The Friday Five Challenge is an interesting exercise for writers ~ it shows the little things that can put potential readers off that click-buy. We click on a book because the cover appeals to us, but can be put off a purchase by the blurb, the price, or the reviews.
Anyone with a blog can join in ~ here's what you do:
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 instantly appeals
4) Read the book bio/description, and any other details
5) If there are reviews, check out a couple
6) Make an instant decision: would you BUY or PASS?
You can check out others' contributions on the #FridayFiveChallenge hashtag on Twitter, or see links at the end of this page.
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Friday Five Challenge posts by others:
Doggy stuff for Barb Taub
Rosie Amber chooses an Oirish comedy with plenty of fockin' swearing, by accident
Historic France for Alison Williams
Mystery in the Algarve for Lost In A Book
Shelley Wilson is on holiday so has provided a recap of previous posts
Cathy Ry does Christmas
It's my birthday this week, which got me thinking about my age.... so I put Over Fifties in the Amazon search! I whizzed past lots of cookery books and tomes about dieting and yoga (which I never bother to read because I don't stick to any of it), before I came to the first one that tempted me to have a look. I stopped reading beauty articles in magazines in the hope that they would turn me into a beautiful lady many, many moons ago, but maybe I haven't totally given up yet ~ so, here's the first book that made me want to look past the cover:
50 Beauty Secrets for Women over 40 by Bella Sparelli
Analysis
Cover
It was the title rather than the cover that made me want to look at it, I have to admit ~ I think the cover's pretty average.
It was the title rather than the cover that made me want to look at it, I have to admit ~ I think the cover's pretty average.
Price
£2.22 for.... 46 pages??? On the other hand, it might be a well packed 46 pages. And it's available on Kindle Unlimited, so would cost me nowt.
£2.22 for.... 46 pages??? On the other hand, it might be a well packed 46 pages. And it's available on Kindle Unlimited, so would cost me nowt.
Blurb
There are many tips that women should know so they can retain their beauty as they age. Some people believe as you get older you will lose your beauty. This is not so and there are many things you can do to stay beautiful for years to come.
Underwhelming, or what? Not exactly selling the book, is it? Certainly hasn't sold it to me, anyway.
There are many tips that women should know so they can retain their beauty as they age. Some people believe as you get older you will lose your beauty. This is not so and there are many things you can do to stay beautiful for years to come.
Underwhelming, or what? Not exactly selling the book, is it? Certainly hasn't sold it to me, anyway.
Reviews
Two on UK, both 5*. A long, detailed one that looks genuine, and a one liner by someone who has never reviewed anything else (ie, most likely the author's chum). On Amazon.com, however, there are twenty-nine, a fairly mixed bag. From the negative ones I gleaned the information that there is little in this book that you're not likely to know already, much of it is about making your own skin preparations, and the book is not very well presented. The positive reviews think the overall message is a good one, and found it inspiring. I suspect it might be useful for people who have never been interested in this sort of thing so haven't read it all before, but not for tired old hands like me who have been there, done that and bought the Estee Lauder.
Two on UK, both 5*. A long, detailed one that looks genuine, and a one liner by someone who has never reviewed anything else (ie, most likely the author's chum). On Amazon.com, however, there are twenty-nine, a fairly mixed bag. From the negative ones I gleaned the information that there is little in this book that you're not likely to know already, much of it is about making your own skin preparations, and the book is not very well presented. The positive reviews think the overall message is a good one, and found it inspiring. I suspect it might be useful for people who have never been interested in this sort of thing so haven't read it all before, but not for tired old hands like me who have been there, done that and bought the Estee Lauder.
Would I BUY or PASS?
PASS. I wouldn't even bother to download on Kindle Unlimited. Guess I'll just carry on relying on eating lots of fruit, using Boots cleanser and not looking in the mirror too much. Or maybe it's just that I've got more interesting things to read about....
PASS. I wouldn't even bother to download on Kindle Unlimited. Guess I'll just carry on relying on eating lots of fruit, using Boots cleanser and not looking in the mirror too much. Or maybe it's just that I've got more interesting things to read about....
Friday Five Challenge posts by others:
Doggy stuff for Barb Taub
Rosie Amber chooses an Oirish comedy with plenty of fockin' swearing, by accident
Historic France for Alison Williams
Mystery in the Algarve for Lost In A Book
Shelley Wilson is on holiday so has provided a recap of previous posts
Cathy Ry does Christmas
Definitely a PASS! For the same reasons :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't know why I chose it really, but I always play it by choosing the first cover that actually wants to make me look a bit further - whatever it is!!!
DeleteI'm thinking that model on the cover is unlikely to be over 50, so what else does the book offer that will be hard to achieve? Far too pricey for just a few pages, when you can search the internet for free on this subject. A PASS from me.
ReplyDeleteHA!! Yes - exactly! It's like all those skin cream adverts, they show them being used by women who are too young to have lines anyway!!!!!!! And yes - I doubt that anyone has got any real 'secrets' that haven't been revealed yet. Until someone invents something that gives you a facelift without surgery... :)
DeleteAgree with Rosie - no way she's over 50! That cover would put me off because she looks so smug. The older I get the more I realise there is no secret, unfortunately it's exercise, good diet and sleep, all the boring things. Oh and wine (although probably not in the amounts that I drink). That'll be £2.22 please :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Yes - not too much booze, don't sunbathe, eat properly and arrange to be born to parents who have good genes in the first place; that's all you can do!
ReplyDeleteI zoned out at the 'make your own preparations' bit - I'm never going to do that so it's a pass from me. Plus I hate the cover... with that title at least put someone on there who is somewhere near the age it is supposedly aimed at!!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah - if I mash an avocado I want to EAT it!
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