This week’s prompt: What are your thoughts on book-to-book comparisons (for example, “It’s the next Harry Potter”)?
It’s interesting, because I have bought books before based on a combination of being attracted to the blurb and also seeing a comparison to a book that seems similar to me and that I enjoyed. I cannot, however, say that this was always a successful strategy for choosing my reading material. I find that some of the time these comparisons are based on a superficial similarity between two books that don’t follow through in the style or feel of the book. A book about traveling in Italy isn’t going to be the same as Under the Tuscan Sun unless it also manages to provide scenic descriptions that make me feel like I’m there and a feeling of wonder at a new place and the culture and people there. Someone writing about Australia isn’t going to produce a book like In A Sunburned Country unless they also have the eye for interesting facts, keen wit and sharp sense of humour that are Bill Bryson’s hallmarks. So I guess I feel like if a book’s blurb is going to claim that it’s the next INSERT MAJOR LITERARY PHENOMENON HERE then it damn well better be able to live up to the claim, otherwise not only will I be annoyed at being tricked into reading a sub-par book, but I’ll judge it against said phenomenon and that will do it no favours.
What about you guys? Anyone else have a different take on this? Anything I didn’t think about that might adjust my perspective?
The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly blog link-up that gives participants a different book-related question to ponder each week, and allows them to share their thoughts, find new blogs to follow and connect with new readers. The Hop was originally created by Jennifer at Crazy for Books and is now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. To see a list of upcoming prompts go here.
I generally don’t take any notice of comparisons. If I like the look of the book or other people say that they like the book, I read the blurb and if it sounds like something I would like then I get it.
I agree with what you say, especially when the book doesn’t match the comparison well and is then a let down.
Have a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2024/08/16/book-blogger-hop-book-to-book-comparisons/
Quite. I have learned that if I’m meh about the blurb of a book, that trumps any comparisons or quotes on the jacket. If I’m interested in it though, then I’m interested regardless and the jacket comparisons are just kind of extra!
I feel like the key word is ‘phenomenon’. Each time a book takes off, a thousand manuscripts with similar themes, characters, settings etc, are fished out of anonymity and published… They might be good in their own way, but theyre never as good as te first one.
https://getlostinlit.blogspot.com/2024/08/one-tiny-sentence.html
Yes! That’s exactly it!
I think I might be the only person this week who didn’t realize this was referencing that kind of comparison in a blurb for the book itself. I was thinking like when other readers say “Book X reminded me a lot of Book Y”, so if I’ve read and enjoyed either X or Y, I have an idea that I’ll likely enjoy the other. Have a great weekend.
I hadn’t thought of this, but you are so right! I feel completely different about comparisons from actual people. They have generally gone very well for me. I hope you have a great weekend as well!