A blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually referring to the words on the back of the book jacket.
Here's a short process of how I choose books to buy:
1. The cover.
If it's attractive or intriguing to me, you're through to Round Two! If not, the journey ends there.
2. The synopsis.
So here's a secret. I don't rely so much on the synopsis on the back of the book or the jacket cover. On the very high chance that the book is not wrapped in a protective cover, I flip to the information page and read that tiny synopsis. It's tiny, but it's straightforward and gives more detail than the mystery and intense-laden one marketing one.1 If I'm still not interested at that point... well, wow. I guess those blurbs, if the book has them, would really help you.
Right?
No, not really.
3. The blurbs.
Here's how book blurbs work for me. If it's someone I know, like and/or trust his/her books, I'm sold. It doesn't really matter what the blurb says. For example, I love Tamora Pierce's books. When I see a book blurbed by her, I expect the book to have similarities to her books: the same quality, involving a strong heroine with noble intentions, political intrigues, wonderful supporting characters that contribute to the plot and all-too-human antagonists whose deaths make me tear up. I also expect there to be little to no unnecessary words in the vivid world building.
Another case would be conflict between the blurb authors. Let's take Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games for example. An all around intense, murder filled book that can stand well enough on its own. But what propelled it to stardom?
Stephenie Meyer's blurb.
"I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it...The Hunger Games is amazing."
--Stephenie Meyer, www.stepheniemeyer.com2
It was also blurbed by Stephen King, horror stories author extraordinaire.
"[The Hunger Games] is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense...I couldn't stop reading."
--Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly Review2
Apart, I wouldn't care about Meyer's blurb. The plot points of Twilight that I didn't like far surpassed the parts that I did. I would take King's blurb into account. I assume he knows what he's talking about, with The Hunger Games being a dystopian novel and containing elements of horror.
Now all of you must know of the famous conflict between Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer. What, you don't? Let me put it this way: Stephen King voiced out what I thought.3
I was piqued. The Hunger Games must be something special if these two authors can agree on their liking for it. And it was, definitely.
These are the cases where relying on the blurb is a positive experience, one that ends with me liking and buying the book. Blurbs are double edged swords. Here's a case where a blurb has misled me.
About Lucienne Diver's Vamped:
"Vamped is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!"—Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series
I liked the Morganville Vampires series. Vamped, not so much. Since I relied on Caine's blurb when reading Vamped and I was disappointed, I'm less likely to trust her book recommendations now.
Sounds harsh? Here's what we have to understand: book blurbs are an author's book recommendations. In these cases, they are giving their recommendation more from the point of view of a reader, and what they write may not be what they like to read.4
So don't assume that what they like to read is going to be what you like to read. Having read Gayle Forman's post, I understand more about the process of blurbing. I do agree that it helps in the case of debut authors5. Even so, I rely on blurbs much less now.
How about you? Do you agree? How effective do you think they are?
1You can also find interesting tidbits like the author's real name. Which makes me almost understand why they choose a friendlier sounding pen name.
2Taken from Suzanne Collins Books.
3Now, Stephenie Meyer has admitted that she would rewrite Twilight if she could. I'm impressed by this because she recognised one of he weaknesses, and is willing to improve her writing.
4I sure hope that's not the case because it doesn't bode well for your writing and revision sessions.
5Leah Cypess' Mistwood is blurbed by Tamora Pierce. I'm more excited to read it.
5 comment(s):
I have three authors whose blurbs I trust unconditionally. They are: Robin McKinley, Patricia C. Wrede and Neil Gaiman. Anyone else gets a 'sometimes right on, sometimes not so much' consideration. And those three authors I mentioned? Have never put their names on anything I didn't adore. They're choosy, and it shows.
p.s. I also read the Library of Congress summary on the inside page. Very helpful!
I don't use the blurbs as a deciding factor, by the time I read them I'm already sold on the book based on cover & synopsis. I do love to read them & the dedication/acknowledgments before I read the book though :)
I don't take blurbs into account at all. I know a lot of other people rely on them and big names on a book can draw in a lot more readers but personally, they don't weigh in an ounce when I'm choosing books.
I rarely buy a book based on a blurb; I usually rely on word-of-mouth or go by blogger/reviewers I have come to trust.
Excellent post!
Blurbs don't always catch my attention, because I've been unable to finish certain books when they were covered in blurbs. I look at the book overall: cover, first page, and description. Lately I've been relying on bloggers and reviewers, and as a result I've been buying fewer lemons.