Have you ever started reading a book and were like….I don’t know, it’s not grabbing me…and then it turns out to be the most amazing book you ever read? Well, that’s yet to happen to me. I can pretty much tell if a book is just not going to cut in in the first fifty pages. I know, I know…some of you may be saying “It takes you that long to figure it out? I could’ve told you in like twenty pages.”
I think I am on to something when I say fifty pages. I think it takes that long to give a book a chance, meet the characters and get a just of where it’s going.
Many literary agents ask for the first fifty pages, along with a synopsis of the book to judge the material. I think I’m on the right track here.
But for argument’s sake….let’s just do a little experiment. And I would love to hear from those of you out there who are reading this blog too.
As many of you know, I am a big The Hunger Games fan. That book was not only well crafted, but the story itself and the layers of human emotion involved in each character ran so deep, I couldn’t believe they didn’t actually exist after I finished reading.
I am now reading the sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire. I am on page twenty and so far I am having a difficult time connecting. Still great writing but The Hunger Games (THG) is a tough act to follow. With that said, I am going to predict that Catching Fire is not going to be as gripping as THG.
Check in for Monday’s Book Review to see what I said about Catching Fire. Was I right? Did I think like an agent would (except an agent would JUMP at the chance to represent Suzanne Collins since she is such a genius, but let’s make pretend for now).
Tune in and find out next week. And hey! Let me know what you guys think about judging book in the first fifty pages!
