What’s Book Description Kryptonite? When something in the description makes me immediately decide the book isn’t for me.
It’s the opposite of “I will read anything that mentions these favorite things.”
I’m sure everyone has their own version of book kryptonite, but for me these are the main ones:
- Political thriller (political anything really, but especially thrillers)
- Corruption (these generally end up making me feel so discouraged)
- Cancer (just for now; I don’t think this will be a permanent thing)
- Oprah (her book picks were generally not a good fit for me)
- Celebrity (Although I did really enjoy one celebrity memoir, in general I have no interest in reading about Hollywood or sports celebrities.)
- 1960’s (my least favorite time period to read about)
- Zombies (although I will admit there is a very small part of me that wants to try Pride and Prejudice and Zombies just because … what? This is so completely strange and weird and what on earth did you do to this story?)
- Erotica (do I even have to say why?)
- Touching (I read “touching story” in a blurb or description, and I think “sappy drivel.” This is one where I can possibly be persuaded otherwise by someone whose opinion I trust.)
- Young kids being kidnapped or otherwise harmed. (I used to be able to read about it, but right now I immediately substitute *my* kids for the fictional ones and suddenly I can’t focus on the story because MAH BABIES!!)
And the absolute, no-way-am-I-reading-this:
Do I ever read any books that hit these triggers? Potentially, if a reliable resource convinces me to give it a try, or if it’s by a trusted author. As a rule of thumb however, any of these terms in the description makes me put the book aside and keep looking for my next read.
Do you have any particular words or phrases that immediately make you put the book down, thinking “not for me!”?
This post was inspired by the #bookwormproblems series run last year by Quirky Bookworm. Read my earlier entries in the series!
Previously on The Deliberate Reader
One year ago: Bookworm Problems: Buying Books and Not Reading Them
Two years ago: What I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2014
You\'re reading Book Description Kryptonite by Sheila Craig, originally posted on The Deliberate Reader on January 6, 2016. If you\'ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Sheila on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
