Today’s meme is about peer pressure:
Have you ever felt pressured to read something because ‘everyone else’ was reading it? Have you ever given in and read the book(s) in question or do you resist? If you are a reviewer, etc, do you feel it’s your duty to keep up on current trends?
I do feel a bit of pressure. But I think that pressure comes mainly from me and has more to do with the sheer number of books out there that I haven’t read than with a book’s popularity. I tend to read the books that sound good to me or that are recommended by a trusted source. Sometimes I read trendy books; sometimes I don’t. I’ve read all of the Harry Potter books and all of the Twilight books (though I got in on the ground floor there). I’ve read The Da Vinci Code. I haven’t read The Kite Runner or Eat, Love, Pray. I haven’t read The Shack or anything by Eckhart Tolle. I do actively try to get to recent winners of prizes like the Pulitzer, the Booker, the Printz, and the Newberry. I guess those could be considered trendy amongst serious readers.
As a reviewer, I feel that my primary duty is to honesty review the books I read. That’s it. While I do try to read new and relevant books, I still read what I want to read.
As a general matter, I think that buzz about books is good. Whether I join in or not, I’m glad that people are talking about books.
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Sometime the fact that a book is wildly popular makes me NOT want to read it. I think I’m just kind of contrary like that. Although, once I did finally pick up Harry Potter, I fell head-over-heals, now-own-at-least-three-editions-of-each-one in love so….
I review too, and I choose what I think I will enjoy. Reading should be fun.
“I haven’t read The Kite Runner or Eat, Love, Pray.”
Oh my, I mentioned these two in my answer as well! I have no intention to read neither. I stick with what I like to read and won’t bother with things that are trendy. I do realize Amazon reviewers fall into that vicious competitiveness to improve their ranking.
Great answer! Sometimes I find myself reading trendy books, but it is never because of the hype. It all comes down to what I enjoy and am interested in.
I agree with your comment, “I think that pressure comes mainly from me and has more to do with the sheer number of books out there that I haven’t read than with a book’s popularity.” So true. I don’t feel pressure to read Twilight so much as I feel pressure to READ MORE. I’m trying!
I agree – there are so many good books out there! I must read faster!
I loved The Kite Runner, incidentally – I didn’t expect to, but it was amazing. Don’t plan on ever reading Eat Pray Love though. It doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.
I get peer pressured all the time into taking part in sub-par film. It’s horrible. Horrible!
Skip Eat Pray Love but do read The Kite Runner! Feel the pressure!
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