If someone, who isn’t an avid reader says, “This is one of the best books I’ve ever read…” (assuming they aren’t talking about something they read when they were 5)
Do you think:
Wow, this must be a phenomenal book, I must find it immediately.
@Likewise@bookstodon
what is an "avid reader" to you, Lisa?
I would probably look the book up online and ask the someone what she likes about the book.
They like reading books about birds? No, wait, that avian.
But seriously, let's say you only read 10 books in your life, because you live in a society where stories are more often told in film, or because you're 10 or whatever, and that book just blew your goddamned mind.
It's just not right to have some gatekeeper tell you that your opinion isn't valid because you don't read 50 books a month.
@Likewise@bookstodon If they were a friend recommending the book, I would probably read it. Why not? They are trying to share something they liked. I’m not going to flex and say what I read is so super exclusively cool.
@Likewise@bookstodon I would assume it is probably an ok book, very rarely a good and certainly not a great one.
If it is of a genre that I usually read, I would probably read a few other reviews on Goodreads to decide if I want to read it or not. Otherwise I would be just happy that somebody read one book and discard their opinion of it.
@Likewise@bookstodon neither, I think taste is highly individual regardless of how much reading you do, and I need to know more about the book before I know if I will like it.
@Likewise@bookstodon I tend to think it's likely worth reading for some reason, but that reason could be very varied. Like just finding out, "This is what some people think is a great book, wow".
If I don't know the book I'll ask them what it is about and look into it if it interests me.
When people talk about a book I see that as an opportunity to learn about a book I might not have heard about.
The fact that they don't read much, doesn't say anything about the potential value of the book. Plenty of avid readers recommend books that don't appeal.
@Likewise@bookstodon if I like the person, I’ll look it up to check it out. If I don’t, I won’t bother. And that’s coming from a less than avid book reader, I’d classify myself as just a reader 😂
Personally, I probably wouldn't make much of it because I know that my taste in books doesn't align with a lot of other people's. But I would ask what they liked about it, consider how well their reading preferences align with my own, and probably look it up on #TheStoryGraph, and based on all that info if it sounds interesting I'll add it to my to-read list.
I would never take someone's positive review of a book to mean that it's trash, unless I know that their preferences are diametrically opposed to mine, and in that case it's not too likely I'd be listening to that person in the first place.
@Likewise there is an assumption here that avid readers don’t read trash. I’ve known plenty of people who have a book in their hand every time I see them, and it’s absolutely drivel that I would never read. If someone tells me about a book they’re thrilled over, why wouldn’t I want to at least read some reviews to help me decide whether I want to spend time with it?@bookstodon
@adhdeanasl@bookstodon Oh, absolutely I will look up the recommendation if I am unfamiliar, I just typically think that it won’t be that good. Totally my opinion.
@Likewise@bookstodon I might trust the judgment of a person who read 5 outstanding books in their lifetime over that of an avid reader who has read 10,000 mediocre ones. In other words, IMO it depends what the other person is comparing the book to, not what their consumption volume is. Of course probably in the real world (instead of my hypothetical one) an avid reader is likely to come across their fair share of excellent books too.
@Jennifer@Likewise@bookstodon agree it's my experience that folks who only read a few books but are strongly impacted by those few only read from the most obvious books so ...
People who rarely read aren't discovering hidden gems
@Likewise@bookstodon If they're not an avid reader, it must have been an extremely popular book that didn't have a movie yet. Or else someone very strongly recommended it to them and hit the mark. So either I've already considered it, or it's worth considering!
@Likewise@bookstodon I look it up and see if I would like it as well, and even if it is not my choice, am really happy that people still read for pleasure.
@Likewise@bookstodon Mostly good because it has to really speak to them to keep them. I love to read as an escape, and there are so many books I don’t remember. Whereas is someone doesn’t choose to read, those one or two books must really have been impactful.
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