When I had more time, I would randomly pick up books from the shelves of my excellent neighbouring library and read them. I enjoyed discovering new authors then. Those were the halcyon days of not begin influenced, I rarely picked a book that had won awards, unless a friend forced it on me.
Now, I have to be more careful with my time and I often will pick up books that have Man booker, book club choice, or such like on the cover page, but that doesn't mean I will stick with the book if I am not enjoying it.
I do get influenced by great reviews, ofcourse.
Since reading is a part of my job to improve my own writing, I am now picking genre-specific and topic-specific authors besides my favourites- Richard Yates, Vikram Seth, Khaled Hosseini and trying to take apart their plots and characterisation. I have to admit that a very intriguing cover or blurb, or opening chapter will still hook me, at least 1 in 4 of the books I read are still on complete impulse, because the writing appealed.
So personal opinion matters most, then the reviews.
I believe in my own personal critiques. ..... :D :D
When I had more time, I would randomly pick up books from the shelves of my excellent neighbouring library and read them. I enjoyed discovering new authors then. Those were the halcyon days of not begin influenced, I rarely picked a book that had won awards, unless a friend forced it on me.
Now, I have to be more careful with my time and I often will pick up books that have Man booker, book club choice, or such like on the cover page, but that doesn't mean I will stick with the book if I am not enjoying it.
I do get influenced by great reviews, ofcourse.
Since reading is a part of my job to improve my own writing, I am now picking genre-specific and topic-specific authors besides my favourites- Richard Yates, Vikram Seth, Khaled Hosseini and trying to take apart their plots and characterisation. I have to admit that a very intriguing cover or blurb, or opening chapter will still hook me, at least 1 in 4 of the books I read are still on complete impulse, because the writing appealed.
So personal opinion matters most, then the reviews.
Only my own :)