book peeve

[maderr]

If there is one thing I utterly detest in any and all books, it is when it cannot be bothered to give you a fucking summary. If you can't tell me what you're book is about? Only that's it's wonderful and perfect and zomg look at the quotes from famous people!? It probably sucks. Or is Too Deep and Important for a summary. Same thing.

Sorry, there's a million more books in the world that will give me summaries.

Comments

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Summaries and excerpts.

[(Anonymous)]

What's worse, for me, is getting a book and realising that the summary was COMPLETELY misleading. I've seen a book where the summary relates vaguely what happens in the three first chapters as well as adding a detail or two that are all lies and deceit. The plot takes a left turn at chapter four and the book suddenly has as much to do with the summary as the States has to do with Cuba; they have history together, but they aren't speaking anymore.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

The plot takes a left turn at chapter four and the book suddenly has as much to do with the summary as the States has to do with Cuba; they have history together, but they aren't speaking anymore.

LOL!

[aikonamika.livejournal.com]

*nodnods firmly* Preaching to the choir.

Not only that, but I like it when they give a small exerpt on the page just inside a cover, to give me a hint of what the writing style is like without making me flip through the entire book.

...not that I don't flip through the book anyway. *cough*

[hayama-sb.livejournal.com]

Now if only people came with summaries...

[shattereternity.livejournal.com]

LOL that would solve soo many problems :D

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

I refere none to a summary that has fuck all to do with the book.

[sixpence1323.livejournal.com]

I feel you on that. I hate it when there are no summaries. It's like, well, now I'm not getting your book because the fact that Peter So-and-So says, "It's magnificient! A classic for all ages!" doesn't really matter and doesn't do it for me.

Gah. I always want to fling those books across the stores.

[scary-sushi.livejournal.com]

Yes. Or when the summary has nothing to do with the story, or when it doesn't tell you the MC is Mary Sue fodder. Seriously, Adelia Fidelia Cristina Myblabla d'El Compostela is not my idea of a believable MC, I don't care how she's characterised.

And I don't care how much the book's been praised, thankyouverymuch. Or if it won awards. Those usually indicate Too Deep too. And come hand in hand with a two-sentences summary, since of course the award will make you buy the book.

Pfft. Sorry, am just a bit bitter over here in my little corner :P