Blurbs

Were I to read a blurb, if at all, I would prefer it be on the back of the book. This is solely because, when handling a book for the first time, I do so very gingerly, for fear that I may damage something, and reading the inside flap thus becomes trickier. The back cover can be viewed at a glance.

However, there is one particular instance in when having the blurb on the inside flap, rather than the back cover, is more appropriate. That is when the back cover is used for an illustration of some sort. It can be a small simple thing (like a budding flower), an elaborate sprawling thing, or even just a continuation of the front cover. Though, that gives rise to my opinion that back covers with continuations of the front's illustration, with the blurb superimposed with some transparency over that picture, are some of the coolest-looking back covers out there.

As far as contents for blurbs themselves, they should give a basic overview of the first chapter or two, or just an overlying summary of the universe itself and what's about to happen. Spoilers must be kept to near zero (the only spoiler content permissible is really that which will be inherently obvious to any reader, which in truth wouldn't make it a spoiler at all). All a blurb should do is tell you (the reader) what kind of world to expect, and let you see and figure out the rest for yourself.

 

Kay. I prefer the blurb on the back or inside cover(either is fine) and the most creative blurb(kind of) was done by Illuminae. So you have to understand that the book is hardcover and the book sleeve is semi-transparent. Now then. The actual blurb is on the inside flap, but if you take off the sleeve you see small, core(but not spoiler) passages on the cover. Some are highlighted, some are blocked out. AND IT IS THE BEST BOOK EVER GO READ IT RIGHT NOW

 

I find the blurbs to be mostly ineffective. They're sales pitches, highlighting the best of the book while ignoring any downfalls. After all, that's exactly what a sales pitch is supposed to do. The last book I read, it's back cover blurb stated a pretty exciting synopsis: Med school dropout gets involved in black market organ sales, but things quickly go all to heck and his world becomes incredibly dangerous as one of his organ-selling clients reveals a dark secret that will change his life forever! Wow! The thing is, things only go to heck two-thirds into the book, and that "dark secret" is literally only revealed on the third to last chapter and the only danger at all is in the second to last chapter. That said, 66% of the book was the slow-paced and boring introduction to the problem that I was told about on the back cover. Yawn.

Because of that, I use the blurb to decide will I or won't I do further research: What do readers and publications have to say about the author, who does the author cite as inspiration, do I have any friends who have read their material. The blurb is just the first qualifying course, not the final exam on whether or not I'll shell out 10-40 dollars on a book I know almost nothing about.