Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at GingerReadsLainey.
Click HERE for a complete list of participants and future topics.
This week's Top 5 Wednesday topic:
Bookish Things You're a Grinch About
Since being a grinch is a funny thing, try not to make this about serious topics that make you angry (like lack of diversity or abusive relationships in fiction, etc) as this is supposed to be more of a petty bookish things you hate. This can be stuff about covers, dumb tropes, etc. Have fun with it.
COVER CHANGES MIDWAY THROUGH A SERIES
Or - even worse - with the last book. (I'm looking at you Lux series.) Why, why do this?! Maybe it's marketing to attract certain readers. Maybe it's a blatant money-grubbing ploy to force me to re-purchase all the books in the new covers. But whatever the reason, it definitely turns me into a grinch.
BOOKS WITH NO SUMMARY ON THE BACK COVER
Sure, sure, if it's a hardcover you can just turn to the inside flap and read away. But what about the paperbacks with no summary on the back? There are review blurbs. Reading one-liners from reviews is not enough to make me want to buy the book! I need a description, I need characters, I need a plot... gimme a hint here, people!
MARGINS SO SMALL YOU'RE FORCED
TO CRACK THE SPINE
What kind of sadistic publisher does this? Make margins so small that you have to crack the spine just to be able to read across the whole page? I have no explanation for this madness. Only that he much be a grinch himself, with a heart two sizes too small.
MATTE BOOK COVERS
So lately I'm seeing a lot more matte book covers, particularly on paperbacks. They're unique, they're different... but they also show every fingerprint and look like a mess after 30 seconds of handling them. Even brand new in the book store they're smudgy messes. Gah! Give me my pretty, glossy covers that don't show the smudges.
WHEN BOOKS IN A SERIES AREN'T NUMBERED
This just seems so obvious. Publishing a series, number the books. Boom. Done. I mean, why would you not?? But I've come across this countless times. I'm in a bookstore, I pick up a book that is part of a series... and there is absolutely no indication of where it falls in the series. I check inside for a list of other books... but are they listed in publication order? I end up digging out my phone, pulling up GoodReads, and checking the series order there. When all of that could have been avoided with a number on the cover. It seems so simple...
What bookish thing turns you into a grinch?
YES! NUMBER YOUR SERIES PLEASE! I've picked up books not knowing that they were part of a series and just had to sit there until I had time to get the first book.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was like, "I like matte covers" but you're right, you're totally right! They're such a pain to keep nice and clean.
And to show you how lazy I am, even if the summary is in the inside flap, I don't read it. Too much effort.
LOL I love how you can't be bothered to check the inside flap for a synopsis. :)
DeleteI mostly read ebooks, so a lot of these amused me, but aren't really an issue for me. However, numbering of books in a series or multiple numbering makes me NUTS!!! Example: Rosemary Beach -- what's with the two sets of numbers!!! I see the non-numbers more in companion series, which I don't like, because although you don't need to read all the books, sometimes there are little throwback bits, and I normally like to read them in order.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the Rosemary Beach series gets weird with the numbering. Maybe because the first few books were all about one couple and then they started spinning off? Not sure. And actually my favorite contemporary series ever (the Addicted series by Krista & Becca Ritchie) has a somewhat confusing numbering system (if you're not familiar with the series). That does get tricky.
DeleteOh gosh, I hate when there isn't a summary on the back of the book (or inside the cover). I need to know what the book is about! You can't just tell me it's good; I won't believe you. haha I also don't like when I can't figure out what order a series goes in - you're right, it's very frustrating!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Totally with you! Reading a few review blurbs is never going to make me buy a book. I need to read a summary!
Deleteyup all these are terrible things to do! Except mate covers. I kinda like them! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think the matte covers look awesome on the shelf... but at the first fingerprint... nope! LOL
DeleteALL OF THESE OMG!!!! Except the matte covers, I actually like the feel of them ahahaha. Tiny margins though- seriously WHY??? And how hard is it to actually number series? Its really annoying having to look up the right order all. the. time. Great post, Tanya!
ReplyDeleteRuzaika @ The Regal Critiques.
I actually love the FEEL of the matte covers. But all the smudgy fingerprints? Gah! And yeah, how hard would it be to number the series? Drives me crazy.
DeleteOMG Yes to all of these. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHa ha Tanya! What an excellent list. I found myself nodding along and I didn't even realise some of these bugged me until you put it into words! Especially the number in the series - how hard can that be?
ReplyDeleteExcellent, humorous list!
That seems to be the one everyone ca agree on! Just put the series # on the cover somewhere... not too much to ask. LOL
DeleteNumbering the series is a big one---seriously, it's not hard!!!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Exactly! You're already designing the cover... so just add the series number!
DeleteI agree with so many of these! So, matte covers. Sigh. I like them *sometimes*. But sometimes I find them super underwhelming? Like- there are certain covers that look REALLY good that way, and I'd even deal with being more careful. But some? Yeah no I'm bored AND it's annoying. And seriously AGREED with the number things. You know, more than cover changes, I am bothered by FORMAT changes- like if a book had come out in hardcover, and then the 4th book was released only in paperback? Or paperback, then ebook only? It's weird, but it HAS happened to a few series I've enjoyed! Great list!
ReplyDeleteMatte covers can look great on the shelf... and I actually like the feel of them... but I swear I feel the need to wear white cotton gloves while reading one. LOL And yes to the format changes! GAH!
DeleteCover changes KILL me. Especially when its on book 3 of 3. Just finish it out and redesign the paperbacks or something :(( I totally agree with you on these! Great list!
ReplyDeleteYES! When they change the cover on book 3 it's like: Whhhhyyyyy??!!!
Delete