This week, I’m once again joining in with Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer‘s book blogger hop, where they post a question which you and other bloggers answer, hopping from blog to blog to see people’s answers. This week, the question is…
If you read a book you ended up hating, would you stay away from future books by that author, or would you give them a second chance?
My initial reaction to this was to say stay away but then I took a second to think about how many books I would classify under hated and I’m not sure there are any. Maybe this is because if I really, Really, REALLY, don’t like a book then I stop reading it and then don’t give it much thought.
If I think about the way I review books though, saying how I feel versus a star rating, I do have be books that I say are not for me. For others these would be one star reviews or maybe the books they don’t finish. It’s probably the nearest I could get to hating a book.
Writing this post, I took a look back at those with the not for me rating and wondered, would I pick up this aft or that author again? And the answer was no, I wouldn’t. There wasn’t one instance where I thought, I could give the author another go. So, whilst I never say never and a brilliant review or recommendation might change my mind, for now my answer is I would stay away.
What about you? Do you believe in second chances?
Emma
One Readers Thoughts 
No. I’d stay away. There are too many good books out there for me to try another by an author who didn’t impress me first go. Tough but true.
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You have to be tough I think…you are right, so many books, so little time.
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I guess it would depend on why I hate the book. If it is the writing (poorly constructed, bad grammar, etc.), no, I wouldn’t try again. But if it is a particular story and another plot from the author down the road tempts me…maybe.
Thanks!
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Yes, I see what you mean. Writing is key I think – if it’s bad you can’t get past it (or I can’t!)
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I always give authors a second chance by trying a different series but after that if I don’t like it then I just know that I don’t like that authors style and it has nothing to do with them, it’s just not my thing.
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You are kinder than I am by the sounds of it. I have had experiences where I’ve loved on series then really not liked another.
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For me it would be why I didn’t like it – if it was the premise rather than the writing then I would give another chance – I can think of a couple of books where I enjoyed the first book, disliked the second but have revisited in later books, and enjoyed them
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I agree it has to be based on the reason. I hadn’t thought about books where I had already read others by the author. If I’d enjoyed those books I would likely go back and try another.
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good question! I think that if I had read other books of the author I had liked and just one that I didn’t it’s likely I’ll try the author again but if it;s the first time I read it I probably wouldn’t. But it wouldn’t be a conscious decision to decision. It would be more that the author wouldn’t come to my mind every time I’m thinking what to read next 🙂
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I never thought about it being a book by an author I had read and enjoyed previously. In that case I might revisit. I agree it’s not necessarily conscious thing, though I would pass the author by if I saw them on a book shelf,
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I don’t think I’d revisit any one star authors either because that means that there was nothing about the book I’d like. Most of the 2 stars I’d probably try again. Great answer! I like your thought process on this. I hadn’t thought to look through my list of rated books.
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I think that I would give a 2 star a go if I found something in it but it would have to be something special to have me give it a go.
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[…] On Friday, I wrote about whether I give authors a second chance if I haven’t liked a previous book as part of the book blogger hop. […]
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I’m more likely to give an author I liked another chance (or multiple chances) before giving up all together. Newer authors who don’t hook me on that first book rarely get a second chance. (Although I’m happy I made an exception for my current read!)
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Authors I have read before I will try again but new authors, I don’t think I would bother.,.too many books, too little time!
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If the writing is poorly crafted or I don’t like the style, then nope – there are too many good writers out there to enjoy. But if it is because the premise or character isn’t my thing, then I may give an author another chance if someone I respect recommends another of their books.
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Reviews do play a big part in why I pick up books first time round but not sure I could be convinced the second…
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