Has Epinions changed HOW you read a book?

[Redlass]

OK. In the biographers thread, Peter mentioned that he would probably take more note of certain biases in a book now that he reviews books for Epinions.

To me, it begged the question: Has Epinions changed the way you read books? Granted, we've talked about how we've been persuaded to read different books than we normally would have. But do we read differently?

Are you more demanding? More critical? More appreciative? Do you notice details you might not have noticed before?

And if you do read differently--is this a good thing?

[Grouch]

Oh absolutely. Not only am I reading books that I ordinarily wouldn't (i.e. fresh-off-the-shelf releases), but I'm writing a lot more marginalia than ever before. In fact, the last time I inked up books this much was back in college. While I'm reading, I also start composing the review in my head, often jotting down sentences or phrases to be used in the final product.

Can't say if it's a good thing. It's just different.

[Dani257]

I tend to read books now and mentally review them in my head. I never did that before.

[soxfan[$]]

Originally posted by Dani257
I tend to read books now and mentally review them in my head. I never did that before.

Same here. And stuff that was only mildly annoying before now have me screaming and tossing books out of windows.

Ailsa
who doesn't really toss books out of windows, but has been sorely tempted a couple of times

[murasaki]

I don't think I read books differently than before, mostly because I tended to "review" books in my head as I went along anyway. In college I had to keep a journal in my creative writing classes, and most of my entries were, in effect, mini-reviews of the reading assignments.

I do pay more attention to movies though, when I intend to write reviews about them.

--naomi

[jankp]

Absolutely. I now think of who would like to read the book, especially if I don't like it, and it gives me a better appreciation of it. It's like I'm reading it along with my WOT! I think it's a good thing as a reader and as a writer.

Jan

[jenninca]

You'd better believe it. Last night, I was reading a book and came across one phrase that hit me. Within about thirty seconds I had the organization of the whole review figured out, all centered around that one phrase. ('Course, I haven't actually written the review yet.)

I notice a lot more about the story structure of a book than I did before. I am now actually able to recognize a weak plot for the first time in my life.

And yeah, I've become a lot more critical of what I read.

Cindy

[mshawpyle]

Nope. Simply, no.

You must understand. I've always been weird.