My daughter has big plans to go on Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad in December when we visit Disneyland. Granted, the monkey is only going to be four, but she meets the height requirement for both.
However, based on my Space Mountain debacle, I plan to give her a taste of what to expect. Today we trolled YouTube for some videos of the rides. Who knew a home video of Splash Mountain could be so riveting?
(Okay, I didn’t think it was that thrilling, but the monkey sure did. She wanted to watch it over and over and over. And over.)
Now she knows what to expect.
I have an idea from a book’s cover art and the dust jacket blurb what I’m getting myself into. Usually. Sometimes I have no clue. The blurb for Little Bee by Chris Cleave is intentionally mum, but the book was AMAZING. I didn’t mind being on the dark on that one.
However, when a book says it’s one thing (historical fiction) and turns out to be another (Gay lesbian fiction or erotica or fantasy… or all three) that’s where I get persnickety. I’m pretty open-minded about reading just about anything, but I want you to tell me up front what I’m going to be reading. If you fling a genre change on me half-way through I’m going to be ticked.
I don’t think any author wants truly ticked-off readers. That’s just all-around bad.
Okay, folks- now I’m off to my couch, trying to fight a rather persistent cold bug. (This is the monkey’s first year in preschool and she’s a walking petri dish. Blecch.)
Happy weekend, everyone!
Photo from Disney Vault.
Hope you feel better.
And I agree, I like to know what I'm getting into with books.
Feel better soon!
This is the second post I read today about blurbs not being honest. I think the other person called them flurbs (fib combined with blurb). Anyway, interesting. I can't say that I've run into that problem yet. I'd love to know what book you speak of. Hope you feel better soon!
I have had something like that happen once before… it totally a "what the heck" moment. If I wanted that at the moment I would have picked out that genre in the first place!
We just took my daughter to Disneyland for her 3rd birthday! She was tall enough for the Matterhorn… although I didn't take her no matter how much she wanted to lol. Next time I shall show her videos also; great idea 🙂
I hope you feel better! Those colds can be so pesky.
Melissa- I look at books as an investment in my time. I don't want it wasted!
Stephanie- Thanks!
Susan- I'll email you- there were actually two books I've read this year that did that. I only finished them because I was halfway through and didn't want to waste my time without being able to add them to my reading list. I think it's good for us writers to see what works and what doesn't, no matter how painful it can be!
Svea- We've decided not to brave the Matterhorn- it's crazy fast without any animals to bribe the monkey with. I just don't think the Abominable Snowman will quite cut it. 😉
Feel better soon!
I think there is a lesson to be learned here that can be applied also to query letters! Sell the book you WROTE!
I went to Disney World in Florida when I was 3 and the only thing I remember is the dumbo ride, and that only because I dream about it occasionally. I hope your little Monkey enjoys herself! 🙂
I agree. That dust jacket thing has happened to me, too. I know cover art often doesn't reflect the book, but if the description on the book flap is misleading, that's cheating.
Take care of yourself and feel better!
I'm with you on the genre change thing. I'm a cover-to-cover reader. I read the reiews on the cover and inside, and I also read the back-of-the-book blurb.
And, if I'm reading along the novel and it doesn't seem to fit the back-blurb, I get pissy. I might even put the book down because of the discrepancy. Seriously.
Advertising is a two-edged sword. Don't tell me one thing and sell me another.
………dhole
Award for you on my site.
I was just talking about this exact thing with my students. One was complaining about how misleading the back description was on a book he just finished, so we had a full class discussion. It was awesome!
Lol…I just love that you call her "monkey." 🙂
I agree that it is not as uncommon as it should be that jacket blurbs are misleading or even in error. But to defend the poor authors, unless it's self published the author certainly didn't write the blurb. Regardless, it is irritating.
I definitely concur that it is highly frustrating when books/movies/plays misrepresent themselves. When that happens, I get so jolted by it, it makes it hard for me to attach to the story.
Good decision to look for videos of the rides. I wouldn't have thought of that. Very clever.
Not only does that bother me, but it's also annoying when the plot is nothing like what was promised. I'd like to blame that on marketing, but I'm not sure…
Hope you feel better soon. Take care.