When buying a book

When I buy a book I generally just read the back cover, and if it interests me enough I will buy it. I also ask friends and family of their opinions too if they have read the book already.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

i judge a book by its cover and discription on its side dust cover jacket or on the back. if the two meet my quota than i purchace the book. the author of the book plays a big part in it as well.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It depends on the situation. I grew up in a household with a librarian, so I have the whole "look for this edition" and "check the spine for book glue" stuck in my head when I go book hunting.

I tend to use Ebay, but thats a gamble for older editions. I'm a sucker for used book stores but I don't go to them very often anymore.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I try to get to a bookstore, but that's often not very feasible.

Usually I'll read the description on the back/inside flaps, and read the first few pages. If the writing style and the premise of the book appeal, I'll buy.

If it's a sequel, or part of a huge series (Terry Brook's Shannara stuff) I generally don't check that sort of thing.

Oh yeah, and hardback. I hardly ever go paperback anymore.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Most of the time, I don't buy a book unless I've either read a copy at the library, need a permanent copy for reference or am familiar with the author's work. Either way, I'm pretty certain what's waiting behind the covers.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I love to spend hours in a bookstore and I normally read the first pages of a book, that's usually enough for me to decide whether i like it or not.
when i want to buy a book on the internet, i just try to find some reviews about it.

FELIPE NO

You know I don't think i've ever read any of the pages of a book i'm about to purchase or considering to. I tend to just see the cover, because sad as it is I tend to pick up books if it's got an interesting cover or a intriguing title, read the preview on the back and if it sounds decent i'll buy it.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Arkhangelsk

Most of my happenstance books (ie: 3/4 of my novel collection) were chosen by:

1. Noticing the cover and/or title (I'm an artist/graphic artist, so sue me for being shallow...)
2. Reading the synopsis on the back cover/inside flap.
3. Possibly noticing the author...if it's somebody I recognize.

Ditto. (Except that I'm not an artist.)

I'll buy a book because I liked the author in another work. I'll also buy a book because it's pretty... even if it never gets read I derive great enjoyment from just feeling and smelling it. That sounds creepier than it really is. Some books just smell good... I dunno if it's the paper or the ink or what.

Always, though, I'll read at least the first page and the back cover before buying a book. If its a nice bookstore and I've got time I'll read the first chapter or so... usually that results in my losing interest and putting the book back, but my favorites tend to be third-or-fourth pick volumes.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Hydra

even if it never gets read I derive great enjoyment from just feeling and smelling it. That sounds creepier than it really is. Some books just smell good... I dunno if it's the paper or the ink or what.

Heh, I do the same thing. I also "pet" books, which also sounds creepier than it really is. It's kind of amusing to teach people in the bookstore how to do it, though. I have a lot of novels that fall into this category.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I almost always purchase my literature. I prefer to write in my books: circle key words, underline key points, highlight key quotations, and so on. It helps me to really connect with the story and delve deeper into its themes.

I will not, however, write in a hardcover book--only paperback. I decided that I should probably just buy two copies of every novel or play that I REALLY like: one hardcover, and one paperback. This way, I can annotate the paperback copy and use it as reference for when I reread the hardcover edition later on. I'm itching to get my hands on a hardcover copy of Crime And Punishment.

As far as "regular" books go (outside of literature), I base my decision to buy on the subject matter, online reviews (like Amazon), and personal recommendations from friends.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.