Latest trends. What’s in. A mass of people all liking the same particular thing as exactly the same time. Creating a buzz about a product, a person, a thing and hyping it. Now, if you know me, you know I try to not go with the crowd. To be painfully honest, one could even go so far to say that I have many matching traits of a species of human known as, the ‘Hipster’. Ew.
However book hype is something even I participate in. The latest books that are getting mass love from reviewers and general avid readers most of the time honestly means the book is good. Taking out difference of opinion, there will always be people who think completely the opposite to the hype (but that’s brilliant). You also have to take into consideration the target audience this theoretical book was going for and whether because of the age and gender, the bigger the hype *cough* Twilight *cough*.
There is also a deep and horrible downside to ‘the hyped book’. What if you’ve heard so many good things about a series, so much in fact you’ve created, in your mind, the expectations of a wonderful world lying, waiting in the pages, ready for your eager eyes to feast upon it’s story soul and dream away with the subtle but genius metaphors, drift off into an entanglement of descriptive sentences. You are so looking forward to reading this book that you physically brace yourself for flowing words that lift you off the page and into your own imagination of this beautiful world, the second you open the first page…BAM, nothing. Absolutely rubbish. The book utterly sucks.
Or does it?
Could it just be a good, enjoyable read but because of the build up, the expectations, the excitement of having this imaginary adventure, it’s been ruined before you’ve even brushed your fingertips over the cover.
You know exactly what I mean, don’t you. It’s happened to you, hasn’t it?
I call this, the deadly hype-inator illness. Just made that up…wasn’t very imaginative, sorry.
*Update apparently it’s also known as THE HYPE MONSTER (which is a lot cooler than hype-inator)
An example of this and something I stumbled upon recently is the Cassandra Clare extravagansa. The Mortal Instruments series. I haven’t read it. I have however read The Infernal Devices trilogy (review coming shortly) and I personally really enjoyed it. I’m into the steampunk-esk and victorian clockwork stuff going on and thinking about it could be very likely I was lady of that era in a past life (I wish). However, I will not say ‘it is the best series ever, omg. You have to read it because it’s AMAZING.’ as honestly, it isn’t. It was a brilliant read, I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t blown away by the amazing writing. I just really liked the concept and got to know the characters and overall felt connected to the story. Which is what a good read should make you feel. Simple! Anyway, you should make your own mind up, go read them and see what you think…
(I did for a second have a bit of a panic, realising I’d read the series the wrong way round – The Infernal Devices first – but apparently it doesn’t matter so the flap is now over. Calm again. P.S I did get slightly emotional and cry…about what happened in the book, not that I’d read the series in a different order. I do have emotions. Just thought I’d throw that in.)
However, I don’t think I want to read The Mortal Instruments, even with the film on our doorstep. Going by my little sniff around on Twitter a few nights ago, it seems the whole series is a bit of a marmite, love it/hate it, situation (Despite the fact that Ms Clare is pretty much everywhere and all we see is craziness towards all things Shadowhunter). It really is a case of hype-inator (wow, that is really bad) and I’d rather leave it, with my hopes up, than read it and get depressed and lose faith in humainty.
Prove me wrong guys, what are your views on all this?
P.S Have a tortoise on a skateboard. 
First of all: I LOVE THIS POST!!
Second of all: This is such a good point! There are so many book that get crazy hype… But then turn out to not be so good! Personally I am not a fan of The Mortal Instruments! It feels like a rip-off of Harry Potter. I’ve never even read any of her other series because I’m scared of falling into the massive hype and then realizing that they were no where’s near as good as they should have been!
I remember a couple books that have gotten massive hype…. And then they turn out to be awful! Hype is so relative to the person, too! Some people will adore the book and some will not!
I really enjoys reading this post! You’re so right when you say the build up of hype can be a bad thing! I’ve read sooo many reviews that say at the beginning: Not what I was expecting, could have been better! HYPE CAN DISSAPPOINT THE PEOPLE WHO READ THE BOOK LATER ON INSTEAD OF BEING ON OF RHE FIRSTS TO READ IT!
Overall awesome post! Thanks!
Thanks for the comment, chuffed you enjoyed the post.
It’s quite an interesting topic and I’m very glad you enjoyed reading about it.
Actually, ignore the hype, but I would recommend The Infernal Devices, it’s a bit different and not so HP rip-off as it’s set in Late 19th, early 20th century. The first one does drag on a bit and over uses the world gray/grey far, far too much (but more of that in a review later). However it is rather enjoyable and I liked the characters. Will Herondale is quite sarcastic and I related to that 🙂
Ahhh there are so many reviews that start with how they can’t believe the hype certain books have been getting as they see nothing to them, it’s thought provoking whether because of the hype and what they expected didn’t happen and so was disappointed with the overall book and ended up not liking it.
Dun dun duun
Thank you for the comment, I hope you enjoy reading more!
Zoë x
Yeah…The 5th Wave! I heard so much hype about how it was the freshest, most original, amazing book of 2013 and I read it and just felt flat. I could recognise that it had a lot of elements of a book I would normally enjoy but I built it up so high in my head that it was just a gross disappointment. Then came the “Is there something wrong with me?” thoughts because I seemed to be the only one at the time. Sigh I think while it’s good for a book to have a buzz about it, there’s a fine line between buzz and hype and I try my best not to cross it and get burned! The disappointment is too much. Great post Zoe! 🙂
Zoe the Hipstah Blogger…
And I totally agree, the hype is kind of the same thing as when you have a favourite author. You hear so much about the book that you expect the writer to become your favourite and then it all falls short. But I also feel weird when I love the book that all the hype is going around because I feel like my opinion might have been influenced by others.
When it comes to Cassandra Clare’s books – I read them after my life’s biggest reading slump which lasted about 2-3 years and then I read it and it all started for me again. I loved the series but now after reading tens of other books I just don’t think I would like it as much if I have read it now. Or maybe it’s because I’m getting tired of Clare because I think she becomes too commercial with trying to continue the prequels and sequels to the Shadowhunter’s story and it seems like she will write about them until death. Sometimes you have to know when to stop.
Great post Zoe! x
– Sandra
Ugh, I really am such a hipster! *sobs*
Ahhh you expect so much of your favourite author it’s such a depressing feeling when one of there books doesn’t live up to their usual standard. Which I guess is why there is so much pressure when you are an author, an even a cherished author. Wonder how John Green and JK cope. Probably why she created pen names…
Glad you enjoyed the post, and cheers for taking the time to comment!