Pages of Starlight: Killed By The Hype Monster

Friday, October 9, 2015

Killed By The Hype Monster

If you know me, then you'll know that I'm not someone that really lets the hype for certain books get to her. I avoided City of Bones until the series was finished. I'm still avoiding Twilight and John Green. But that doesn't mean I'm immune to hype. Especially when fantasy books (aka: my bread and dairy-free butter) are the ones getting hyped.

This year I have been making it my goal to read all the books that I've bought that were released this year. That's a lot more than I was expecting and mixed in with some 'eh? what's that?' books have been a few that were hyped.

Let me clarify that. When I say hyped, I mean HYPED!!

BECAUSE YOU'LL LOVE IT!

So, I pick up the book and start reading and...it's good, I guess...I mean...I don't hate it...but I'm bored. (Seriously, happened to me with one of the most hyped fantasy books of the year.) Everyone has read the book and loves it. People that don't usually read these types of books are saying it's the best ever. (That should be a pretty big red flag warning right there.)

I'm not saying I regret reading the book. Not that at all. But I am wondering if maybe the book hadn't been so hyped if I would have liked it more? I was expecting it to be awesome - because it sounds awesome and everyone says it's awesome - that my expectations were built up to such a degree that I wonder if it could have ever met them.

Hype for a book is a great thing. It catches people's attention and makes everyone excited for the book. But I kind of wonder if hype might be bad for the book. I know getting burned had made me a lot more cautious about hype surrounding certain books. And also made me have more reasonable expectations for books.

Sound off. I'd love to know what you think about hype and your experiences with hyped books.

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Jen · 492 weeks ago

I think you're spot on: once you read one-too-many over-hyped books, or have watched over-hyped movies, you either become bitter and jaded, or you just dial down the expectations until you can make your own judgement. For instance, if my husband is really looking forward to a movie, he will see it opening weekend so that he doesn't hear all the good or bad stuff until after.

With books, especially YA (I find) it seems that people get SO PUMPED for a series, and I read the first one and am like, "meh." AND if they say, "oh, but it gets really good around the 4th or 5th one" I'm out. I have 400+ on my TBR and don't want to waste time reading average books!

1 reply · active 492 weeks ago

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AmyAelleah 80p · 492 weeks ago

I'm definitely trying to not be bitter and jaded - though I am sometimes cynical. Thankfully enough, I tend to live in a bubble world when it comes to movies so they don't affect me the way books do, but I can totally see how beating the hype would be a good plan.

Yeah, I don't think I could wade through three or four books to finally get to the good ones in the series! Really, it seems like the hype just gets so crazy that it's just impossible for the book to live up.

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jazmen · 492 weeks ago

I really try to avoid overly hyped books. I tend to not enjoy them for the most part. If it sounds like something I'll really like then I'll pick it up otherwise I wait until the hype has died down. Nice post!

1 reply · active 492 weeks ago

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AmyAelleah 80p · 492 weeks ago

Totally understand. I seldom get convinced to read a book just because everyone else loves it. (And definitely have mixed results when I do.) For me, what usually happens is the book sounds good then everyone else gets me way to hyped for it and that screws with my expectations.

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spinesandcovers 12p · 492 weeks ago

I don't typically have to read a book right when it comes out so I think that helps with dealing with all the hype. I am pretty patient unless it is a book in a series that I absolutely love.

I use to get SO disappointed when everyone was going crazy over a new release and then I'd hate the book. I now wait a month or two before hopping on the bandwagon unless it is a book I am highly anticipating.

But, yeah, is sucks when your trying to make it through a boring book.
My recent post Spines & Covers Is On Break

1 reply · active 492 weeks ago

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AmyAelleah 80p · 492 weeks ago

Just a month or two? I finally jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon last year. (Yes, I know.)

For me, the main reason that I'm trying to read all the new releases is because I bought them. Some of them I even wanted badly enough to pre-order (and I seriously don't know what was in my head to do that!) and then they just sit around on my shelves, probably beginning to gather dust. If I wanted them that badly, I need to read them. (Used books are so much cheaper!)

I definitely have those series/authors that I love so much that there will be absolutely no waiting once the book comes out. Pre-ordering a month or two in advance isn't out of the question either. And all my other reading will take a backseat to those books once I do get a hold of them. But they are the exception rather than the rule, so I completely know what you mean.

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Veronika · 491 weeks ago

I've been disappointed in quite a few hyped books, but I don't think a book being hyped makes my expectations go higher than usual. I mean, if I'm really interested in a book I'll go into it with HUGE expectations and be just as disappointed in the end as I'd have been if it was a hyped book. That said, I have my own kinds of "problems" with hyped books. There were times when I wasn't all that interested in a book - e.g. The 5th Wave, Fangirl - but still picked it up because I saw it EVERYWHERE in the blogosphere. The books I pick up strictly for the hype usually end up being a disappointment, but no wonder because I was never super excited for them. There are exceptions, though - e.g. Cinder and These Broken Stars - so I can't completely hate this bad habit of mine. (Hope that makes sense?)
Great post, Amy! :)
My recent post Kim Harrington - The Dead and Buried

1 reply · active 490 weeks ago

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AmyAelleah 80p · 490 weeks ago

I know what you mean, I've over-hyped books for myself. Like if it's a book that I just really want to read and it sounds great, my expectations will be crazy high. I do try to keep them from getting unreasonable - and for hyped book, too - but I don't always have the most success in toning down my excitement. I don't know if I've ever read a book JUST because of the hype. Usually, if I'm not even a little interested in the book (like it doesn't sound like my type at all) I usually get more frustrated by seeing it everywhere than interested in it. So, sometimes the hype from other people can totally backfire on the book.
Don't worry, Veronika, made total sense to me.

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Friday, October 9, 2015

Killed By The Hype Monster

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