...entschuldigen...

"Niemand lebt von seinen Traeumen", by Heinz G. Konsalik - original edition, 1979.

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 7, 2008 6:14 PM

Thank you for that Kurli. Yes i do like spy thrillers. mmm 1984, i was deeply buried in my physics books then. looks like my author list is continuously growing,

Posted by: melrsvp at December 7, 2008 9:49 AM

Have just completed Nelson de Mille's

"The Talbot Odyssey"If you enjoy spy thrillers,you'll like this one (published 1984)

Posted by: kurli at December 6, 2008 6:04 PM

heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 12:41 AM - Nelson DeMille? have never read his books. mmmm i might give it a try

Posted by: melrsvp at December 6, 2008 4:39 PM

:-D

Ich bin neugierig geworden ... Der Autor ist nicht was ... Und nicht was tun?
Sorry, mein Deutsch ist sehr Rusty!

Posted by: lafileuse at December 6, 2008 9:43 AM

Aber die sage ich Ihnen nicht.

And.. if it's the 5th *full* sentence... it would be: "Ich werde mich hueten!"..

(and no, I'm not kidding) :))

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 10:13 PM

Out of interest.. has anyone read Napolean Hill?.. A

Posted by: angela11 at December 5, 2008 9:54 PM

"Whereas the Stone-Age Brits would have eaten the meatiest bits and fed the rest to their domesticated wolves, the French would have consumed all the organs, including the lungs and the brain, and every bit of the limbs, right down to the jelly inside the hooves (or whatever kind of feet mammoths have)." [Talk to the Snail by Stephen Clarke]

I was sent this as a way to fill in the status bar on Facebook profiles ... thought it might work for blogs :-D :

Rules:
* Grab the book closest to you. Now.
* Go to page 56.
* Find the 5th sentence.
* Write that sentence as your status.
* Copy these instructions as a comment to your status.
* Don't go looking for your favourite book, or the coolest one you have - just grab the closest one

Posted by: lafileuse at December 5, 2008 7:59 PM

Posted by: melrsvp at December 3, 2008 7:57 AM - Hmmm... this has really got me rattled now... could it perhaps have been "Plum Island"...by Nelson DeMille?

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 12:41 AM

heart2heart57 at December 2, 2008 9:59 PM - yes you are 100% right now. I am now curious about this boat chase book. have read all the Jason Bourne ones and i am not sure if i read something like that. Ok, if in case you get the name of the book and the author would you mind passing it on?

Posted by: melrsvp at December 3, 2008 7:57 AM

Posted by: melrsvp at December 1, 2008 9:00 PM - 'Killing Floor' I've read - it's based in a sleepy little country town in the US, right? And all the 'bad stuff' occurs in a barn out of town...

And the one with the boat chase will come to me eventually - might not have been Jack Reacher, but a similar character. Something 'Island' I think it was called...

Remaining brain-cells 5 & 4 have now shut down - 3 left :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 2, 2008 9:59 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 29, 2008 8:41 PM

" ... some kind of secret on an Island, and he and some girl came to save the day? I recall some kind of speed-boat chase, and I think he was 'house sitting' for a friend or something when the case broke."

I don't remember this, but it sounds very James Bond (or Sexton Blake!). Another good British author is Simon Beckett. His main character is a forensic anthropologist, Dr David Hunter. I think there are only two books up to now: 'The Chemistry of Death' and 'Written in Bone'. Both good reads with strong characters and interesting plots.

:-D

Posted by: lafileuse at December 2, 2008 7:45 AM

heart2heart57 at November 29, 2008 8:41 PM - Nope. Killing Floor is about Jack Reacher and counterfeit crime. He goes to this place to find about a guitarist who was killed only to get arrested for a murder he didnt commit along with a cash converter. FInds out that its his brother who was murdered. This place is run by a person who pays people to keep businesses going and he joins force with a police woman and another detective to solve the case.
Tripware - Jack Reacher goes from digging swimming pools to solving the mystery of a military person missing in action in vietnam
mmmm Boat chase - no I havent read that book yet.

Posted by: melrsvp at December 1, 2008 9:00 PM

Posted by: melrsvp at November 23, 2008 10:31 PM - Ah... yes.. of course. 'Killing Floor'. I remember reading that one now. Was it Jack Reacher who was in one with something to do with some kind of secret on an Island, and he and some girl came to save the day? I recall some kind of speed-boat chase, and I think he was 'house sitting' for a friend or something when the case broke. Tripwire rings a bell too.

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 7:12 AM - Ta for that, too...:)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 29, 2008 8:41 PM

Now to the deeper stuff. Before I choose an audiobook, I like to listen to a bit of the book as read by the narrator. After all, I will be listening to him/her for the next 6 to 12 hours or so. Can I tell how much the narrator feels the story? Is his/her character genuine? Do I even like the voice? I suppose this is like phoning a person you've decided to meet. I've just finished my first brief connection (dating sequence? not sure what to call it - I would have said relationship, but in view of the way it ended I would have to say it was something else from their point of view) with someone from RSVP. So I now have a bit of perspective - not a lot yet - on this process. Not sure how far I can carry the metaphor, but I found that you should probably be more flexible about the "cover" - the profile picture. After all, maybe they just chose a poor cover artist. If, however, you read the jacket - profile - and it sounds good or you feel something for it, you buy the book (or at least check it out from the library). If you read the book and it bears no resemblance to the jacket description, I guess you get more experienced at interpreting the jackets.

The metaphor breaks down because a person's relationship with a book is one-sided. The book doesn't have a say in who reads it. The book can't decide on what experience it will allow you to have as opposed to the experience it will allow someone else to have.

Whatever form you like your books in, or however you get to know someone ... emails, phone or in person, you ultimately have to engage with them. At every stage, even in the face-to-face meeting and dating stage, there is always the chance of misunderstanding. It is a lot easier for me to come to a snap judgement about a book than a person. I *can* judge a book by its cover ... I *can't* with a person. I choose to believe that we are all trying to do the best we can with the tools we have. I think we need to keep an open mind at each step of the process until we are sure we aren't mistaken. For the time being, I'll still browse the bookshop and keep my library card up to date.

Sorry if this is rambling. I may be a bit naive, but as I said I am just getting familiar with this process.

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 8:02 AM

I buy most of my books in ebook or audible book form these days ... read them on my Palm and listen to them on my iPod. I find that the newsletters that come out with my online 'book' shops are good for finding new titles. There free podcasts (found at the iTunes shop) that include interviews with authors and excerpts from books (which you could also listen to to find 'hardcopy' books). Then, of course, once I get 'hooked' on an author, I just look for them. :-D

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 7:19 AM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 22, 2008 8:02 PM
THAT's the guys name! He's a retired detective, or something, yeh?

I've really enjoyed Lee Child's series. Jack Reacher is a retired MP from the army. The classic 'Man with no name'/drifter/'lone samauri' character. My son put me on to the series by loaning me the first 4 books. (I've shown my gratitude since by buying each new one as they come out in paperback and sending them to him after I read them.) :-D

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 7:12 AM

Sometimes I find that an Author's name jumps out at you from the shelf for example I was in Dymocks the other day and Chris Patten's new book 'What next: Surviving the 21st Century'.

Having heard him speak at lectures and in the media and reading his book about his time in Hong Kong I find him an interesting read.

So the cover was relevant for his name I suppose but he could have been butt naked on the cover and I wouldn't have noticed!!!!

lol

Posted by: adrasteia at November 25, 2008 7:44 PM

I prefer to select a book whose covers seems to be my styles when I face the shelves .However the cover can't be the most important factor when I decide which one should be bought. Compared with that, what the book can tell me is more significant. In fact, I find the books are too expensive for students like me.
Nobody will buy a book without considering whether it's expensive or not. In china, the book are becoming more "beautiful" with the price is growing higher. I think one of the reasons is that Publishers spend lots of money on the high quality of papers and covers including the printing on the covers.
My mother told me when she was a girl the book were cheap. So~~~ She was always concentrating on the interesting stories and found untold pleasure. And she never care what the books look like. I can't image what the book shop will be like if it's full of books of ugly covers. At that time, how do the people decide which book should be pick up among thousands of books. By name? I think it's really difficult.
Maybe things are changing ~~~I only wish all the readers could own their favourite books instead of high-price “art�

Posted by: candicezhang at November 23, 2008 11:27 PM

heart2heart57 at November 22, 2008 8:02 PM - The author is Lee Child. Yes Jack Reacher is the character's name :-) :-) yes you are correct about the story. Have read one shot, die trying and tripware. now half way through Killing floor. Got to get the rest of the books as well now!!!!!!

Posted by: melrsvp at November 23, 2008 10:31 PM

Someone once said, "Judge not others lest he be judged". Rather profound that statement. Mind you, it's not always at the forefront of our conscious thoughts, especially when we are selecting a suitable partner. At my age, most of the "books" I'm interested in usually show signs of wear and tear. Some dust covers are suitably named for what their purpose was intended, while others seem to be from a different book altogether. There are some books that appear in pristine condition whilst others are only suitable for lighting a fire with, however, it's the content that really counts. Truely, some have pages missing and one needs to guess what has occurred in order to follow the story. I guess that's what makes us interesting. One thing to remember is simply this....as you browse through a list of books to read, someone is browsing through the name of your book on another list.

Posted by: sixleafclover62 at November 23, 2008 3:13 PM

Posted by: melrsvp at November 18, 2008 7:17 AM - Jack Reacher!... oh.. thankyou thankyou thankyou. Mwah Mwah Mwah. THAT's the guys name! He's a retired detective, or something, yeh? I read a couple of his escapades years ago and couldn't remember his name. From memory, sort of crimmy-romance kind of stuff? See? Things do have a habit of coming back to us. Serendipity. Thanks again - will have to see what I can find now...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 22, 2008 8:02 PM

Moniquen . - am almost half way through the House of the Spirits, and I can't stand Estaban Trueba, but Clara and Ferula are very intersting. And I was there when Barrabas died. OMG , how could he turn him into a rug and think she wouldn't feel the humility ,lovely etherreal creature she is.
' the passage of time' will tell tell. a

Posted by: angela11 at November 22, 2008 7:16 PM

on RSVP since it because "Mainstream" and attracting a wider audience that the girls I send kisses to and start talking to all mysteriously stop chatting.... Posted by: mistered at November 18, 2008 4:25 PM

It's not just the girls who are doing that mistered, it's happened to me several times. Not to mention guys answering one email and turning off their profiles or telling you they're 'taking a break' from RSVP only to be back on the site a week later... which is the RSVP equivalent of telling a girl you can't see her anymore because you're moving to Bolivia... and then turning up at the local shopping centre with your new girlfriend :-)

In the end you can't let it get to you, shrug your shoulders say 'oh well, it's their loss' and move on.

Posted by: moniquen at November 20, 2008 3:40 PM

mistered at November 18, 2008 4:25 PM
I understand how you feel about the rejection .. we all have a hard time with that at any age!
Given the huge line up on RSVP that people have to select from in this medium .. sometimes you need to renovate and re market yourself exceptionally well, if you want to stand out from the crowd!
I'd be the first to admit I take a lousy photo and have settled for the best I can find ... from the few shots I have .. but I'm pitching to a totally different market to you!
Sadly people do judge a book very much by it's cover and if they look at you and see a guy who is perhaps not presenting himself as the best he can be .. they will pass you over for someone who has put in more effort!
If you don't have a sister .. ask a mate's sister or girlfriend for a few hints on presentation ... it can only help .. and best of luck ! :-)

Posted by: waternymph47 at November 19, 2008 2:04 PM

Great to find a group of readers. I judge a book by its cover quickly.

Posted by: coffeeandcake at November 18, 2008 11:49 PM

Surely this isn't actually about books ......

Posted by: woodnwine at November 18, 2008 10:14 AM

of course not WW..that would be way too simple...

I've just about given up on rsvp now.... im over having girls tell you theyd love to catch up... then cancel on you because they are seeing someone else. Whatever happened to getting to know someone first?

Posted by: mistered at November 18, 2008 4:25 PM

agreed mistered I dont have the best pic on here and with Movember here its not getting any better but I will post the Mo one when the month is over. If anyone would like to sponsor me then that would be great. Anything to help with mens health, and yes your right. The ladies on here with some well know exceptions and those that I know and have met still judges a book by its cover. There are some that know me and I think like me a little, (even when I do get shirty when they dont let one know what is happening...Hope its all good AK and the finger is better), but in general they still are looking for handbags and show ponies

Posted by: unknownauthor at November 18, 2008 11:05 PM

Covers of books do contribute immensely. Unlike my cat, we are fascinated by only the Visual. Example, when Lord of the Rings came out as a movie - the books featuring elements of the movie sold more than the boring old print. Then who can remember Harry Potter - the last in the series had an ADULT cover for those who were too shy to be caught reading a KIDS book. Content was identical.

Posted by: distinguishedgreying at November 18, 2008 5:18 PM

Yeah I don't think this is really about books either....

Honestly though... I have found more than ever recently on RSVP since it because "Mainstream" and attracting a wider audience that the girls I send kisses to and start talking to all mysteriously stop chatting.... just when you think you are getting along great replies start taking longer and before you know it stop altogether. Then you invariably find out they've found other guys on here to talk to... who are surprise surprise "better looking".

So any girl that tells you they want a "nice guy who treats them well" is a liar. What they really mean is they want a nice looking guy who treats them half ok.

I've just about given up on rsvp now.... im over having girls tell you theyd love to catch up... then cancel on you because they are seeing someone else. Whatever happened to getting to know someone first?

Posted by: mistered at November 18, 2008 4:25 PM

Surely this isn't actually about books ......

Posted by: woodnwine at November 18, 2008 10:14 AM

heart2heart57 at November 4, 2008 11:15 PM - decided to apply this "Seek and thou shalt find" to another author. but this time wanted to read the synopsis (saves me from kicking myself later on the way home). But didnt get too far with the synopsis as the first 3 lines caught my eye "Jack Reacher. Men want to be him. women want to be with him" as ususal became curious to know about what is so special about this guy even though its only a fiction. the book is good. a page turner, finished reading in one go while waiting to board the plane to sydney and in the flight. But the conclusion was "As a woman, knowing me, I wouldnt want to be with him" but that wouldnt stop me from reading the books. so here is one more added to my list. I know one day with this spontaneous behaviour and curiosity in selecting books, i may end up with something i dont like. so i have decided ???that from now on when i look at a new author, i will read the whole synopsis!!

Posted by: melrsvp at November 18, 2008 7:17 AM

Posted by: melrsvp at November 5, 2008 8:59 AM - Yeh... and oldie, but a goodie....

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 16, 2008 8:15 PM

Posted by: moniquen at November 15, 2008 11:29 PM
Thanks for the tip, I'll let yuou know when I 've read it..) angie

Posted by: angela11 at November 16, 2008 7:01 PM

I have Innes of my Soul and the trajic Paula. waiting to read.
Posted by: angela11 at November 15, 2008 6:33 PM

I think Paula was my favorite of her books, I've read it a few times and it's a very moving story, even more so because it's true.

Posted by: moniquen at November 15, 2008 11:29 PM

Posted by Moniqueen.
I have Innes of my Soul and the trajic Paula.
waiting to read. I'm after Eva Luna also.
I wish I got to see her and hear her speak, she has a away with words and is certainly a very well informed lady. :) A

Posted by: angela11 at November 15, 2008 6:33 PM

Another Isabelle Allende fan, I'm reading Ines of my Soul at the moment. I saw her a few years ago when she came out to Australia for a writers festival. Fascinating woman.

On the topic, the cover of a book does attract you in a way, if you see something on a crowded bookshelf that catches your eye you will pick it up, but if you delve into it and it's boring, repetitive or not to your taste you'll put it back and move on (actually I think there's a dating analogy there as well)

Case in point, I picked up a book in a bookstore recently that caught my eye. Read the front cover and was interested and then flipped to the back cover and found a long gushing review from an author whose work I had read and found very juvenile. I was suddenly less interested since her idea of great writing and mine were entirely different.

I opened it up and read a few sentences which confirmed my opinion and it went back onto the shelf immediately.

In literature (and dating) a pretty cover is all very well, but it's what's inside that counts.

Posted by: moniquen at November 15, 2008 4:08 PM

I'm so glad this blog is here , I love discussing books and I don't care how anyone chooses a book, as long as we can discuss it. I don't like it when things get warped with own agenda stuff.
I've never been in a book club before and I'm interested in hearing about what other's have read and their thoughts on it. and if anyone has read the books i've read...so please join this dicussion.
At the moment I'm on The House of the Spirits by Isabelle A, the fifth of her books which I've read, but in actual fact it's the first she wrote and I'm still in awe of her historical novels . A:))

Posted by: angela11 at November 14, 2008 9:09 PM

The first thing I notice about a book is it's title. If it intrigues me I will pick it up and read the back cover, the sleeve, the price sticker and anything else that may be on it. I then decide yes or no there and then.
I don't start reading the book until I'm comfortably ensconced in my favourite chair at home. I never regret spending money on a book, even if its a total shocker.

Posted by: egernia at November 10, 2008 12:45 PM

I don't think Ive ever been enchanted by a book's cover .. more inclined to open a random page and read a little and maybe check out the blurb on the back cover to see if it's something I can read a few pages of before I fall asleep at night.

2 dear friends of mine have their own unique method of book selection .. something I could never try .. they read the last page to see how it ends and buy the book only if they like the ending.

My best girlfriend and I have been sharing books for years since our teens. Between us we collected & read every book by Agatha Christie, including her romantic novels written under the psuedonym of Mary Westamacott. From there it went to Arthur Upfields (Boney) books .. and on over the years thru various Authors we've taken a liking to and read the whole series of. No matter how far apart we are .. we mail one another a book package from time to time and send an SMS to say ,,"don't buy this book I just did and I'll pass it on to you!" Or Ive sometimes SMS from a book store to ask her when I'm not sure if Ive found one we already read!
A book so good it has you turning pages till 3am is a treasure .. especially if you don't have a warm body next to you to snuggle into and fall asleep!

Posted by: waternymph47 at November 9, 2008 2:31 AM

I entered the RSVP competition to win 'find love' by Carolin Dahlmana and guess what ... I popped in at home and there it was. I've won! Yippee!! I'll attempt to read it over the weekend since the weather forecast looks like rain. Affter a flick through the pages I think at worst it will be at least good book, but hopefully a very good one.

Posted by: astrawberry at November 7, 2008 2:49 PM

frauleinsallybowles at November 6, 2008 2:24 AM - "The really delicious thing about books of course is they ALL want to come home and snuggle up in bed with you & let you get to know them better, no matter what your RSVP profile looks like!! :-D" - I like this. Its true!

Posted by: melrsvp at November 6, 2008 8:37 AM

If you don't like books - then don't enter the bookfest.

Posted by: angela11 at November 6, 2008 8:12 AM

I used to frequent a wonderful bookshop in Kyneton called Aesop's Attic. The owners were avid readers, got to know my very broad tastes & would always have at least 3 titles to pop in my basket whenever I walked in. Many I would never have selected if left to my own devices, but very rarely a dud amongst them. Bliss!

Now if we are talking metaphors, I suppose I just need to find a matchmaker's shop, huh? Dolly Levi's Attic maybe??

The really delicious thing about books of course is they ALL want to come home and snuggle up in bed with you & let you get to know them better, no matter what your RSVP profile looks like!! :-D

Posted by: frauleinsallybowles at November 6, 2008 2:24 AM

thelynathdairy November 4, 2008 10:44 PM

And the most satisfying and interesting ones are often non fiction.

Cheers

Posted by: laughsandtalks at November 5, 2008 12:09 PM

Posted by: riversong01 at November 5, 2008 7:23 AM ... deeep !. Oh that made me stand up and listen.I thought we were talking about books.

When I ordered Catcher in the Rye and or found any of Kurt Vonegut Jnr's work, I didn't give a damn about the cover, I don't have a particular system I follow to buy a book. I like spending time in 2nd hand bookshops or market stalls searching. . Two days ago I bought 2 copies of Nostradamus' prophecies, The Gold of the Gods by Erik Dannikin and a little 80 page book with a quirky title and pic on the cover called "the man with the twisted lip" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle just because I liked the title....

Posted by: angela11 at November 5, 2008 9:23 AM

heart2heart57 at November 4, 2008 11:15 PM - that sounds familiar!

Posted by: melrsvp at November 5, 2008 8:59 AM

This is a metaphor for the often recyled "Do looks matter" blog isn't it?
Posted by: thelynathdiary at November 4, 2008 10:44 PM

of course! The books with the raciest sparkliest covers and the most seductive photo of the author most often turn out to be shallow and crap and formula, short term pleasure with the surface deemed most important, but leaves you with little satisfaction and a bad taste in the mouth. Particularly if it cost a bit to start with.
A metaphor for?
When the cover is the most important bit, the inside isn't supposed to matter too much.
Horses for courses maybe. speaking of which..................

Posted by: bluepelican at November 5, 2008 7:33 AM

When a publisher accepts a manuscript for publication, the author has no say over the cover. The PR machine takes over to market the book in the best way to appeal to the target audience and to sell.

I don't usually take much account of the cover, since I am interested in the author's work, not the publisher's marketing. I usually read the blurb and a bit about the author, to see if I am interested in the topic and the person who is sharing their thoughts, then I open it and read a section to see if I like their communication style.

Yes, Lynth, it is a metaphore, an apt one to describe how I judge people. For me, it's not the outer persona donned to sell themselves, by looking, doing, and saying the right things - it really IS what's inside that counts - the substance of the person - the real one inside.

In RSVP, the profile and pics are just covers. The only way to see what's inside is to get to know the person (in real life, not by sms xxx's or emails) to find out what they are really like. Most times (10 out of 10 so far!!) there is very little resemblance to the outer persona as presented in the profile. Which explains why I am no longer in here "searching", but back out in the real world, I suppose! But I would like to warn the newbies - don't believe everything you see in wonderland, and don't be too quick to judge! ;)

Posted by: riversong01 at November 5, 2008 7:23 AM

I've had a think about how I choose a book to read and it is definitely not by the look of the cover.

I will admit to being lured to attractive covers, but I always read the review on the sleeve or the back cover to decide whether or not to read it.

I usually choose books from the literary fiction section rather than the current top 10 or popular fiction. And then other times I choose biographies. I read the book reviews in the paper and sometimes find something that appeals and then buy that.

So no, the cover does not have the greatest influence.

Posted by: aquamanda56 at November 5, 2008 12:38 AM

Posted by: thelynathdiary at November 4, 2008 10:44 PM - Well... there ya go then...

Posted by: melrsvp at November 4, 2008 10:52 PM - Seek and thou shalt find...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 4, 2008 11:15 PM

A couple of months back while browsing the book shelf for Robert Ludlum, i was attracted by the cover of Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plante and felt that i have to have it. so bought it. kicked myself all the way back home for giving in to my craziness and getting it without even reading the synopsis. but when i started the book, i was glad i got it. now i have read one more and am reading another one. i think that i will be adding Lynda La Plante to my favorites list.

Posted by: melrsvp at November 4, 2008 10:52 PM

This is a metaphor for the often recyled "Do looks matter" blog isn't it?

I am always attracted to and try to pick up tall and wide books with lots of chapters and lots of ideas .They must be visuallyappealing to me. They must have a clear photo of the author.The best stories often come from the brown paper wrapped ones not the over exposed ones on the best seller list....

The end.

Posted by: thelynathdiary at November 4, 2008 10:44 PM

Hi Elida
I picked up Isabel Allende's Stories of Eva Luna because I was attacted to the cover
. Since then I've read four of her books and am on my fifth, with another two waiting. I have a permenant order with the local 2nd hand book shop for any of her works. The covers of her books depict the artisitic quality of her words inside which are creative,colourful, honest, imaginative. she takes care of every detail and doesn't skimp on anything......A

Posted by: angela11 at November 4, 2008 10:03 PM