Something I’ve been thinking about lately: “What words/phrases in a blurb make a book irresistible? What words/phrases will make you put the book back down immediately?”
Today I realized that I choose books primarily because of interesting titles. For example:
- The Late Bloomer's Revolution: A Memoir. I chose this book because the title reminded me that my mother and aunts used to call me a late bloomer when I was growing up.
- All the Fishes Come Home to Roost: An American Misfit in India. Another memoir. How do fishes roost? How did an American come to live in India?
- The Wheel on the School. A children's book. I needed to know why there was a wheel on the school.
However, to answer this week's BTT question, I looked through the bookshelves to see what the blurbs actually say. The word I saw most frequently was lyrical. There was also honest, insightful, and epic. Another group of words that jumped out at me was funny, fast-paced, witty and entertaining romp.
What would not appeal to me are any blurbs about cancer or dealing with illness. Been there, done that, don't want to read about it.
3 comments:
I know I should contribute a blurb but I'm more interested in what the "Late Bloomer's Revolution" is about. Can you tell me?
Of course for guy's books it's more words like "fast paced", "gritty", "mysterious", or (better yet) "explosive"!
I don't ever recall "lyrical".
California Girl,
I haven't read The Late Bloomer's Revolution yet. It's a memoir about a woman who comes into her own in her 30s. The blurb on the back cover says "funny, understated, and unbitter".
I'm still hoping that I am a late bloomer in my 50s. It's getting really late.
Post a Comment