Thanks so much for this wonderful post. I was having a discussion the other day with some friends about this topic and it was nice reading different opinions. I've sent those involved in the discussion a link to your post.
Personally, I don't trust most blurbs because - they're over used and seem more a popularity status symbol. They can also destroy the aesthetic appeal of good design.
I realize there are other uses of blurbs and can see the value in them, but this is where I see them. I choose not to research beyond what books they’re written because I want a book to be stand-alone, so I’m not going to see the blurbs elsewhere.
Jason Rice
· 4 months ago
Blurbs seem to cut both ways, you cna trust them, or not...
Patrick T. Kilgallon
· 4 months ago
I tend to read books that Stephen King blurbs. Even though mindless, I discovered many good writers out there.
Except for books that Stephen King likes, I tend to be more interested in the subject matter. I did not bother to read all the blurbs that the respected writers were kind and compelled enough to write for J.E.'s 'All About Lulu' but was drawn to the plot of a wise guy kid who grew up in a family of weightlifters. Also I read the first paragraph and liked its friendly but take no crap tone.
jonathan evison
· 4 months ago
. . . christina, i'd have to agree that it's hard to trust the veracity of blurbs . . .still, they inform . . . i don't put much stock in the adjectives, but i do pay attention to what they say about a book thematically, and if it sounds interesting, i am drawn in . . .
DH
· 4 months ago
With respect to JE, I don't see how a blurb can say anything thematically...like...it's JUST a blurb. I notice the person who is blurbing more. Once I saw a blurb by Orhan Pamuk...I practically fell out of my chair. He hardly ever blurbs as far as I can tell and he is one of my writer-heroes. If I research a blurb writer and I see that they write very commercial stuff, that kills the book for me...because that's not what I read.
jonathan evison
· 4 months ago
. . . hey DH, so, for example, here's a blurb from jim othmer about west of here:
"Evison bravely sets out to conquer big stories and big themes, and the result is a daring, gorgeously structured and deeply satisfying expedition of a novel. West of Here deftly connects lives and centuries, pipe dreams and fierce realities, the sensibilities of the modern with the storytelling punch of the classic. Every sentence, character and hard-won patch of Pacific Northwestern earth shimmers with kinetic truth."
. . .now, at the very least, i think this blurb says quite a bit about the scope and ambition of the book, and speaks to its theme of connectivity . . .
DH
· 4 months ago
JE, I hoped you would provide an example...that's one of the best (most effective) blurbs that I've ever read! I must be hanging out in the low-rent district, blurb-wise.
jonathan evison
· 4 months ago
. . . at the very least, WHO'S blurbing a book says something about the book by way of association . . . if i see a dan brown blurb, i feel like i have certain expectations for the book . . . if i see that sam lipsyte and j.r. lennon and tim sandlin are blurbing a book, it at least gives me an idea where that book fits in the scope of things . . .
JoeW
· 4 months ago
Sorry to have been away while this conversation was live! Great post as always, guys.
Since my new novel is also my first, the blurbs I've gotten have worked both to impress my agent and publisher (since they were all through my own limited connections)and given me a needed jolt of self-confidence. (The "they really like me!" syndrome.)
In at least one case, the writer liked my book, but also specifically said she blurbs when she can because she remembers how important blurbs were to her own first novel, and she wants to "pay it forward."
I'll do the same if anyone ever asks me.
Rebecca
· 4 months ago
I think blurbs serve 2 main functions (and many ancillary ones because people are so wide and varied in what effects their decisions). 1-blurbs help position the book at the time it's being sold into stores, before it even lands in front of the consumer. ie-rep says to buyer 'we got a great quote from Jose Saramago on this author' it both positions the book as a certain kind of read, and also lends it a bit of gravitas in some buyer's eyes. 2-I do think some 'lay readers' are affected by blurbs. Not tons maybe, but enough that it is worthwhile. Lay reader is in store, overwhelmed by new release section but wants a new book. Spies a blurb by an author's name they recognize (ie- Sue Monk Kidd) and it immediately makes the decision process more approachable. It's as simple as 'if you like this, you may like that'.
All that said, as a rep, I also recognize 'chronic blurbers' and if I know someone is such, or if I know that author x is tight with author y and the blurb is more likely to be a favor, it lends less weight in presenting an author as I think when it comes to blurbs, which are hard to quantify, authenticity is important.
And DH: while yes some literary readers are elite readers, good writing should be approachable for masses. There are myriad readers out there who may only read 1-2 books a year (if that) but if they hit upon the right one, they are hooked and become more frequent readers. I have seen it happen time and again. We need to develop more readers (much like you develop a child's palette over time by introducing them to a variety of foods).
--- arrbecca.
oh and ps --- SO thrilled to learn Ron Currie is on twitter! J'adore. Colson Whitehead is also a master at the twitter one-liners.
JoeW
· 4 months ago
There's no question that my publisher was ecstatic that one enthusiastic blurb came in early enough to be included in the catalog and to trumpet at the big sales meeting. No question it will be used to try to impress booksellers, as well as (hopefully, eventually) some readers.
All Comments
Personally, I don't trust most blurbs because - they're over used and seem more a popularity status symbol. They can also destroy the aesthetic appeal of good design.
I realize there are other uses of blurbs and can see the value in them, but this is where I see them. I choose not to research beyond what books they’re written because I want a book to be stand-alone, so I’m not going to see the blurbs elsewhere.
Except for books that Stephen King likes, I tend to be more interested in the subject matter. I did not bother to read all the blurbs that the respected writers were kind and compelled enough to write for J.E.'s 'All About Lulu' but was drawn to the plot of a wise guy kid who grew up in a family of weightlifters. Also I read the first paragraph and liked its friendly but take no crap tone.
"Evison bravely sets out to conquer big stories and big themes, and the result is a daring, gorgeously structured and deeply satisfying expedition of a novel. West of Here deftly connects lives and centuries, pipe dreams and fierce realities, the sensibilities of the modern with the storytelling punch of the classic. Every sentence, character and hard-won patch of Pacific Northwestern earth shimmers with kinetic truth."
. . .now, at the very least, i think this blurb says quite a bit about the scope and ambition of the book, and speaks to its theme of connectivity . . .
I must be hanging out in the low-rent district, blurb-wise.
Since my new novel is also my first, the blurbs I've gotten have worked both to impress my agent and publisher (since they were all through my own limited connections)and given me a needed jolt of self-confidence. (The "they really like me!" syndrome.)
In at least one case, the writer liked my book, but also specifically said she blurbs when she can because she remembers how important blurbs were to her own first novel, and she wants to "pay it forward."
I'll do the same if anyone ever asks me.
All that said, as a rep, I also recognize 'chronic blurbers' and if I know someone is such, or if I know that author x is tight with author y and the blurb is more likely to be a favor, it lends less weight in presenting an author as I think when it comes to blurbs, which are hard to quantify, authenticity is important.
And DH: while yes some literary readers are elite readers, good writing should be approachable for masses. There are myriad readers out there who may only read 1-2 books a year (if that) but if they hit upon the right one, they are hooked and become more frequent readers. I have seen it happen time and again. We need to develop more readers (much like you develop a child's palette over time by introducing them to a variety of foods).
--- arrbecca.
oh and ps --- SO thrilled to learn Ron Currie is on twitter! J'adore. Colson Whitehead is also a master at the twitter one-liners.