blind date with a book
Every time I see photos online of brown paper wrapped books with vague descriptions, I tell myself that if I ever come across a shop that’s selling books in that way, I’m going to pick one up. I honestly thought the likelihood of that happening would be zero. But for the first time ever, I did in fact come across a shelf of these books in a small bookstore in Sydney.
Obviously, I stopped and tried to figure out what the books were based on the descriptions.
To my amusement, my husband and I both noticed the one book that appealed to me – and he talked me into buying it.
This week, I just took part in my first ever “blind date with a book”.
The description on the brown paper was very me – “sci-fi”, and “fantasy”, and “a modern classic” – all things that appeal to me. All genres and types of books that I generally adore. But for the life of me, I could not put together what book was under that paper. Believe you me, I tried.
I really, really tried.
My “blind date book” turned out to be Cloud Atlas, which I have never read. I will admit to never having seen the movie either – and until this moment, had no desire to. But now? Now I am more than a little intrigued about the story.
The entire experience got me thinking that it can be so weird how we choose books to read. I know a lot of times I pick up books based on their covers. I know we’re told never to judge a book by it’s cover, but the prettier the cover, the more likely I will check out the synopsis. But in this case, all I had going for me were a bunch of seemingly disjointed and disconnected phrases and words.
And still, my interest was snagged.
A large part of me wants to do this again. Somehow, someway, I want to choose to read a book, not based on the cover or the synopsis, but simply from a vague and disjointed description. To be quite honest, I have a few ideas on how to go on about this, but I’d need to find more like-minded people. Having to track down bookstores or libraries that carry out this practice is tedious, and I’m sure the online book blogging community would appreciate a way to participate in such a thing.
Or at least, I know I’d love to participate in such a thing.
I’ve been discussing my ideas with a friend – and if I can iron out a few details and smooth out a few snags, this may become a monthly feature. What do you think? Should we attempt online blind dating with books? Would anybody be interested in taking a chance on books with me? Let me know, please, because I’m definitely up for it!
Ara
Iām Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.
13 Comments
Cait @ Paper Fury
I think this is SUCH a cool idea!! I know it’s probably not great that we judge off titles/covers/authors so much. I’m sure we miss out on a lot of books, right?! But it does happen. Merp. I have seen a blogger who does a feature where they only post the synopsis and you have to read it before you can have the cover revealed. It surprises me of how often I NEVER read synopsises and just add books on Goodreads for cover alone. OOPS. XD
I hope this book is as awesome and intriguing as it sounds! š
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
Ar
Haha yup, me too! I definitely judge books by their covers, so I’m thinking something like this would broaden my reading scope? So I definitely want to do something like this to spread that to other people? Am I making sense? Lol. Thanks for dropping by, Cait!
Ara
(Hmm, I think wordpress ate up my reply to this comment? Weird! Haha.)
Anyway, yeah, I know I’ve definitely missed out on books that I later realise I would have enjoyed because the covers didn’t entice me enough – so I’m hoping this changes that. And I’m hoping to maybe start a monthly series that will change other people’s opinions as well! Let’s broaden our reading scopes (:
Thanks for commenting, Cait!
Eliza David
Great post! I once did a book blind date & ended up with Rainbow Rowell’s Attachments. Loved it but I think that was a lucky break. You’ll have to let us know if you liked Cloud Atlas.
Ara
Oh! Lucky you. I’ve had that on my TBR for a while, but haven’t had a chance to get my hands on it.
I definitely will let you guys know if I enjoy Cloud Atlas. (: Thanks for commenting!
Candace
This is an awesome idea. Maybe a bunch of bloggers could get together for a giveaway. Wrap a few different books, put up a vague synopsis for each, and people could sign up for the ones they find the most interesting.
Ara
Oh that would be an interesting idea! I was definitely thinking of something like this – or of giving out suggestions in this way? I’m hoping to make a monthly series out of it – maybe let it organically grow into a giveaway (because at the moment, giveaways are difficult for me, lol)
Thanks for commenting!
Sabrina
Ooh this is such a cool concept. I might do this too!
Ara
Yeah! Let me know if you do (:
Jess @ POB!
I’ve seen these pop up before and although I don’t think I would do an online book swap, I wouldn’t mind having a friend send me a wrapped book since I trust them more and I know they know what I read. Another risk I see is receiving a book you already own, but I guess that is inevitable with all bookish gifts!
Thanks for stopping by Princessica of Books!
Ara
Yup, an online book swap would be a little daunting, I’m sure. I was thinking more along the lines of an online suggestion, whereby there is then a choice, after the book is revealed, if you want to join in or not.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tamara @ Tamaraniac
I love the idea of a blind date with a book but I am SO picky with what books I actually buy that it probably wouldn’t work for me. My library had some books packaged like this for a little bit, but I checked the isbn numbers and had read them all… ah well. A great idea that maybe just doesn’t work for me.
Ara
Haha, I completely get where you’re coming from. I’m generally very picky about what I read, so I’m trying to widen my reading scope. Hence wanting to try this more!
But lol, of course you’d read all the books, you read so much!
Thanks for dropping by, Tamara!