Musing Mondays (June 28)
This week’s musing asks…
What do you think of books that receive a lot of hype? (think of the “Twilight” saga, or “Harry Potter”, or “The Da Vinci Code”). Do you read them? Why, or why not?
I generally like to stay away from hyped books… at least until the craziness has died down. For whatever reason, the whole “you MUST read this!” thing just turns me off. Not that people can’t make recommendations, of course. 
I fell for the “Twilight” craziness… but only at the urging of my good online book friends (but not to the extent that I have posters or other paraphernalia from the books/movies ~ I don’t swoon over “Edward”). And, I was lucky enough to have read “The Da Vinci Code” before it got blown all out of proportion. Overall, though, I just don’t want to be swayed by others’ opinions.
I like being the one to find an obscure title that turns out to be really great, before anyone else does. LOL.
And, I certainly prefer to make up my own mind about a book, without having someone tell me over-and-over-and-over-and-over how great the book is (or, how much it sucks). 
Mind you, I have a list of books that have been hyped (or, “raved about”) that I do intend to read, eventually. That was the basis for my Raved Reads Challenge. I do get curious as to why the books receive so much praise (or flak). But, like I said, I prefer to read them once everyone stops talking about them. Unfortunately, that list just keeps growing and growing, and it’s going to take me forever to get around to reading all of those books! LOL
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! 
Great Question!
I just posted mine here.
Grace
I agree! I wait until all the hype has calmed down and read the book a month or two or three later. I want to see what the buzz will be after the reviews are posted.
Twitter: @youngjbrooks
Good question; my response:
http://sheeryhall.blogspot.com/2010/06/hyped-up-books.html
I liked this question. My answer is here -
http://www.booksplease.org/2010/06/28/musing-mondays-6/
This is an interesting question.
Here is my answer:
http://cometellmewhatyouread.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/musing-mondays-june-28/
It depends on the book’s subject matter.
http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.com/2010/06/mondays-mailboxmusingswhereabouts_27.html
I TRY not to get involved in the hype, but in the end usually give in just to see if it’s as good as everyone says! As a teacher/ teacher librarian I love Harry Potter simply for what it did in getting kids reading.
As for things like Twilight – I think you have to read them in context. They are aimed at the teenage girl market and as that, they hit the mark. I enjoyed them, but don’t rave about them.
As for the da Vinci Codes of this world, a rollicking good read, but really, that’s about it!
Every now and then though, I think you come across a true gem. For me, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert falls into this category.
With certain books I was lucky enough to read them before the hype(The DaVinci Code for example). I think the hype destroys the book in a way; I’ve read the Twilight saga when the whole obsession started and I hated it, but I would have probably liked it if everyone would stop saying how great it is. It was blown out of proportions and I was expecting something extraordinary and all I got was something average. But I don’t think there is any harm in reading these kind of books, hype or no hype, they are still books, some are good, others are bad.
Hmmm well, I tend to pick up the book to read the jacket. If I want to read it, I do. If the hype has turned me off, if the jacket says nothing that gets to me, I don’t read the book.
But I read the four books even if it felt like going to the dentist.
I have read Harry Potter and Twilight because I was working with kids and I felt it was important to be able to discuss it if some kid talked about it. I loved Harry Potter. I didn’t like Twilight. Edward is a jerk.
Besides that no hype can convince me a book is good.
My answer is posted here
CMash
There are a few interesting answers here in your comments. My answer is here: http://annsreadingcorner.blogspot.com
Here is my musing.
Mine is here
No, I am not a big fan of the hugely hyped books.
My Musing is HERE
When the Harry Potter books came out, I avoided them like the plague for awhile. Then my younger siblings each received one for Christmas one year (back when the first three were the only ones out) and well, I was bored so I read the first one. Then the second. And then I was a HP fan. Read each book, most numerous times.
I have the Davinci Code but I’ve never read it. I think it was my sister’s copy that somehow landed on my bookshelf.
Twilight. My best friend loved the books and convinced me to read them. I was in one of those discount department stores (like Marshalls) and they had all four. So I bought them, liked the first two and forced myself to finish the series.
My answer was similar to yours. I don’t like the publicity machine to tell me what I should read!
So there!
I’m a bit of a rebel, I guess. Here’s my post:
http://meditationsbylaurelrain.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/monday-musings/
If a book receives too much hype it seems to turn me off – it makes me feel like the publisher’s trying too hard to push something. Which ends up making me suspicious of exactly how ‘good’ whatever title they’re hyping really is….
You can read the full response on my blog
Reading Amidst the Chaos
I like to think I stay away from hyped books, but I’ll admit the hype sometimes pushes me to read the book – the challenge is staying neutral while reading it.
My answer: http://patriciasparticularity.blogspot.com/2010/06/musing-mondays.html
Great question!
http://www.readingatthebeach.com/2010/06/mailbox-monday.html
<a HREF=here is mine
Here is mine
The right link.
here’s mine…
http://addlife21.blogspot.com/2010/06/hype-or-no-hype.html
I agree about over hyping books!
here’s my post :
http://marshalslion.blogspot.com/2010/06/musing-mondays.html
I sometimes join the hype. It depends.
http://okbolover.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/musing-monday-628/
Good question. Here’s mine.
Great question! Here’s my response for this week: http://www.rulethewaves.net/blog/?p=1643
Great question! Here’s my input: http://spinecreases.blogspot.com/2010/06/musing-mondays-hyped-up-books.html
Good question! My answer is here
http://somanybooks123.blogspot.com/2010/06/musing-mondays-hype.html
http://dementedreading.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-do-you-think-of-books-that-receive.html mine
Good question!
http://amongstories.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/mm-raved-books/
Good question.
My first Monday Musing is here
I think I’m perpetually at oods with popular opinion. My musing is up.
All 5 of my reviewers got on board with this question!
http://www.romancingthepage.com/2010/06/28/musing-mondays-june-28/
I feel much the same way. Here’s my response.
Good question. Here is mine:
http://elisha-mythoughts.blogspot.com/2010/06/musing-mondays-62810.html\
and
http://bookjunkiemom09.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/musing-mondays-62810/
That series looks so interesting(by The Casts)
Here is my teaser
http://tinyurl.com/2fdrjxw