I was looking through books yesterday at the shops and saw all the Twilight books, which I know basically nothing about. What I do know is that I’m beginning to feel like I’m the *only* person who knows nothing about them.
Despite being almost broke and trying to save money, I almost bought the expensive book (Australian book prices are often completely nutty) just because I felt the need to be ‘up’ on what everyone else was reading.
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 wouldn’t say I feel “pressured” in a peer pressure type way, and I don’t feel the need to keep up with trends in contemporary fiction, but sometimes when a book really blows up and it’s “supposed” to appeal to me I sigh, read it, and then tell everyone how disappointing it was (it usually is).
Back when The Da Vinci Code was at the height of its hype I decided to see what all the fuss was about—I actually read Angels and Demons first, too—and that was a big mistake. Usually I hold off for a respectable amount of time. When people thought Jonathan Safran Foer was the messiah, I didn’t care and waited until his second novel had been published to read his first—which I did end up liking.
I have at times felt a little twinge about reading Twilight as well, but I am reasonably sure I would hate it and I don’t really want to waste my time reading books for spite. It’s much more likely for me to feel pressured about classics, or quasi-classics. (I’m having visions of me and Alison at a library book sale, holding up something by Martin Amis or J.M. Coetzee, saying, “I should read this, shouldn’t I?”)
6 responses so far ↓
Chris@bookarama // September 4, 2008 at 7:52
I’m not really all that interested in the Twilight series either.
Rebecca // September 4, 2008 at 7:53
Stay away from the Twilight books. You know how I feel about them :)
Sally // September 4, 2008 at 8:11
No way will I read the Twilight series .
Barbara H. // September 4, 2008 at 8:27
I am much the same way — often I am disappointed in whatever is currently popular.
kristynwinters // September 4, 2008 at 13:54
I haven’t read the Twilight, but I definitely understand the pressure to read books that other people rave about. The hype generally prevents me from reading those books. I had a similar reaction to Jonathan Safran Foer. I held out until last year, but I liked his second book not his first.
It’s hard to know who to listen to when often the same people have recommended terrible books in the past. I suppose the classics have stood the test of time, and they are still recommended. We don’t have that luxury with current books.
caite // September 4, 2008 at 19:29
No, I feel no pressure to read the big talked about books…none.
Tried the first Harry Potter, just to see if it was something my niece might like. I didn’t finish it..she hated it.
Da Vinci Code…nope. Seemed to be a consensus it was badly written and I can forgive a lot, but not that.
Someone referred to me as a dissenter on a comment on my blog and that is just fine with me….lol