Sunday, September 16, 2012

Let's talk about book trailers

The book trailer for The Diviners by Libba Bray 

The creepy nursery rhyme being sung. The Ouija board. Those eyes at the end. Everything about this trailer makes me shudder. ...and also makes me quite desperate to read The Diviners by Libba Bray. Not that I really needed more of a reason, it's Libba Bray after all.

But how effective are book trailers in general for you? Do they make you want to read a book? Do they put you off it? Do you notice them at all?

 I have to be the first to admit, I don't notice book trailers unless they are very well produced. With stunning visuals or music. There has to be something extra for me to take notice.  But then, I also don't watch very many book trailers.  I clicked on the link for The Diviners because it is a book I'm truly excited to read about already.  What about those books that aren't as well hyped? Or debut books?  Do you still watch and get excited about these books from the book trailers? 

And I don't think book trailers go well for every single book.  Is that just me?

Do you have any thoughts on book trailers?  Do you have a favourite book trailer/s?  Let me know.

20 comments:

  1. I don't normally watch book trailers until I've read the book! I'm not really sure why but I don't really notice them! <3

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    1. I think I've seen more book trailers AFTER I've read a book as well!

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  2. I really agree with you, my dear. Brilliant book trailers can make me pre-order a book on Amazon there and then but, unfortunately, I think the brilliant ones are a lot rarer than the lame, poorly executed ones with a bad voice over.
    From what I've found Walker tend to do the best book trailer; I don't think they do them for every book (maybe they do, maybe I just haven't seen them all) but when they do they always look great.
    The Sky is Everywhere and Life: An Exploded Diagram are two of my favourites and the music in both of them is lovely.
    I'm not sure a bad book trailer would be enough to completely put me off reading a book but it would definitely make me bump it down my reading pile a bit, especially if it was a book I wasn't completely excited by in the first place.
    I think if you don't have the budget or idea to make a really awesome trailer then it's better to not make one rather than a half arsed attempt that does nothing for publicity or sales.
    x

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    1. Yes, I couldn't agree more with if you don't have a brilliant idea or a budget, leave the book trailer!

      I remember the Life: an exploded Diagram trailer, I thought that was really good. Same with the Zoe Marriott book trailers I've seen which are also Walker!

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  3. I love watching book trailers. But, like you, i hate watching book trailers that have not got enough attempt put into it.

    Sangita @ Whisper of Reads.

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    1. But are bad book trailers enough to put you off reading the book?

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  4. Ahhhh that is a creepy trailer :/ I'm in the middle about book trailers - some work some don't! This one certainly does! :D

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    1. Oh I really think this one has what it takes to get people excited about the book!

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  5. Ohmygosh, that trailer is so haunting! Especially when nursery rhymes are sung in a creepily fashion - ahh! :@ You're right, it really makes me want to read the book.
    Like Cliona said, some trailers work and some don't. I prefer it if the trailer is objects/words/patterns because then it gives it more of a feel to the book than a film trailer.
    I love the Pushing the Limits and Tiger Lily trailer - they are my favourites! ;)

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    1. I also find that sometimes I really, really don't like who has been cast to play the characters in the book trailers. That can sometimes put me off as well!

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  6. I don't watch very many book trailers, but if I do watch one and it's really well done then it does make me want to read the book!

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  7. I'm pretty ambivalent towards book trailers myself, there have been a few that have made me anticipate books even more but then there have been others that have completely oversold the book, or a character in the book, and so I've ended up feeling really let down by the book.

    Interestingly I heard that there's been research that shows that 90-odd percent of information searches by teens start on YouTube so to me that is a really good selling point for YA book trailers, it's putting the information where the target audience are looking for it. You've inspired me now to find this research and read it :D

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    1. Ooh, that sounds like it would be something really interesting to find out more about! Really? Teens BEGIN with Youtube? I'm a little curious to research that myself..

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  8. I have to say that book trailers are hit and miss for me. I do LOVE this one for The Diviners, it really goes well with the book. I read and loved The Diviners and saw this after. It's a perfect fit. :)

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    1. I'm really excited to read the book after seeing the trailer! I'm glad to hear they both live up to each other :)

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  9. I'm not a big fan of book trailers really - I don't see the point of having some text or a voice over on a swirly background, that's never going to persuade me to read a book.
    However there are three book trailers that have made me go ohhh! But they were books I was already going to read, so I'm not sure they count as convincing me. I'm curious about book trailers but they never make or break a book for me (not yet at least!)
    The three I love are:
    City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (because omg, this could be a movie trailer almost)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_FUJU3q9xY
    Clockwork Prince also by Cassie Clare
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvNQ2xLWfRI
    And finally The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojCn2Y41ig
    Other than that I'm pretty non-plussed by them!

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    1. Oh I definitely adore Maggie Stiefvater's trailers! They've all been beautifully done. Will have to watch the Cassandra Clare trailers now..

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  10. Having now done lots of youtube-ing on book trailers out of curiosity I have one more to add... If I had seen this book trailer for Graceling by Kristin Cashore (one of my fav books) before I'd read it, I never would have read it...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7jwHLDpxFM

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    1. Wow. That's.. yeah, I see what you're saying. Graceling is an amazing book! That trailer, however, is not.

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