We all know that when it comes to enjoying a book – content is key. There is the plot, narration, character development, and then there are also other factors like – How did the book make us feel? Did we laugh out loud while reading it, or did we cry along with the characters? Either way, a strong emotional connect goes a long way in shaping our opinion of a book.
Now all of these things have to do with the book itself. But sometimes there are things which have nothing to do with the book, but do influence our opinion of it.
These things are external influences impacting our reading experience. Sometimes our general mood, the amount of time we have to read, the distractions that we are faced with, can, and do impact our overall feeling regarding a book.
For instance, I am very much a mood reader. As much as I love the genre of romance and Indian historical fiction, I cannot read them back to back. If I do, the law of diminishing marginal utility comes into play, and I like each consecutive book less and less, for no real fault of the book. Ofcourse I do counter this by not picking up the same genre back to back, just so that I can give any particular book the best shot it can get.
But there are some things I cannot do anything about – like how busy my life is at any given point of time, and how much time I can give to reading. If I pick up a heavy, dense read when my life is particularly hectic and stressful – it will just bog me down and I will hate the book. So, in such cases, my feelings towards a book, have less to do with the book, but more to do with the overall reading environment and experience.
On a similar note, I often wonder about how much of my undying love for The Harry Potter Series is tied to the wonderful reading experience I had. I mean I literally grew up with Harry. A lot of my fondest memories from my teens have to do with staying up all night reading the series, and doing a marathon re-read just before the next book was about to come out, and then watching it take life on the big screen. That kind of experience is pretty difficult to beat. But then that is the thing – it was the right book, at the right time, and it made a world of difference.
Speaking of which, I have also considered if I would have loved the book/series as much if I had read it now as an adult.
I mean I am sure I will still love the story, because let’s face it – it’s epic! But will it have the same magical halo around it? I guess not. But in this case, what is done is done. The Harry Potter Series is pure perfection in my eyes, and nothing is changing that.
But I’d love to hear from you guys. What do you guys think? How much do external factors influence your opinion of a book?
What do you do to counter it? Was there a book you read that suffered due to bad timing? Do you give a book a second shot if you feel that it did not get a fair chance? Do you have a particular book that was the perfect read at the perfect time for you? Do share.
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Not all, but self publishing vs a well known publisher house makes some difference
That is an interesting point. I think while picking up a book, I too do give this some thought, but if I am not in the mood for a particular book, it doesn’t matter how it is published.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
I read the blurb and then pick up a book. Also, depends on my mood – when I’m not in the mood – I pick up something light and breezy.
I also don’t go by reviews completely because there are 100s of books which I have loved and others wouldn’t have even heard of the author! 😀
Word of mouth is something I do consider – thanks to my friends and my sister – I have found a few favorites that I treasure! 🙂
I agree. While reviews help, it is important to trust our gut instinct. And yes, my mood dictates my pick too. Good to see you here, Hema. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
What an interesting theory to discuss. I was an adult when the Harry Potter series started and I think one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much was that it really turned my second son onto reading. My oldest was already a voracious reader but my Michael was reluctant. But he fell in love with Harry and has been a reader ever since. That series will always be special to me because of that.
I also alternate the genres I read because like you, my enjoyment is lessened if I only read one continually.
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True, some books are special because of the things we associate with them. So glad that the Harry Potter series got your son to reading. The very same series got me hooked too. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Harry Potter series – I read it in my 30s and later – till last year. It’s perfect for all ages. It’s a fascinating world altogether and I go to it like a ‘pick me up’ when I feel low. As for moods affecting my reading, I have found that most fiction reading energises me. I love to laugh out loud, cry, love and hate along with the characters. I truly go deep within to the point that at times it takes me a while to relate to the real world. Then again, not all books have such a strong influence. But these are the books that I love the most.
I remember reading the life histories of Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Jesus Christ in school. I have shed so many tears though I have re-read the same very many times.
One book that I read when I was around 17: The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon. I gagged and was horrified after a few chapters. I left it midway (I have probably done that to 2-3 books in my lifetime). But later, I completed it in my late 20s; after reading the sequel: Memories of Midnight.
Exorcist and The Omen marked me for life. I stopped reading even fun horror after those.
Oh yes, I stay away from horror too. I have not read The Omen, but have seen the movie. As far as the genre of horror goes, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Too scared, too easily. 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Oh yes, mood, availability of time do matter a lot! I had a book to review, the author was following up relentlessly and I was swamped with exigencies at work and home. I really tried hard to read it (as if I had an exam the next day) and I neither liked the book nor could I finish it. I picked it up much later and loved it.
A great topic for a series… looking forward to read more here 🙂
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Thank you so much, Shilpa. And yes, I know exactly what you mean; have gone through a similar experience myself.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Although I do read reviews I generally go by my gut instinct when it comes to books. That and partly based on recommendations by friends who have similar tastes. There have been times when I have been pleasantly surprised too, so I guess it is an individual thing 🙂
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Agree. I read reviews, and follow my gut instinct too. However, even if I have done everything I can to ensure that it is a good pick, sometimes external factors impact my overall enjoyment of the book.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
I am not a frequent reader, but I read books which are suggested my friends, mainly thriller stories 🙂
Welcome to my blog, Arun. Thanks for stopping by.
I too rely on recommendations from my friends, but also consider my gut instinct. Eitherway, more often than not, timing does play a role in my overall enjoyment of a book. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
My reading is fairly limited by my schedule. But my opinion of the book purely depends on how well it can hold my attention. It is a popular opinion that I may have some residual ADHD. Thats why my favorite genre is thriller, suspense, etc. New events keep me hooked.
Hahaha..in your case, the popular opinion can be trusted. 😛 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Interesting question. I usually pick books on recommendations. I can’t read self help but other than that genre, I am open to everything so I ask folks I know and they recommend. I hardly pick a book on my own. But reading depends on mood – and time available. 🙂 Good luck on the series.
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Thank you so much, Parul. I too select a good portion of my reading based on recommendations, and also consider my gut instinct. But sometimes, in-spite of all these measures, if I am overly busy or stressed, a dense book tends to drag on.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Before the internet became as easily accessible as it is today, I definitely did not have more than the blurb at the back of the book or the odd “New York Times Bestseller” title to go by before reading a book.
And it helped me unearth some pretty good gems.
Today, yes.. I do check out reviews before buying a book… it has more to do with the price (or rather, lack of a library option ) for me.
And yes, the mood of the moment does influence me again – I remember loving Catch 22 when I first read it. Years later, I tried re-reading it and could not get through a third of it.
Similarly, I started reading John Connolly during a dark phase in my life and his words totally resonated with my thoughts. Don’t know how the young me would have fared had he read the same book,
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I agree. Catch 22 is a book that I picked up at a very wrong time, but I have heard so many good things about it, that I plan to give it another go sometime soon.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
The mood does affect your thoughts towards the book. HP is something that can be endlessly revisited IMO, but two other books come to mind when I think about mood and books:
1) I first read God of Small Things in school and hated it. I read it much later as an adult, and now it is one of my favourites. I just could not get into the characters and their lives the first time round.
2) I tried to read The White Tiger when it first came out, but didn’t like it much back then. I still have my copy, and I’ve been thinking of re-reading it since the past few weeks.
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Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes we read books when were too young/naive to fully appreciate them. Those should be revisited. I too am compiling my re-read list. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
You are right about this….external factors do influence your perceptions of a book. One such book that I found a drag was….Amish’s Oath of the Vayuputras….I was reading this book out of a sense of loyalty to its predecessors. But the timing was all wrong, a stressful time in life when I tried to use reading to counter it…..the book got on my nerves and I shamefully never did complete it 🙁 Btw….HP series is perfect at all times….don’t know why!
Yep, my love for the Harry Potter series defies all logic and analysis too. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Since for a while now I have been reading very selectively and after a careful consideration of what I want to get from a book, I am hardly ever influenced by any external opinions. But even when I was reading popular fiction etc I tried to rely more on my preference and taste when picking up books to read, rather than the reviews or opinions of others.
Sure. I understand that. I too am not overly influenced by reviews, but when they are from the people whose preferences I trust, they are an excellent guide. But reviews are not what I meant by ‘external factors’; I was just referring to one’s schedule and time available for reading and such.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Harry Potter is something I haven’t got past a page of reading. Somehow fantasy doesn’t appeal to me much and this one was something else altogether. I have the entire set and I have vowed to finish reading it by next year. Fingers crossed!
Although I pick up books based on reviews, most of the reasoning comes from myself. Is it a genre I would enjoy? Is the language good? How does the gist sound? etc etc. I have picked up a few unheard of books and have absolutely loved some of them. A book that has suffered due to bad timing is clearly the current one I’m reading, The Palace Of Illusions. I started reading this months ago and work has been so hectic after that I hardly find time to go back. Now I’m done with more than half of the book, but the time it took for me read it made me forget some important parts of the books. I will have to go back to reading it from first again.
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You haven’t read Harry Potter? :O Well okay, I am going to try and ‘convert’ you, so bear with me please. 😛
You should know that I don’t read fantasy either. The Harry Potter series is the only exception. Of-course the timing probably contributed to why I am so deeply in love with it, but it is a great story regardless. Do give it a shot. Try and get through the initial chapters with the Dursleys and it just gets better and better from there. I promise. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
There are only a few authors I read regularly for pleasure and my reading time is extremely limited. The only time I have is when I am traveling on a mode of transportation that does NOT require me to drive. Consequently, I am always in the mood to read at these precious moments in time and rarely disappointed. You make a great point but for me, it does not matter.
For my talk show, I try to read each of my guest’s books before I interview them. Again, timing is not an issue as it is “work” related.
True, that is understandable in your case. Of late, I have started picking up books from genres new to me, and am also experimenting with new (to me) authors, which is probably why this was coming into play. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Nice points Shanaya, definitely, external factors influence me. If I am busy, I will read a good book, but might not enjoy as much as I read it in leisure, so I might feel it’s not that great.
Sometimes, the blurb influences me to decide whether to pick it or not. So, if some great books don’t have an interesting blurb, I will miss them.
The Genre is the most important thing. Even though few books are very good in that genre, I might not like them at all, as I don’t like that genre itself. I don’t like dystopian books much, so it doesn’t matter it it’s good or bad, i will not like it.
My surroundings, weather and undisturbed environment also sometimes contribute to my love for some book. Ex: A romantic novel reading at a peaceful place in a hill station.
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True, Ramya. I have stayed away from dystopian stories too. I know that sometimes a good book can change one’s mind about a genre, but I do not see that happening with the genre of dystopia, but like they say – never say never! 😀
As far as surroundings go, if I get undisturbed time to read, I tend to enjoy a book more. Hill station, with a hot cuppa is ideal for romance – reading or otherwise. 😉 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
I think I would have enjoyed Harry Potter even if I had picked it up today. There are some books which just beat all odds stacked against them. Also, I am the kind of reader who, while reading a book, forgets about external circumstances and gets totally immersed into a book. That being said, I do relate to a book more if it has a track that runs parallel to what I am going through or have gone through at one point in time.
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I agree, Nidhi. For the most part, reading is an escape for me, which is why external situations do not necessarily influence me if the book is very good. But the average ones do get impacted by the reading experience.
And yes, Harry Potter is in a different league. There is so much to love there. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Now this is an interesting topic… never thought about this… but since I turn to books to escape the drudgery of my everyday life… I would not say that the external factors affect my opinion. How well I relate to a story or characters though is something that changes with the kind of experiences I have had 🙂
Yeah, if a book is engaging enough, external factors do not matter as much I guess. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Shanaya, I did enjoy the HP series in-spite of all things hectic, the size of the book, the fantasy. That says a lot for the popularity of the book. I was recently reviewing a fantasy novel. But, I could not. The writing was flawless and a good pace, but I just could not connect with it and I have decided to stay off fantasy. But still we love the Harry Potter books across ages, culture, ,countries, genres. I just want to say, if the book is good, it will engage us. If it isn’t, it will be a chore at any time.
Yeah, I have not read much in genre of fantasy outside of HP, so I wouldn’t know for sure. But just going by the blurbs, fantasies do not appeal to me a whole lot. Harry Potter is in a different league. Having said that, I haven’t given up on the genre of fantasy; I am just waiting for the right book. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ
Usually I pick the book according to my mood so most often the liking has nothing to do with mood related things. But yes, reading too many books back to back belonging to same genres (or should I say same BASIC STORYLINE) does impact my overall feeling for the book.
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I agree. I almost never pick up the same genre back to back.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Do external factors influence your opinion of a book? | Diary of A Book BloggerÂ