Insight Into a Reader’s Mind

As authors we always give interviews on our latest books, or talk about what’s going on in our minds. But do you ever wonder how the readers think? Ever wonder what they like or don’t like? I’ve decided each month to put a spotlight on a actual reader, who is not an author or a blogger. They read because they love it. My first interview is with 22 year old Franchesca. You want proof she loves to read? Here is her library.

1. What kind of books do you like to read?

– I like to read all sorts of books. I read non-fiction, fiction, historical fiction, biographies, memoirs, fantasy, YA, and children’s books. I read anything that interests me. I’ve even read books about volcanoes and Sing Sing Prison. I pretty much have random interests!

2. Why do you like to read?

– I like to read because even though I am reading on my bed, I end up going to other places. I think this is why I truly enjoy books for young readers. My imagination stretches beyond the words on the pages. I feel as if I became a new character in the book. Sometimes I get too involved and shout at the book as if the characters are really going to hear me. Reading is a great way to learn about new things, which is probably why I am so talkative when it comes to people reading books. I swear sometimes I think I have an antenna in my ears that only pick up “book talk”. My grandmother use to say that every single book we read has a lesson. This is what I live by when I am reading my books.

3. What part of a book do you like best?

– My favorite part of the book would have to be epilogues. A lot of times I get so involved in the stories that I want to know what happens next. I hate when the endings leave you hanging. I love when the author chooses to have an epilogue that takes place years later. My favorite Epilogue was the one in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling.

4. What trait in a character can you not stand?

– My least favorite trait in a character is almost always found in YA or children’s books. I can’t stand the bullies. I hate the characters that pick on other’s for being different or “just because they can”.

5. Do you prefer long chapters or short chapters?

-I don’t really have a preference when it comes to the length of the chapters. It doesn’t matter to me just as long as the book is good =)

6. How much description do you like in a book?

– I don’t like a lot of description but it has to be enough for me to want to pick of the book and read it. I usually get interested in a book with only a few words in the description.

7. What turns you off from a book?

– My answer for the next question pretty much sums it up.

8. How important are the covers to you?

– Since I am an art major I am a sucker for a good book cover. When I purchase a book or take one from the library, I have to have an original cover or an illustrated cover. I am not a fan of movie cover’s unless the designer gets extremely creative with people’s faces. Oh and I pretty much despise those little red blobs on the cover that say, “Soon to be a motion picture”. I most likely know that the book will be turned into a movie so I don’t need to be reminded!

9. What kind of book do you wish someone would write?

-This is a really hard question. All I can think of is last year when I was in my Earth Science class and I was learning about volcanoes. I thought it would be really cool to turn a supervolcano eruption into an apocalyptic story. I came across Mike Mullin’s series which amazed me because I didn’t think anyone else would be interested in this besides me. Most people like the whole zombie apocalypse thing, but I wanted to read something different.

10. Do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?

-I definitely prefer paperbacks. I am a huge page sniffer and I like to feel the pages on my hand and I also like to see the length of the book. I especially love when the pages turn yellow=D I totally get the reason behind ebooks I have a Nook so I can’t really hate them. I am particular about what books I get on my nook. If it’s just some random book I come across or a book part of series and it’s extremely cheap then I will get it on my Nook.

11. What are you sick of reading about?

– I can’t really say which books I am sick of reading. If I don’t like it I just won’t read it! I am sick of seeing books like “Fifty Shades of Grey” floating around. I admit I tried the book out and that is the only book I threw across the room and demanded my money back. I never finished it and I just hate it. So I am sick of seeing these Erotica books on the bestseller shelves of Barnes & Noble.