and Barb Taub's HERE
You can look on the hashtag #FridayFiveChallenge for more! And anyone can take part.
Rosie's Friday Five Challenge is this:
IN ONLY FIVE MINUTES….
1) Go to any online book supplier,
2) Randomly choose a category,
3) Speed through the book covers, choose one which has instantly appealed to your eye,
4) Read the book Bio/ Description for this book, and any other details.
5) If there are reviews, check out a couple,
6) Make an instant decision, would you BUY or PASS?
I chose 'Satire' category on Amazon... the first book that caught my eye was LEFT ON PARADISE by Kirk Adams.
Here's the blurb:
Despondent over George W. Bush’s theft of the 2000 U.S. Presidential
election, Hollywood luminary Ryan Godson embarks on a journey that will
do what could not be done in a country founded by Puritan fanatics,
Yankee traders, and Southern slavers: he will show what it means to be …
Left on Paradise.
Along with his beautiful wife, Kit Fairchild, and 100 fellow travellers, Ryan leads a coalition of environmentalists, feminists, pacifists, and progressive multiculturalists of every hue to a pristine tropical island—where they establish a State of Paradise, harvest the bounties of nature, and enjoy a tranquil repose from the strictures of life in America.
Now, the secular pilgrims of New Plymouth must strive to implement their ideals. Will their New World prove an island paradise or an unattainable pipe dream? Will progressive principles flourish or collapse in the face of internal dissent and external threats? Will their colony survive its first summer? 102 idealists must answer these questions even as they face obstacles and terrors that none of them could have imagined when they sailed west from San Francisco Bay.
Along with his beautiful wife, Kit Fairchild, and 100 fellow travellers, Ryan leads a coalition of environmentalists, feminists, pacifists, and progressive multiculturalists of every hue to a pristine tropical island—where they establish a State of Paradise, harvest the bounties of nature, and enjoy a tranquil repose from the strictures of life in America.
Now, the secular pilgrims of New Plymouth must strive to implement their ideals. Will their New World prove an island paradise or an unattainable pipe dream? Will progressive principles flourish or collapse in the face of internal dissent and external threats? Will their colony survive its first summer? 102 idealists must answer these questions even as they face obstacles and terrors that none of them could have imagined when they sailed west from San Francisco Bay.
Well, that REALLY appeals to me! I am not quite sure why it's in the 'satire' category, but the subject matter is right up my street (shades of The Beach by Alex Garner, one of my favourite books, and I've read a couple of things about that particular election rig, too), and the blurb is well written and well thought out.
Reviews? None, but it's an American book that's only just been published, so that's not much of a surprise.
The Price? £3.23 which is a bit much for a Kindle book by a writer I've never heard of (I hesitate at more than £2.50, having wasted money in the past), but not excessive, especially considering the length of the book - this one is going to take some serious commitment! I looked to see if he'd written any more to find out if they'd been well received, but the only other books by anyone called Kirk Adams are 'Top Boobs Vol 1' and 'Top Boobs Vol 2'. I do not know if it's the same Kirk Adams, but I shall presume it isn't! Even if it is, I shall not hold it against him (unless he looks like actor Josh Holloway).
Buy or pass? Yes, I'd buy. I haven't, because I have at least 20 books to read before I allow myself to get any more, but if I was browsing looking to buy, I'd give this a punt!
Summing up: I've actually written it on my to-read list - which shows that people CAN discover your book via an Amazon browse. The cover made me take a look, but after that it was all down to the blurb. If the subject matter hadn't appealed, it would have been a pass. If it had been badly written (sloppy, badly punctuated, etc), it would have been a definite pass. Over 4 quid might have made me think twice, too.
Summing up: I've actually written it on my to-read list - which shows that people CAN discover your book via an Amazon browse. The cover made me take a look, but after that it was all down to the blurb. If the subject matter hadn't appealed, it would have been a pass. If it had been badly written (sloppy, badly punctuated, etc), it would have been a definite pass. Over 4 quid might have made me think twice, too.
Actor Josh Holloway. Wouldn't mind being 'left on Paradise' with him, hur hur hur!
Excellent Terry, just the type of buying thought process lots of readers go through. Thanks for taking part.
ReplyDeleteYes - I really like this idea, and it didn't take long to do, only half an hour or so, I shall do it again!!! I like it because it's of interest to writers as well as readers - shows how easily it can be a click-buy or not a click-buy!!
DeleteYep - just the kind of thought process I've been through and been caught out on - so many quarter - read books on my kindle! And still I do it. Found some brilliant authors though - which is why I still take a punt. terry - you have a dirty laugh! Oh what the heck - going to have a go now ...
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing yours, Judith - I think Rosie's had a brilliant idea with this one! I'm actually slightly put off by the sheer length of this one, but I'm still looking forward to reading it. Some of my favourite books have been discovered through idle punts, ie via Twitter or Amazon browsing, so I still do it. The ones that have disappointed me tend to be those whose reviews turn out to be, on further investigation, back scratching 5* by author friends, sadly - which is why I continue to rail about this practice!
DeleteInteresting premise, I can see the appeal.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think it might skip the queue!
DeleteWould hesitate on this one, Terry. Sounds a bit dystopian? And unreachable. Hmm, on second thoughts ...
ReplyDeleteOh, it's massively up my street. I love anything to do with survival in unlikely circumstances - and the author is clearly switched on about political corruption, too, which works for me :)
DeleteI love hearing about this as a process. So would you say it's the cover that pulled you in or the title (and premise)?
ReplyDeleteObviously without the cover I wouldn't have looked at the book. However, I haven't always come to a book via its cover. The title - nothing to do with it; it actually would have put me off, as the word 'paradise' said 'romantic novel' to me, a genre that is not a 'go to' for me! The premise was what mad me say yes - BUT if the blurb had not been written well I would not have taken it further.
DeleteIt's a great idea - but, like you, I have a pile of to-be-read books, and good resolutions about seeing that go down before I buy even one more. But will certainly remember this when there's a space.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting as an exercise, more than anything else, Jo!
DeleteThis appeals to me Terry, I like the premise, though as you say a bit price heavy for an author you've not heard of - would be worth peeking at the sample first I think.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think so, too - I always forget that option! it was the blurb that really made me say yes - the guy can obviously write really well. Sorry I can't comment on yours, I wanted to but it's all those cookies!!!!!
DeleteNot a problem Terry - I know you are there in spirit!! ;-)
DeleteA great idea! I might try it too, TT! My TBR list is also horrendous, but it would be a fun exercise!
ReplyDeleteOh, you're not meant to actually buy and read them, Val, unless you want to - it's just - yes, a fun exercise! I've written this one on my list but I may not get to it for a year, or indeed ever :)
Delete