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Bookish First Impressions... Am I Turned On or Off?

Friday 24 October 2014
We all have our preferences when it comes to books. Most of us will borrow/buy a book in a library or bookshop because the blurb has peeked our interest. So, somewhere in those ten or so lines, we've liked the sound of something. Today, I'm going to list the things that make me yell:


And the things that make me:


Okay, so the turn ons (ignores immature mind):
  1. Mention of a fantasy setting (another completely different world) or fantastical elements.
  2. Mention of an adventure or quest.
  3. Mention of the characters having magical powers/living in a world where there's magical powers.
  4. Something hinting at action/thrilling moments.
  5. The main character's a princess.
  6. The main character's 16 or 17 (is it just me who likes screaming out SAME AGE BUDDIES!!)
  7. Mention of a boarding school.
  8. Mention of the main character having to travel to a foreign country to live with their aunt or something.
  9. The setting of the book is in space/on a spaceship.
  10. The setting is in the Victorian era/big dresses era.
  11. Mention of a classic battle of good vs. evil.
  12. Mention of faeries or mermaids.
  13. Mention of an animal/mythical beast that plays a part in the storyline.
  14. Hint at a romance.
  15. Mention of siblings (because I love reading about familial relationships)!
  16. Mention of the setting being in my part of the UK (Scotland) - especially if it's in a castle in the country in Scotland.
  17. Or in a castle, period.
  18. Sometimes a love triangle - if I'm in the mood for it.
If any of these things (or, even better, a few of these things together) are mentioned in the synopsis, I want, want, need.

 
 
Okay, now the turn offs:
  1. The main character's a boy. (I really don't mean to, it's just... I've not really got along with most of the boy protagonists I've read about before)!
  2. The main character's a witch/it's a witchy book.
  3. There's mention of angels and demons (too overused for me now)! Even just paranormal type sounding books... I'm turned off.
  4. There's something in the synopsis like 'All I wanted to be was popular...'
  5. The book's contemporary and sounds very stereotypically same-y same-y.
  6. And the main character is that whiny, stereotypical 'teenage' girl.
  7. And her big 'problems' aren't real problems.
  8. The book involves dragons (what can I say, past experience has tainted it for me)!
  9. There's a hint that the best friend is in love with the MC.
If any of these things are in the blurb then:


What about you? When you read a blurb, what turns you on and off?

*tries to hold in laughter* *fails* PAHAHAHAHA

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


13 comments :

  1. I totally agree with almost all of these! Whiny protagonists irritate me beyond belief. Although I'm not a big fan of dragons, Julie Kagawa has Talon releasing in a few days, and honestly, I have loved every single one of her books, so I'm gonna give it a shot. Haha great post girl! (:
    Morrighan @ Elysian Fields Reviews ( http://ufbooks.blogspot.com )

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    1. Woohoo! *high fives* I didn't really like The Iron King by Kagawa, but I LOVED The Immortal Rules. xD Thank you!!

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  2. Confession: I read all these then ran to my WIP to check which list it fell under.
    I THINK I'M GOOD. because i hate all the things you do and YES PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SPACE OR TRAVEL TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR ARE MY AGE OR ARE PRINCESSES OR ACTION OR MADE UP WORLDS HECK YES.

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    1. You know I'd love anything you wrote because it's by HAWWA, duh!! YES FOR BEING ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THIS!

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  3. I LOVED this post, Rachel! We have such similar reading tastes! If I see a book where the main character is a princess my inner five year-old starts jumping up and down. Have you read 'The Selection'? It fits almost all of your 'turn ons'!

    I've actually begun to prefer male narrators over female! I think it's because I'm at the point where, in class, I listen to the conversation that the boys are having and immediately wonder what is going on in their minds! I feel like books kind-of answer that...!

    -Sophie :)

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    1. Thank you, Sophie!! Yep, I've read the whole trilogy and am so excited for The Heir! They're definitely the rainy day, fluffy/light reads!

      I've got a group of boys who I'm quite close to and I don't want to know what goes on in their minds. *facepalm* I'm around them so much I feel like I could tell you what goes on in their heads anyway, haha! I do like how it's kind-of a glimpse into a boy's mind if you read a book with a male narrator though 'cause, of course, not every boy's like the ones I know!

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  4. Great post Rachel :-) I used to be really turned off by Fantasy, but the genre is certainly creeping into my tastes now. I really don't like whiny characters, so if there is any sort of chance that they'll be in the book it's an immediate turn off for me.

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    1. Thank you!! Yay - I didn't use to read much fantasy but now I'm rather taken with it! :D

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  5. My favorite type of book is one that involves an animal guide or sidekick or whatever you want to call it. If I see that in a synopsis, it's definitely going into the TBR pile. Siblings are also a huge plus! Like in the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer series. The sister and brother relationship is beautiful.

    As for the dislikes:
    Dragons? D:

    Daphne @ Reading Until Dawn

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    1. YES. Animal sidekicks are the best! Oooh, I've not read Mara Dyer! I might if there is a wonderful sibling relationship in it!

      Unfortunately, yes. But I'm not one to write that in stone. I may come around to them one day - if I find the right book! :)

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  6. Yes yes yes and one hundred percent yes! But my turn offs would include historical novels with a pretentious protagonist.. you know? I find them to be super common..

    Amy;
    My blog, The Blog Hermit
    Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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    1. Yeah, I get what you mean. A lot of the time it's just because author's were sticking by what it was really like back then, that's how the higher class people acted/were like. But, yes, the character can be infuriating for the reader!

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  7. Very interesting post. I wrote a similar one about things I was attracted to in YA novels. and I did a video of some of my reading turnoffs :) I just find it incredibly fascinating to see how different people approach the same topic!

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