Subscribe by email:I was filling out an online poll that asked “Which catches your attention when looking for a book?” The choices were title, cover and back cover summary. That kind of threw me because I usually pick up a book based on the author’s name. Maybe that’s a romance reader thing?
Anyway, it was tough for me to decide between title and cover. Either one will make me pick up the book and look at the back cover summary. And if I pick up the book to read the back, then there’s a good chance I’ll take the next step and look at the first page. The more I read, the more likely I’ll buy the book.
So how did I answer the poll? I decided the cover is what catches my attention.
What about you?
CONTEST
Answer the question in the comment section for a chance to win!
Question: What catches your attention when looking for a book? The title, the cover or the back cover summary?
Prize: a $10 Amazon.com e-mail gift card
Contest rules guidelines and fine print can be found here. Contest ends Thursday, August 30, 2012, midnight Pacific Time. I will choose a winner using random.org and contact the winner on Friday.
Good luck!
**Update: Congratulations to Yazmin Rangel! Her name was chosen using random.org. Thanks to everyone for sharing how they choose a book.**
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It’s the cover that gets me to notice the title and then the blurb.
Cover and author is what catches my attention.
Well, it will depend. Sometimes it’s the author if it’s an autobuy author… sometimes it’s the cover, especially if it’s an obvious Regency period cover of a book I hadn’t noticed before (and okay, so the half naked guy gets my attention plenty, so sue me… but that’s why they do those covers, after all, isn’t it?). And sometimes titles also work as well, probably more for Regency – if they have the Dukes, Earls, etc mentioned in them.
Those are what grab my attention – to keep it, the all important blurb on the back!
Lois
Title
The cover then the title. Once that hooks me then I procede to the back cover summary.
I admit I’ll snap my head back and give those half-naked guy covers another look!
But there are some covers that will make me NOT buy the book. They are either too cheesy or too sexy. I’ve had booksellers re-enact the clinch scene when I’m trying to buy the book.
cover, title author and finally the back cover summary!
Cover usually catches my attention, then I read the back covefr.
First the cover, then the title and if I like those then then summary.
The cover may first capture my attention and if it does, I read the back cover before deciding if I want to read it or not. If it’s one of my fav authors, the cover could be blank and I’d still pick it up!
Always the cover gets me first. Then the author, title and back description. I hardly ever read the first page.
It’s the cover that attracts me first, but what ultimately sells me the book is the blurb.
Like you it tends to be the author first, but since that is not an option… the next thing that catches my attention would be the cover… after reading the blurb I will decide if it something I would enjoy.
COVER 1st.. then author
The cover, author, title, blurb. Then I read the first page. I will know after that if I am interested enough to buy.
The cover first, then the back cover summary. And I usually read the first page also.
The genre gets my attention first. Then that leads me to read the blurb and check out the cover.
The cover first.
The cover catches my attention, and I sometimes make an assessment of the book by it, which disappoints me because I try to follow the “Don’t judge a book by its cover” rule in most other aspects of my life. The blurb is crucial as well.
I’m not sure if anyone else does, but I also find the font the pages are written in is something I always check. If I don’t like the font I’m unlikely to read the book.
I guess I would have to agree with u the cover which then I would read the back cover. I also like to read the review page.
The title is what gets me to pick it up over other books but it is the back cover description that gets to actually purchase it and not put it back on the shelf.
I think it’s always the cover that grabs me first. Then if it’s an author I love, I’ll automatically pick it up to read. If it’s not by someone I have previously read, I’ll read the back cover before I make a final decision. For me, titles are interesting but not the determining factor on whether or not I read something.
If it’s not an author I know, it’s the title or the cover that can get me to read the back summary.
the cover does at first glance but it is the blurb