tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post5960945331150308290..comments2023-12-28T03:56:53.401-08:00Comments on Author Paula Stokes: Using comparison titles: an author's perspectivePaula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-51481418710317423292015-03-02T11:52:34.667-08:002015-03-02T11:52:34.667-08:00These are great points, Alyssa. I also would never...These are great points, Alyssa. I also would never buy a book because of a comparison, the same way I'd never buy one based on author-blurbs. But I would stop and consider a book based on comparison titles, and that's kind of how I hope they're working for me.<br /><br />Like I'm the one who added "How to Get Away With Murder" as a comparison title, and since then a couple of people have said "oh, I wasn't going to read LIARS, but now I might because I like that show." (Also 3 different reviews have said it's a valid comparison, so I feel okay using it.)<br /><br />But I really appreciate your perspective and I do think there's a risk in using comp titles or any kind of comparison. For the longest time I didn't watch Firefly because people kept telling me it was a "space western." I don't like space stuff and I HATE westerns--so that was the ultimate fail for me. But then I was trapped in O'hare on a long layover and streamed it out of boredom. LOVED IT. One of my all-time fave shows.<br /><br />I guess in the end, we never really know what will work ;-)Paula Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-29427374768696388782015-03-01T15:10:33.887-08:002015-03-01T15:10:33.887-08:00PART TWO:
Anyway. Those are my evidence that just...PART TWO:<br /><br />Anyway. Those are my evidence that just about anyone writes those ridiculous comparisons, because the books and their comparison books have NOTHING in common, in these two cases. Of course, they're just two cases of a billion and one. <br /><br />I totally understand your points about who the comparisons are for, and bloggers going through hundreds of books and seeing the same thing in many books. Totally makes sense. But it doesn't make me any less cynical to the idea comparisons in summaries. I couldn't tell you how many times I perked at seeing a new book, read its summary which had comparisons, and moved along. Not necessarily because of the books to which this new book was compared (though that's a huge factor), but because of the fact that the comparisons are usually so off (and, of course, the fact that the books are usually big-name, overused, totally over-hyped and popular books that everyone's heard of and everyone either OMG LOVES or OMG SO SICK OF THAT).<br /><br />Comparisons are a great marketing technique, I'm sure, but I don't really buy into them. At the end of the day, if the summary is interesting, or the genre is one I enjoy, or the author is familiar, or a friend really recommends the book, then I'll give it its fair shot. But my decisions to READ a book are rarely based on comparisons. My decisions NOT to read a book are sometimes based on comparisons. Not the majority, but enough for this decision-making process to stick out in my brain.<br /><br />Anyway. I could go on and on, to be honest. But that's enough from me. I hope this comment posts and Blogger won't eat it, because I will be seriously pissed if it doesn't show up! You know what, I'm copying this right now...<br /><br />Cheers! Have a great week :)<br /><br />Alyssa @ <a href="http://eaterofbooks.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Eater of Books!</a>Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00128004483437247740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-55218183885580072332015-03-01T15:10:12.944-08:002015-03-01T15:10:12.944-08:00SO BLOGGER HAS A CHARACTER LIMIT ON COMMENTS O_O I...SO BLOGGER HAS A CHARACTER LIMIT ON COMMENTS O_O I didn't know this. So my comment is split into two parts. <br /><br />PART ONE:<br /><br />I FEEL TERRIBLE. I've had this page bookmarked since Tuesday, but I hadn't gotten around to even reading it until a few days. And I've had this comment drafted, but never quite finished it. I apologize! But here goes.<br /><br />(I've read through the entire post, so don't think I've carelessly missed something or am ignorant to one part or the other. Just being thorough!)<br /><br />I think most of my annoyance with comparisons lies with your Point #3. I see big titles like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, Fangirl, The Fault in Our Stars (or just John Green) in waaayyyyy too many summaries. I hate seeing that. I liked Divergent (though I haven't read Allegiant - and won't). I thought The Hunger Games series was okay. Never read any John Green. But when I started reading other books that were compared to these big names, I get turned off. Maybe because I usually end up not liking the big-name books anyway. Maybe because I really DON'T want to read a "similar" book to those listed (because I've already read a really good "version", or because this "version" isn't as appealing, or whatever). For me, I think it's the fact that so many books are being compared to the big names. Also, sometimes, those comparisons just AREN'T ACCURATE, and then I get it in my head that the comparisons are worthless anyway; so even if I LIKED the books being compared to this new book, it doesn't matter because the comparisons won't be accurate?! (If that makes sense.)<br /><br />Take, for example, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (<a href="http://eaterofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/01/review-red-queen-by-victoria-aveyard.html" rel="nofollow">my review</a>). The summary says "Graceling meets The Selection". In my review, I stated that I could see the comparison with The Selection, but not Graceling (I've read The Selection, and Graceling. Graceling is one of my favorites of all time, and I've re-read it countless times). I was totally confused by that comparison. Red Queen had very, very little elements in common with Graceling. None, really. Maybe the fact that they're both some sort of fantasy, but even that's a stretch. In the end, I loved Red Queen, but it irritated me to see this book compared to Graceling, when it was in no way/shape/form similar to Graceling (like, nothing).<br /><br />Another example - The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (<a href="http://eaterofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/review-queen-of-tearling-by-erika.html" rel="nofollow">my review</a>). The summary says something about the world being as terrifying as that of The Hunger Games. Okay. Woah. That one blew my mind. To begin with, TEARLING is an adult fiction novel, and The Hunger Games is Young Adult. Totally different age levels/audiences. Not that that matters much. But then, I found that TEARLING was noooootttthhhhhhiiiinnnnngggg like The Hunger Games, in any way. The world of TEARLING was much more violent and bloody and gore-filled than that of The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is YA (and leaves out a lot of the graphic violence - or doesn't have as much to begin with). TEARLING has all of that good stuff. The Hunger Games pales next to TEARLING, in terms of its world (the summary of TEARLING says that TEARLING has "a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games". Ha!)Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00128004483437247740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-24035262489540090492015-02-28T23:37:08.104-08:002015-02-28T23:37:08.104-08:00Thanks for the comment. I can safely say no one wi...Thanks for the comment. I can safely say no one will ever compare my books to Catcher in the Rye, but I checked out your post and commented :)Paula Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-85625701200797652922015-02-25T13:24:53.888-08:002015-02-25T13:24:53.888-08:00Oh I think those people generally do read the book...Oh I think those people generally do read the books. But comp titles are FOR people who might not read but still need to be able to market and recommend. <br /><br />So when you go to the store and say "I want something fun and fluffy like Steph Perkins" someone can recommend you LAINEY :D<br /><br />Full disclosure--I'm always asked "Who do you think your book will appeal to?" on marketing surveys and I always offer a few comp titles myself, some of which Harper usedPaula Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-340541581875670802015-02-25T11:24:45.755-08:002015-02-25T11:24:45.755-08:00Thank you for informing us about comparison titles...Thank you for informing us about comparison titles Paula! For some strange reason, I thought that the people who wrote the comparison titles for books actually read the book before they came up with the comparison title.<br />As for Bad Luck Charm and Jack of Hearts, GIMMEEEEEE. Please? ;D<3<br />Kelly https://www.blogger.com/profile/16309188388542940162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-67352267892927253272015-02-25T07:39:08.366-08:002015-02-25T07:39:08.366-08:00I completely understand! I don't mind some com...I completely understand! I don't mind some comparisons, but I'm definitely tired of seeing comparisons to only the iconic young adult novels. I call this phenomen of comparisons the Holden Caulfield Syndrome.<br /><br />http://stealingpages.com/2015/02/20/crabby-conversations-the-holden-caulfield-syndrome/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-92178957926710463272015-02-24T13:12:57.267-08:002015-02-24T13:12:57.267-08:00I think reviewers don't realize just how jaded...I think reviewers don't realize just how jaded some of you guys really are ;-) But I would be too if I read 100+ books a year and every other dystopian was compared to THG.<br /><br />Some comparisons definitely work for me. The comp I posted about SIX OF CROWS made me go "Ooh," because even though I generally don't read fantasy, I loved Oceans Eleven.Paula Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196925486463112727.post-2352792771961054382015-02-24T12:25:35.201-08:002015-02-24T12:25:35.201-08:00I agree that I find the comparisons with The Hunge...I agree that I find the comparisons with The Hunger Games are getting repetitive to me, because I see them way too often, but I agree that reading 200 books a year means I see many more books and their comparisons more than the average reader.<br /><br />But as you've said, some comparisons are really useful because I've checked books that I've loved because of those comparisons. <br /><br />As far as PLL comparisons with Liars? Well, the mystery and uncertainity feeling of it, hell yes! The drama and high school queen bees thing that I got tired of in PLL? Nope, not there! ;) Pilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05235628363081574896noreply@blogger.com