Suggested by Jennysbooks:
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?”
I had to think about this one! I don’t know that any blurb makes a book “irresistible” but if I’m choosing non-fiction such as autobiography/biography – words like “honest”, “factual”, “candid”, “enlightening”, “well researched”, “detailed”, ”a fluent narrative style” would attract me.
For fiction it would be words such as”mysterious”, “intriguing”, “richly evocative page-turner, “a ghostly yarn”, “atmospheric”, “rich and subtle”, “funny”, “original”, “clever plot”, “tense”, “moving”, “perceptive”.
Words that put me off are: “gruesome”, “vampire”, “bloody”, “the blockbuster read of the year”, “horrific”, “disturbing” and so on.
Words like “the number one bestseller” are really irritating – so many books have this – when was it the number one and who rated it? That said it wouldn’t actually make me put the books back on the shelves.
Actually the phrase bestseller might put me off. Here is mine
Hi!
I’m not into vampire books, but they seem to be all the craze right now. Believe it or not I have not read any of the Twilight books. Have a great day!!
Sherrie
Just Books
Blockbuster and vampire are two words that will usually turn me off too. My post is here.
Vampire and Zombie turn me off!
Booking through Blurbs
I’m not sure that the words in blurbs interest me so much as the person writing them does. If I recognize and respect the author writing the blurb, I’m more likely to be interested in the book. I know this isn’t the best way of reading blurbs, though, because for all I know the writers could be personal friends and therefore the blurb isn’t reliable.