It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)
Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.
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I think I'm due for a Tell Me Something Tuesday catch up!!
I co-host this feature and all I can say is thank you to Jen from That's What I'm Talking About for always keeping the topics and Google forms up to date because I have suuuucked at even participating. And to Roberta from Offbeat YA to carrying about 80% of the question load and for posting them on her blog ahead of time so I even know what's going on lol Jen & Roberta - I salute you! 🤣
1/10: Do you read classics? Why or why not? *hangs head in shame* No. If I could find one that I could stay awake though, maybe I would lol
1/17: Do you tend to enjoy spinoff series? or are you hesitant about them? Back when I read more series, I loved spinoffs. I like seeing characters that might have been interesting but in the background of the former series - now being featured. Or maybe an expansion of worlds from a new perspective. Also maybe a revisit to old characters that pop-up.
1/24: Do you listen to author playlists? do you create your own? I used to listen to author playlists - way back from the Twilight days when Stephanie Myer posted music on My Space lol
Another was for Jeri Smith-Ready and her WVMP Vampire series - the vampires worked at a radio station (they were stuck in the music of their time of *death*) I credit that series and Smith-Ready for getting me back into music and concert going.
Having said that, I never listen while reading, and can't say I relate the music directly to the book as much as it was just about finding new music.
These days, not at all, but can be attributed more to not following authors anymore really.
2/7: Would read a book by a favorite author in a genre that isn't in a genre you usually enjoy? Yes! I love when authors try new genres.
I've followed Jeri Smith-Ready through fantasy, PNR, YA contemp and paranormal, M/M.
Ann Aguirre from sci-fi, dystopian, romance, gothic romance, NA, YA, steam punk
Stacey Kade through YA sci-fi/paranormal, NA, YA contemporary, cozy mystery, and her latest adult sci-fi horror.
Does it always work out? No but that's ok - I get to test out a new genre but with a little bit of familiarity with the writing.
2/14: Share book covers you love! I'm going to be a Valentine's Grinch and get something off my chest with this weeks question lol
I think there are a lot of pros and cons to illustrated covers. You can capture the characters and story precisely, they can be totally unique and have characters acting in ways you could never get real life cover actors to do.
However, as with all trends, it goes overboard. My chief complaint is that I have NO idea what I'm getting inside. The cover screams romantic whimsy - what I get is despair, or even worse - death. Don't trick me like that boo.
But the biggest complaint I have about the illustrated cover trend is it is all a blur to me. It's just a see of pastels and pops of colors with mostly white font. I don't even mean this as a critique of the artist. The covers are pretty! But I literally can't tell anything apart anymore.
Authors used to have a signature style (even within a trend) but now...I feel like they're trying to trick me and it's confusing (did I already read the book? I DON'T KNOW) so I don't even bother looking anymore.
This might be worse that the falling girl in a gown cover trend lol
I think I'm all caught up! (for now)
I'm always happy for authors that I read/follow when they branch out and try new genres. Especially when I see them say it's been their dream to write in x-genre. But it doesn't necessarily mean I will automatically read it. There are some genres that truly do not interest me, so even if it was written by a favorite author, I'd probably skip it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I shouldn't even comment on the illustrated cover trend because I get SO RANTY. I truly dislike it. I do not like illustrated/cartoony people on my covers. It just screams "this is not the book for me." There is nothing appealing about the look (to me), and I tend to give them a wide berth (with few exceptions). I cringe when I see yet another favorite author give way to the trend, even when, like you mentioned, they've long had a signature style that represented them and their brand well. Now ever book cover looks the same and they all blend together. Ugh. So not a fan.
There were a lot of *new genre* books by authors I loved that I didn't like. Some I just can't get into. But I find favorite authors tend to still write the same type of characters even in different genres - so that familiarity can make it work for me.
DeleteI don't find the illustrated books cartoony (in general) but OMG they all a blur ad most do NOT match the tone of the book. It's a disservice to readers IMO.
I guess they are fooling and hooking a few new readers but you are also creating trust issues and trepidation by readers who would otherwise snap the books up.
There have always and will always be cover trends but this is more misleading. It's a shame, because the ability to match the book is greater with illustrated covers and is wasted.
Fabulous answers - I hadn't thought about how "samey" the illustrated covers were but you're absolutely correct. I do read indie romance books too and the bare male chest is still going strong in that world!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a classics reader either - I'd maybe give them a go if they were "translated" into modern wordage but until that point I will stick with film/TV adaptations.
I grew up when mobile phones didn't exist, and the internet was something used just by scientists, so the whole playlist thing has passed me by. I also find music too distracting when I'm reading, and don't listen to much music at all these days.
I don't know if it's just me but I seriously CANNOT tell them apart. I have no idea if I already read the book, who it's by....Like I said above - there have always been trends but you could still tell book apart within them. I can't right now.
DeleteI also grew up in the days of yore lol (record players, tape decks - cassettes were the new hip thing lol). Stephanie Myer was my first foray into music online. I had no idea what a MySpace page was - and she's the only one I ever looked at. lol
I'm not a classics reader either. Interesting about playlists. You'd think I'd be super interested in those because music and I love seeing what inspires authors, but yeah... I don't really. And I do like (generally) illustrated covers, but as you know that sometimes veers towards older stuff- and with the newer trends yeah they do kind of all ru together now since it's SO prevalent.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind them other than the bait and switch. But i truly can't tell the difference between them anymore lol
DeleteValid points about illustrated covers, and I have said the same thing about the deception. I will say that some authors are sticking with a style. The follow up to Funny You Should Ask has that comic look too. I think it stands out a bit because of that styling as well. I don't read classics. I did that as a kid. Over it.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't even about whether I like them or not really. I truly can't tell the difference when I look at a mass of them on a shelf like that. Like, my brain can't see the differences lol
Delete*salute acknowledged* 😂 But the funny thing is, I keep providing questions (well, not 80% of them though LOL) and then not answering them because I keep going on hiatus 🤣.
ReplyDeleteClassics...I stopped reading them after I got out of school #sorrynotsorry. I need books that entertain me and make me live adventures vicariously, though I also want them to be deep somehow...
Spinoffs...The kind of books I tend to read don't seem to generate them...so, maybe?
Playlists...Not interested. Frankly, books and music are two completely separate entities in my head. Also, I've all but stopped listening to music (even my own records!) after my radio station closed. I think working there ruined music for me - listening to it had become a chore, instead of a choice - so it will probably take a long time for me to recover...
Fave authors branching out...I wrote the post (yay me LOL).
Covers...LOL, I absolutely agree. I mean, it doesn't affect me because it looks like it's mostly a contemporary novel thing, but...it is, indeed, difficult to tell certain books apart these days - plus the cartoonish style does give the impression that those are all "light" books, when some of them are not.
"This might be worse that the falling girl in a gown cover trend lol"
🤣
Kevin told me the other day that I should work in a plant nursery because I love gardening and I'm like...NOOOOOO. It's my last hobby/interest that hasn't been ruined by doing it as a job. lol
DeleteI still love reading and animals but I've had to reclaim both back after the stress of doing them as a job. Not that blogging is a job but you know what I mean.
I like playlists, or relating books to music, but I can't really I pay that much attention to if authors post them anymore. hah I like illustrated covers, but I agree with them starting to look a bit too much like all the others. They should mix it up a BIT more.
ReplyDeleteLauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net
I love the idea of illustrated covers, and at first, they were so original but then they hit trend status and it's all a blur to me now.
DeleteThey could be so creative with it!
I have a playlist but its the same one I listen to all the time. About 500 songs on Youtube. lol if I hear a song I like I add to it.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. I'm not organized lol
DeleteLots and lots of catch up! Nice job.
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying about illustrated covers, and I would expand that to all covers. I hate when covers misrepresent a story or portray the characters incorrectly. The best covers (not always the prettiest) are those that give you an idea of what is inside. I agree, illustrated covers convey a more light-hearted romance or rom-com. I've seen them used successfully in contemporary, historical, and paranormal romances, but only when the stories are fun and light. I would hate to see a "cartoon" cover for a thriller or dangerous paranormal, but I have seen darker, more realistic illustrated covers that work (Think Mercy Thompson or Guild Hunter). Similarly, don't but models on the cover that don't look like the character's description or in a setting that isn't part of the book. I hate that!
I hadn't even thought of the Mercy type covers. See, that's what I mean by the potential of illustrated covers though. They could really match the story better but it's all wasted on these pastel, throw two people in opposite corner covers lol
DeleteWow, you really caught up!
ReplyDelete*Applauds*
*takes a bow*
DeleteI actually like the illustrated covered romances over the half-naked person/people on the cover. Less blush worthy in public but not as fun, I suppose. LOL But I do get what you are saying. There was one book I read that I expected to be light because of the cartoonish/illustrated cover and it was anything but. I don't mind sad books but I have to be in the right mood for them. My cover pet peeve is movie covers. I hate movie covers and will go out of my way to find a non-movie cover version of a book if I must have it on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteI loved your answer to the classic question. LOL I enjoy classics from time to time, but the book really has to interest me.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Yeah, I have trust issues now lol It's not even that I don't like them - it's that I can't tell them apart at all. There's something about the pastel, or vague looking people that just all blurs together for me, in ways that other cover trends don't.
DeleteI don't like movie covers either.
I agree with pretty much all of these! Classics bore me also. And I can't really do spinoff series anymore either- like in theory, sure, but if I thought i was done, I thought I was done, you know? It's like the new trend of randomly extending series that ended in 2012. I finished that, now it is time to move along. As for the genre following, yeah, as long as I like the sound of the book? Like- if it is something REALLY outside my liking, I probably won't? But never say never!
ReplyDeleteThe series thing is starting to get on my nerves lol I guess if it's still selling and people want more then... whatever. But it seems more like a $$ decision and milking it to death. Which again - someone wants and why not make $$ but I'm out lol
DeleteDon't worry, I'm not a big fan of classics either. I used to listen to music while reading, but now that I do almost all my reading via audio, I can't do that anymore. Lol I think those covers are all cute 😁
ReplyDeleteI can have the tv on in the background while I read but not people talking or music. So weird! lol
DeleteThose trendy illustrated Romance covers help me skip over books on social media when I'm scrolling. Ha! It's the same with the traditional cozy covers... they make scrolling so much faster for me. 😁
ReplyDeleteIt's not even that I disklike or have anything against them - I can't tell the difference between them! They all look the same to me. Which is a shame because the ability to make them look unique would be their selling point over stock photos.
Delete