Today's Question from Marie at The Boston Bibliophile: "What's the most popular book in your library? Have you read it? What did you think? How many users have it? What's the most popular book you don't have? How does a book's popularity figure into your decisions about what to read?"The most popular book that I have (according to LT's Zeitgeist) is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (UK)/Sorcerer's (US) Stone by J. K. Rowling standing at 32,518 copies listed in LT catalogues, 306 reviews with an average rating of 4.23 stars and also 243 conversations.
Yes I've read it but only once so far. I bought the whole series last year and read them one after the other. The only reason that I did buy them was that I'd seen a few of the films and thought that there was more to the story. I was right. I enjoyed the books more than I enjoyed the films and if anyone's interested my favourite character is Professor Snape (though I'm not sure if that's a hold over from the actor Alan Rickman or not) and my favourite book in the series was the last one Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The popularity of the series didn't really play a part in my buying them, I just wanted to see the back story after watching the films.
The most popular book that I don't have (though it is on my wish list) is The Catcher In the Rye by J. D. Salinger which has 19,082 copies, 225 reviews, an average rating of 4.02 stars and 111 conversations.
Again this book went onto my wish list after watching the film Conspiracy Theory with Mel Gibson, where the book was mentioned a lot and was used as a means of tracking Gibson's character. I wanted to see why this particular book was used. Still do, but it's not at the top of my list so I'll get to it eventually, probably, maybe!
I don't really go by how popular or unpopular a book is, though if a book is popular there's likely to be more information on it and so it's thrust under the book reading publics collective nose a lot more.
So things like 1001 Books to Read before you die and other "must" reading lists don't interest me. Left to myself I'll read what I want to read, when I feel like reading it. So if it's a bestseller, mover and shaker or just that dusty old book stuffed in a corner and forgotten by everyone, if it sparks an interest in me I'll give it a go.
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I think I will be the only one who isn't listing an HP book...lol!
ReplyDeleteI liked all the other odds and ends of info you included (conversations, reviews and such). I too am a secret Snape fan (there, it's out now...) But I think he just needs somebody to love him.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to see how people answer the same questions differently, too.
I've not seen Conspiracy Theory. Hmm, may have to check it out for the literary references. Or maybe for some Mel. Either way, should be good, right?
ReplyDeleteI also am not sure if I like snape because of the character or the actor. I do like the idea of being able to redeem someone who is so unlikeable.
ReplyDeleteMake room for me on the Snape-fan bench! I do love the bad boys!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I never read any of the Harry Potter books - they have been the most popular at LT for quite some time. My children - all grown now - have read them all.
LibrarysCat
J Kaye - The law of averages says that at least some of the TT crowd won't own or won't have read HP, so you can stand out in the crowd and we'll all point at you LOL
ReplyDeleteKAM, Silver, Lisa - I'm so glad we're all strange together. I wondered if there was something wrong with me liking Snape more than the others.
ReplyDeleteJacquie Reaville (lol) Yes, that's my life in a nutshell. :-D
ReplyDeleteMichele - Conspiracy Theory is a good little thriller, funny too and you don't have to think too hard just go with the flow, it always leaves me feeling happy with a smile plastered on my face. Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts and Patrick Stewart star, so not a bad cast.
ReplyDeleteLibrary Cat - It took me ages to get around to buying them, that was last year just after Deathly Hallows was published. It's an entertaining story but I must admit to liking the later books best, the darker they get the more the story makes sense. To me anyway.
ReplyDeleteRight there with you. Snape was my fav character... and I can't figure out if that's because of Rickman! I also liked the Malfoys though.. again maybe b/c of Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton!
ReplyDeleteKBook - Yup the Malfoys were second to Snape for me, and then Sirrus Black and again not sure if that's because Gary Oldman played him. The films and the books kind of get mixed up together somehow, especially as I saw the films first. Have to say though that it was pretty awesome casting.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Snape is one of the most complex characters of the Harry Potter series.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I am not likely to pick up a book to read based on popularity--but rather prefer to go with what interests me.