Reactions to Reading created this week's geek: Having recently been told that I'm odd because I'm not terribly interested in author interviews I've started to ponder whether there are two types of readers...those who stick to the books versus those who like to know more about the author's background, thoughts, motivations and writing process.
So, what about you?
- Do you seek out interviews with authors of books you've enjoyed? Why or why not?
- Do you interview authors on your blog? If yes what did you gain from the interview process? If no is it because you don't want to or because you haven't felt able to ask an author yet?
- Do you subscribe to the blogs of authors you like? Which ones? All the authors you like or only certain ones?
- Do you track down author websites or look for biographical information about them elsewhere? Would you skip reading a book if you couldn't find out anything about its author?
- Have you hosted an author on a blog tour? Was it someone whose books you already read or did it introduce you to a new author?
I am 100%, no question about it, completely and totally, a book person. Authors are merely the vehicles that bring me my drug. (I apologize to any author reading this post). How about a 'for example'?
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is one of my favorite books. I've read the entire series (as written by Douglas Adams) four or five times. But I haven't picked up another Douglas Adams book, I don't really care about the television and radio productions of the story, and I know practically nothing about Adams' life. It's the story that matters, the characters, the plot, the escapism. All of that real world hullabaloo means very little to me.
Sometimes I don't even know who the author is when I'm reading. I know, I know, terrible of me. Blogging has increased my interest in reading particular authors. Daphne du Maurier, Margaret Atwood, and Sarah Waters spring to mind as authors I'm interested in reading more of; but still I've only read one by each and have no burning intention to read their entire catalog.
Neil Gaiman is my most present author. I have 13 of his books on my shelves, and I subscribe to his blog, which by the way is entertaining, well written, and personal. No one else comes close to him as far as number of books on my shelf. I think the next most-prominent-on-my-shelves author is J.K. Rowling with 7, but considering that's one series of books, I'm not sure that really counts. I just don't actively pursue reading any one author's complete line up of books. I have roughly 1500 books on my shelves and about 1000 authors. I do so like variety.
Side Note: William Shakespeare (23) and Agatha Christie (26) are actually the winners for most books on my shelves, but as I haven't read all of their books - and I've read all of Gaiman and Rowling - I didn't feel that really counted.
Author Interviews: I don't seek out author interviews, either to feature them on my blog or to read them on someone else's. If I haven't read the book yet, I definitely will not read an author interview about that book. I am 100% anti-spoilers for books. Most of the time I won't even read the entire synopsis on the back cover of. Just a quick glance, enough to let me know if it's my cup of tea, nothing more.
Author Importance: People seem concerned with exigence, the motivation for writing, and author's intention, but I've always been more interested in reader interpretation. No matter what the author intended to write, it is what the reader reads that counts. I'm not sure I've explained that well, but there you have it. (And once again, my apologies if there are any authors reading this).
What about all of you? Any more book people out there?
I'm like you ... I'm in it for the story, not the author. But that said, if I find an author I like, I'll buy their books religiously until I think they've "jumped the shark" or a get bored reading the same book over and over again (I'm looking at you Janet Evanovich!). The only author blog I follow is Christopher Moore because I think he is really really funny. I actually do often skip author interviews ... unless they are fairly short or I'll jump to a question about their writing habits or books they like; those questions interest me.
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting to me! I love knowing more about the author behind the book. And if I think an author is good and is a nice person, I will totally be loyal and read more of their books. And equally if I love a book but the author is a jerk, I will stop reading their books right then and there and stop recommending them, lol.
ReplyDeleteI like to know (not all the time, but in some cases) what inspires an author to write a book. Now, there are some authors I don't care to know more about, but I don't do many interviews. Chances are if I'm doing one I'm interested in that author (though there have been a few I committed to doing and then had to follow through on). I also prefer that readers are able to glean from the reading whatever message they personally see, but I always wonder, too, what the author meant or hoped for the reader to get from it. I have an interview posting tomorrow ona recent read and this author had some great answers. When I asked about the message she intended, she mentioned that she doesn't like message driven fiction because she is no more moral than anyone else and doesn't want to tell someone else how to think. Though she did continue with what she thought the story meant to her, I thought that was a great message. That the reader should get from it what they get and that this is different for every person.
Hmmm...well I guess I AM interested in authors. Often if they are just sparkling, fascinating people, I can be convinced to pick up their books. However, I will admit that author interviews often bore me to heck. Same questions, same answers. And probably for this reason, I stay away from them if at all possible. If I cannot do a unique and atypical interview, I do not want to do them. I get more out of guest posts even, than interviews.
ReplyDeleteYour title totally cracked me up. Usually, I'm all about the book, too. I tend to skim author interviews and I rarely check out an author's website or blog. There are a few exceptions, of course, but as a general rule, I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am absolutely, totally on the same page as you. I think you may have creeped into my brain and stolen my thoughts, actually. ;-) I'm definitely not an "author" person, and it's nothing against authors at all. I read books to get away from real life, and reading and conducting author interviews and the like often bring the real life screaming back. That said, it was very hard trying to explain *why* I'm so into books yet mostly disinterested in authors for my own WG post, but you've done a very nice job of it!
ReplyDeleteJenners - One of the reasons I like Gaiman's blog is the humor! I'll have to check out Moore.
ReplyDeleteJenny - I think it's great that people get into all of that, and really it probably adds a dimension to your reading that I don't have in mine. I just am lazy.
Sandy - You said it! Those interviews are more often than not just booorrring.
softdrink - One of the reasons I love blogging is validation like this!
Megan - Exactly! It's nothing against authors; it's just that the books are what's important.
I like to read about authors, but this totally rang true for me:
ReplyDeleteI am 100% anti-spoilers for books. Most of the time I won't even read the entire synopsis on the back cover of. Just a quick glance, enough to let me know if it's my cup of tea, nothing more.
I can't abide spoilers. I want to know where/when the book is set, who the main characters are and some idea of what they're up against, and that is all.
Once in awhile I will skim reviews really fast, but last night I was so annoyed when I was glancing at reviews for a book I'd just ordered and someone, in a three-sentence review, managed to spoil the ending. UGH! In the area of childhood deportment, I think not spoiling endings should be up there with not chewing food with your mouth open and not spitting your gum in someone's hair.
I don't really like to read author interviews, and I feel like I should feel guilty for admitting that. I have done a few author interviews (mainly when I started my blog) and then discovered that it wasn't my thing. The authors are great, it's just not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteI do subscribe to one author blog just because I like her books, other than that I don't.
Grace - I'm with you on that. When I read a review on a blog, I skip the plot summary portion, usually the first three paragraph, and jump to the part where they tell me if it's worth reading. If they love it, I read no more; if they don't recommend the book, I'll go back and read the whole review. I just really like being surprised.
ReplyDeleteAlyce - I always feel guilty about not caring for author interviews and the such not; unless the author is discussing something specific, like why they wrote about gay characters, or how they think their book influences readers choices, etc., I just am not that intrigued.