Synopsis: The make it or break it
I posted my review for A Reliable Wife today and as I mentioned there I was stunned at how different the book seemed from what I expected from reading the synopsis. Then I started thinking how many of us are synopsis readers? I am faithfully a reader of the book jacket. I rarely read the ‘praise for’ but I read the synopsis and that is how I choose the books I want to read.
Every so often you read a synopsis and get something completely different from what you thought you were getting. In the case of A Reliable Wife, for me anyway that was a good thing. I was expecting to go deep into chick-lit land but it ended up being a very twisted and dark tale. I was in the mood for dark.
Sometimes you get a great synopsis and a horrible book. So tell me, does the synopsis make or break the book? What do you do or how do you feel when you get something less or more than the synopsis promised? Do you read the synopsis at all? (How many times can you say synopsis in one post. Oh yeah I so got that record.)
By: Heidenkind
Your blog has an iPod feed! How cool is that?
I used to be a big synopsis reader, but lately I haven’t been reading them at all. But I haven’t browsed for books to buy in a while, either, and that’s probably a big part of it.
By: Travis
I love when a synopsis gets you just interested enough to read, but doesn’t give too much away.
Although when a synopsis makes me think the book is something it’s not, I get angry.
By: Katy
I definitely read the synopsis. I like to have some kind of idea what the book is about and that’s usually how I find that out. I hate it when the synopsis isn’t accurate or gives up too much information.
By: Aarti
I am definitely a synopsis reader, but I feel they can often be misleading. Same with covers. I don’t like when synopses give too much information (which happens A LOT). The book I read for the Spotlight Series gave information about the plot up to a full 3/4 of the way through the book! Is that necessary? Can’t you be more general?
At the same time, though, I don’t like when synopses leave important information out, either. I feel like a LOT of Christian fiction leaves out the fact that it is “faith-based” and that makes me resentful.
I think when I browse books, I read the synopsis, but I only put books on my wishlist after reading reviews.
By: Amy @ My Friend Amy
Sometimes I skim the synopsis, but I really like just one sentence synopsis b/c I generally don’t like to be spoiled on the book.
By: aelysium
I try to read just the first sentence or two of the synopsis, because I like knowing just the basic premise of the book, and not much else. I think 8 times out of 10 the synopsis gives away too much of the plot. And I like to be surprised. Mostly I add books to my TBR based on reviews or recommendations.
By: Carrie K.
I like a very brief synopsis that doesn’t give away too much of the plot. I hate misleading ones, though – I agreed to review a book once because it was described as a thriller, and it turned out to be historical fiction – which would have been okay, but it was particularly boring historical fiction!
By: Savvyverseandwit
I love synopses, but hate when the book turns out bad. But I guess that’s the problem because those blurbs about the book are written in a way that markets the book to certain readers. However, I find that reading a few paragraphs of a book after the synopsis will at least give me insight into the writing style and characters and whether I want to read it or not.
By: Nayuleska
The synopsis is really important to me as a book reviewer, because often that is how I base which books I request for review. Unless I get a personal recommendation from someone :)
By: Jenny
One of the great things about book bloggers for me is that reading a blogger’s review of a book can give me a better sense of the FEEL of a book. And then if the synopsis doesn’t quite capture it, I’m better prepared for when I read it. Because I know that when a book doesn’t align with my expectations, I frequently become cranky.
By: Michelle
More times than not I’ll read the synopsis since that is really the way I know I want to read the book or not. The only time I’m not a fan is when I feel really decieved by what is printed there. I purchased a book not long after starting my blog that the jacket flap made the story sound like it was a light fluffy and fun romp when in actuality it really wasn’t. It completely ruined the book for me. Had I known what the book was really about I may not have purchased it. Though if I had I’m sure I would have waited to read it when I was in the mood for something darker instead of a pick me up.
By: Robbie
I do read cover flap, but I find that about half of the time the flap is either inaccurate, insufficient, or gives away too much. If possible, I prefer the Library of Congress annotation that can usually be found on the copyright page. O_o