Hyped books?

Hello people!

For those of you who don't know my reading preferences and I, you'd certainly be as shock as my fellow bookstagram friends when they first know that I don't read hyped books, especially during the peak of all the crazy hype around them.

There, I've said it.

I don't just not read them; I go to extend length in avoiding reading those books. Sometimes, I'll even buy the books when they're being overhyped (because hey, hey, discount). However, I'll just let them gather dust in my bookshelves, and perhaps I'll read them in two years' time, after the hype is completely over and dead.  

You might be thinking, "Maggie, what the ever-fluffing love is wrong with you?!" but... just take a deep breath (and a seat, but I'm assuming you're sitting as you're reading), and let me explain my reasoning to you.

1. Spoilers

Oh, no. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate spoilers. In fact, I love them. 

I'm the kind of people who love spoilers. I rarely read any books without reading any spoilers beforehand. I'll always ensure that there will be more than enough reviews on any book I want to read, especially when the book does not provide obvious plot at the back of the copy. If I can't find any spoilers online, I'll just not buy or read the books, until there's sufficient spoilers from other blogs.

I need spoilers for various reasons, of course.

Firstly, I need to know what I'm getting myself into. I hate surprises, especially unpleasant ones. Unless I'm very familiar with the author and am very trusting of his or her writing, I won't read anything if I'm clueless about what's going to happen. I just hate the unneeded suspense. Even if I don't read any spoilers of the books written by the authors I already trust, I will still read the last two chapters to prep myself for what's going to be there when I finish the book.

Which leads to my second reason: I avoid to read books with bad ending, especially if the books are of romance genre. If the protagonists don't end up together at the end of the book, buh-bye, I'll send myself out. 

Before you start to be judgmental, hear me out. I enjoy reading light-hearted romance, and I really do read a lot of them; but I only choose to read them because they don't need any brain power to process them, and they're there for me to distract myself from my busy schedules and stresses. So why add up more stress by reading sad romance, which acts as contrary to the my motive of reading them — to alleviate my spirit?

Thirdly, I need to be mentally prepare if any characters die so I won't be wrecked emotionally after taking in the shock. That annoys me so much, especially I invested so much feelings and love into that character... and HE DIED. I'd be a huge mess for like a week or two after that, because I get really bad books-hangover.

2. Genuine Insights

From past experiences, I observed that most genuine insights or constructive criticisms actually come at the end or after the hype. During the hype, I always hear nothing but awesome reviews, as if the book has no fault and is absolutely perfect... and anyone who says otherwise will sometimes be attacked by extreme fangirls. 

Okay, let's just leave the irrational fangirls (don't be offended, I know there're fangirls who can actually accept that not everyone should love the books they love) out of this first. I think the late-coming of genuine reviews is because the hype over particular book is, of course, created by people who love the books. Those who created the hype might be the ones who are hardcore readers of certain author, and they have nothing but good words over the writings and the general story lines.

After they completely hyped up the book, only the rest of us will start to know more about the book... but what do we have? Only positive reviews from people who particularly love that genre. As for people who prefer different writing styles, or wanted more intense plot might get into the book, assuming and hoping that it's as good as other people claimed, and then the whole thing will just flopped for them.

I'm one of those people.

Of course, I completely understand that when readers who can relate to the story and love it way too much, they will ignore the flaws of the book, because they're too engrossed with it. I'm like that, too, when I'm reading something that I'm obsessed over. Emotions just get the best of me, and I can't judge with a clear, rational mind.

However, after the hype has died down, and most of the people who aren't hardcore fans of the book or the author, will write reviews with a clearer mind. They'll write reviews with constructive criticisms, pointing out the flaws of the book but at the same time, writing out compliments of the book with a fairer and clearer judgment. They'll be honest about it, without being too affected by emotions. And those are the reviews or insights I need, before I decide to read that book.

3. High Expectations

Re the last point: too many enthusiastic people who shower the book with nothing but pure love, claim the book is perfect and can do nothing wrong. I'll then have very high expectations, and I'll be super judgmental of the book. 

I'm sorry, but when you tell me the book is perfect, it's only normal for me to assume that it's of top-notch quality in both writing and plot. When it fails to deliver what I expected, then I'll be even more upset and disappointed compare to reading an unhyped book with honest and constructive reviews. For instant, if I happened to find weird metaphors in the book, or a weak plot which is not delivering any substance, I'll feel like the book has betrayed me, somehow.

Is it me that's a horrible, judgmental person? I don't know, but that's how I feel every time I read an overhyped book without genuine, useful insights from people who aren't superfans. 

4. Movies

Another fun fact about me: I hate watching movies, unless it's Disney film.

Some books are hyped because the movie adaptations are coming out or came out in the cinemas. There'll be reprint of the books with the movie covers, and people will get very enthusiastic. People who had read the books will reread, and some people will just read for the first time before they head in and watch the movies...

...which is a good thing! If movie adaptations can encourage more people into reading, it's awesome! I have nothing against that.

However, personally, I hate to read the book if the movie adaptation of it is in the cinema, and the cover of the book is just plastered with the actors or actresses who are playing the protagonists. Since I'm not a movie-person, I don't have any pressure in reading before the movie comes out... but I do hate it when the movies are showing and the faces of the actors or actresses are everywhere.

The main reason for this aversion is because I feel like when knowing who is going to portray which character really limit and ruin my imagination when I'm reading the book. Usually when I read a book, I don't really picture how the characters look like. Or when I do, it'll just purely based on the descriptions written in the book, and I can choose to alter it with my preferences. Yet, with the actors or actresses already set, and staring back at me on the cover... I just can't imagine how the characters look like anymore, and it bothers me to no end. Seriously, I get so, so, so frustrated, especially when the actors or actresses just can't act. Like ugh. Stop ruining it for me.

Or maybe because I got the really bad experience with Twilight (yes, I was a huge fan of the saga, the books, not the movies). And also The Host. And also The Fault in Our Stars.

Basically the only one which didn't ruin it for me is Me Before You. That's all.

5. My Stubbornness

This point is entirely my fault.

To summarize, I'm actually the kind of person who will rebel against something I'm pressurized into doing. So, whenever a book is super hyped, I'll feel the pressure to read it and to keep up with the trend. However, with all those imaginary pressure *eye roll here* I put onto myself, I will just act the opposite way.

No matter how good the book is, I will just not read it because the stubbornness inside of me will stop me from doing that. 

I'm sorry for this personal flaw, but I just can't seem to undo it.

Honestly, I'll probably buy the book at its hyped period, store it into my bookshelf and wait until the hype has gone. Every time I open up my bookshelf and stare at it, I'll just let out a sigh and pick out another book to read. It's like we're the same poles of two magnets of something. 

If I make out an imaginary conversation between me and said book, it'll go like this: "Oh hey you seem popular, let's be friends! However, I'll purchase you and keep you safe in my bookshelf, do enjoy your stay there! What? There's dust on you? Nah, it's fine, I'll pick you up in, say, two years time. Till then honey!"

It's weird, and I hate myself for this.

Is this consider as plain stubbornness or just stupid rebellious?? I don't know.

To conclude: 

So far, I've only read very few books during their hyped period, like Me Before You and Wonder (which I enjoy immensely)... and also ahem, Fifty Shades of Grey (I totally regretted that one, no questions asked please).

However, other than that, I'll just stick to reading them when I have the mood aka when the hype is over, instead of going along with the trend because I know my weaknesses, and also I know what are my criteria before choosing or reading a book.

Is it just me or do any of you happen to do the same thing? Do let me know!

Till next time people!

xx