So I’m back in the grocery store yesterday afternoon (because I can’t organize a week’s cooking menu to save my life) and I’m navigating the extremely crowded aisles at the Harris Teeter. They’re having a Buy 2-Get 3 free Breyer’s ice cream deal, and I was intrigued by the idea of having that much ice cream crammed in my freezer.
My happy epicurean daydream was suddenly interrupted by a conversation two women were having next to me. “Did you know that Nancy has swine flu? She’s horribly, horribly ill. And I just saw her the other day!”
I’m not proud to admit that I got as far away from Nancy’s friend as possible. With two kids in the house, I’m already a germ magnet and there has been an incredible amount of press devoted to H1N1 here in North Carolina. The schools are making automated phone calls about it, the newspaper has a story about it just about every day, and the television news is rife with it. You’d think it was like cholera in The Secret Garden or something—run! Run for your lives!
This hype makes me wonder if I should even care about H1N1 (although I wasn’t taking any chances at the grocery store.) I mean, I already wash my hands about 2 million times a day, and have the dry skin to prove it. I know this virus is serious. But so is the seasonal flu and really everyone is incredibly blasé about seasonal flu. The fact that it’s getting so much press makes me suspicious.
Hype in general makes me suspicious, actually. I also wonder about heavily-promoted books. I usually see hype this way: Literary fiction=no hype unless Oprah discovers it. Chick Lit=lots and lots of hype. Cleverly written novels=cult-like hype that sometimes results in mainstream success. Genre fiction=author generated hype and hype from avid genre fiction readers (which is VERY appreciated by genre fiction authors.) Best selling series=publisher-generated hype .
I was a rebellious child in many ways and sometimes I think I haven’t grown up all that much. The more I’m told by the press to read something, the less I want to read it.
It’s gotten so that the few people I really believe are book review bloggers. Why? They’re devoted readers. They care about the plot and the characters. They’re not making a dime from the process. They are savvy readers who read a ton of books from a variety of genres.
There are some fantastic book review bloggers out there. Some of them are listed in my sidebar. Now I have a to-read list that’s pages long—but I’m excited about the books on the list. And I feel they were recommended by friends.
While I would stay away from swine flu, if I were you, there seems to be more hype around it than it perhaps deserves. We went into a panic mode in India, before realizing that most people who test positive actually end up getting cured. But…. with kids in the house, why take chances?
And I quite agree with you on blogger reviews – they are really the only ones I trust, and they rarely go wrong. Or if they do, it is because I think differently from the blogger.
And when did I last tell you how much I love your blog?
Like you, the reviews I really trust are the one I come across on my blog rounds. In July, I posted about the 18 new authors I had found during six months of blogging – and I liked each and every book I had bought based on recommendations from blogger friends.
The link is here. It is probably easier that way. I have added a star to my own top-five.
http://djskrimiblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/something-old-something-new-something.html
When I left Norway, the swine flu was about the only thing in the news there as well. (When I got to the US, I was surprised and relieved that it wasn’t so much of an issue here – until I realized that probably had more to do with the fact that I don’t watch as much news as I did at home…)
At home, people were crazily scared, emptying stores for supplies of disinfectants, sanitizing wipes and flu-medicine. I had a theory at some point that it was a conspiracy conducted by the Norwegian government because they wanted to get rid of the huge stock of Tamiflu they bought when the bird flu was an issue… (Come to think of it, that could make an interesting plot for a thriller…)
The H1N1 has been hyped, (not just in North Carolina,) but at the same time it’s not difficult to understand why people take the necessary measures. Why take the risk? Especially since this flu has not acted like normal flu. Many of those who actually died or got seriously ill were young and healthy, which means that this flu behaves differently than what we’re used to. Which could mean that we don’t know how to handle it (except trying to avoid it – good call!).
When it comes to book hypes (good job on connecting themes!), I agree completely with you. If a book gets too much attention, too many people saying that it’s the best book ever, I’m likely to take a step back and not read it. Best example is the Stieg Larsson trilogy. I think I’m the only Norwegian who hasn’t read them. Seriously. I work in a bookshop. I have sold at least one, probably two, occasionally 20 copies of one of his books every single day since they came out (3 years ago).
I know they are interesting books, I know they are supposed to be good. But that kind of hype makes me not want to even try them.
It was panicky here at first, although more in states that were closer to Mexico. Then, naturally, the virus and panic spread everywhere. Then, though, people did start realizing that most infected patients weren’t dying, although they were completely miserable. But you’re right…why take chances?
Thanks so much for the compliment on my blog! By the way, I love what you’ve done with Coffee Rings Everywhere–looks very nice.
I have a naturally suspicious nature which means I look somewhat warily at most things. Logic is usually the answer. If you’re worried about something, do the best you can to protect yourself against it (which with the H1N1 it sounds like you’re doing already).
The yelling that ‘everyone’ has seen this movie or read this book? Hmmm. If I’m interested, I might. Maybe. But Oprah’s blessing isn’t enough for me – and her taste and my taste in books are radically different anyway. Hype is the result of a successful marketing campaign.
I’m in the grocery store two or three times a week. Perhaps we should start the theory that mystery writers’ brains are too full of death and plot twists to be efficient food shoppers. Let’s put it out on the stoop and see if the cat licks it up!
Elspeth
I’m with you. I have a deep distrust for media driven hype. Not just with regard to books/movies/entertainers, etc., either. I don’t believe ANYthing the news is shouting out – I figured out as a young man that whatever the newspaper was claiming was happening and why, the exact opposite was probably the real truth.
But anyway, back to your topic – I also pay more attention to and give more credence to book review bloggers. They have no monetary interest to gain by giving their honest opinion so I trust them.
Marvin D Wilson
Since I no longer have any faith in the media (or politicians), the only H1N1 news I follow is from the CDC website. The last time I checked, less than 9,000 people had been hospitalized and less than 600 had died. Actual cases are not counted unless the patient must be hospitalized. (Note: I stay far away from anyone who looks feverish, complains of a headache, or is coughing–needless to say, with two conferences coming up, I’ll also be washing my hands a million times a day).
As for book I don’t listen to much except from reviewers like Lesa Holstine. I use the tried and true method of holding the book, reading the cover synopsis, reading the first page, and deciding for myself. I could spend hours like that in a library or bookstore.
Marvin–Maybe it’s my smattering of work in advertising that makes me suspicious. I’m like you—what’s the real, underlying story?
Dorte–I need to find these authors! I’ll go back to your July posts.
Thanks, Dorte!
I tend to be more influenced by my close friends. If they bring up a book that they loved (and then someone else chimes in that they loved it too) that makes me want to check it out. I tend to consume mystery/suspense/thrillers, but, luckily, I have friends who read primarily literary books, so I at least get pushed to read one or two of those once in a while.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Cruella–Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I think there are probably SEVERAL books in your story about Norway. Here, I find it interesting that the very last people to get the vaccine for H1N1 are my husband and me (healthy people in our late 30s, early 40s.) I already told my mom and dad I’d be dumping the kids on them if I got sick! After all, the kids and the elderly will be the first to get it. Got to be a book in there, too. But I don’t write thrillers (although I like reading them.)
I do think Larsson must have been very talented. Those books have been hyped to death, as you mentioned, though. I did wonder if his unfortunate demise played any part at all in the series’ success? Or is that only for visual artists?
Elspeth, Oprah and I don’t see eye to eye, either. I admire many of the books she chooses, but I don’t ENJOY them.
That sounds like a very reasonable explanation why I go to the grocery store nearly every day! (And what a fantastic expression with the cat! Love it.)In fact, I’m just about to leave now—no snacks for the school lunches. Sigh.
Helen–My friends have wonderful recommendations—when they have the time to read. I’m hoping more of us can return to reading when our kids get more independent.
Patricia–Me too! Actually, I just came out of a bookstore a few minutes ago. I needed to get the latest Rangers Apprentice for my son…then I got distracted. I really could spend some time there.
If I could just figure out how to get the swine flu promoters to market my book, it might become a bestseller. :]
Tara–Brilliant idea! But I guess then we’d run the danger of everyone KNOWING about our book, but being terrified of it! :) Although, with mysteries, that might not be a bad thing….