Finding the Next Book to Read in a Universe of Bestsellers, Blockbusters, and Spin-Offs

Abstract | Abstract

Finding a good book to read is part of the challenge of becoming a successful reader. Bestseller lists offer shortcuts, and many readers take advantage of the power to select from a radically smaller pool of possibilities. This article explores aspects of the impact of bestsellers and their adaptations and spin-offs on people’s reading choices. It draws the examples of one children’s and one adult blockbuster title (Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Fifty Shades of Grey). Both these titles made their first appearance online, and, in each case, the printed novel is an early adaptation of the original text. Further adaptations, spin, publicity, and a variety of media tie-ins complicate the ways in which readers may approach these titles. Such proliferation also affects the potential strategies readers may acquire for selecting books, in ways that may be either helpful or restrictive.