I watch what I would consider a variety of booktubers, because I have a very eclectic taste in books. I love YA, NA, Adult. I love various genres, so I follow a variety of different booktubers because I want variety in the recommendations they give and I learn about more books that I may be interested in that way. One booktuber who I like to watch is Merphy Napier, who recently posted a video talking about her preferences. So I decided to share my answers to you guys from her questions.
1. Which perspective is your favorite? I like either first person or third person. It really depends on how the story and the writing style. But I find I tend to relate more when it's told in third person. I really cannot stand second person - with the exception of the book You by Caroline Kepnes, where I thought the perspective worked with how the story unfolded.
2. Which format is your favorite? I prefer physical copies over ebook copies, leaning more toward paperback when reading (although I do love how Hardbacks look on the shelf). Ebook would be my least preferred, but it also tends to be the format I most read in just because it's easier to read an ebook at work then a physical book. I also really love listening to audiobooks but only when I can't sit down and have the book in front of me, so when doing chores, playing with/walking my dogs, or driving in the car are all perfect moments to listen to an audiobook.
3. Do you prefer a character or plot focused story? I would prefer books that have both, but if I had to choose, it would be character driven. If you read my reviews, when a book's more focused on plot than developing the characters, I tend to not really enjoy the book as much. I have to relate to a character and their story for me to really enjoy a book, and if the character is lacking, it's usually a struggle to get into. I would with everything say that there are exceptions and there are books that I have probably loved that are more plot driven, but if I had to choose, I would choose character driven. On a side note, I would also say that there may be a slight possibility that this could also be genre dependent for me also.
4. Do you care about prose? I honestly prefer quick and to the point writing. I don't need extensive detail because my mind fills in everything with what I want it to be like anyway, and then it's unnecessary because my imagery in my mind is already built (for example I don't need a long detailed explanation for something that could be described in a sentence or two - adding extra words isn't something I enjoy in books. I don't need over the top detail. Now I do prefer when there is variation in how the author words things, not always repeating similar words or phrases.
5. How introspective do you want your characters to be? This doesn't really phase me one way or another - it's not really something that stands out to me when I'm reading because it doesn't phase me if characters are deeply introspective or not.
6. How do you like your relationships? I can read books that don't have romance, but I don't read them often. I love books that have romance, but I don't necessarily love books that are heavy on romance (unless it's specifically a romance novel). I care more about seeing the characters grow individually throughout the novel and a heavier focus on the plot. Spoiler: Two books I recently read were Playing with Fire and Girl in the White Van, both by April Henry, where there is very minor romance but it was enough for my romantic heart because I got my touch of romance, but the focus was on the characters growth and story. I also love books with really strong friendships or familial relationships or characters who have strong relationships with multiple side characters. If I could have a book with a romantical relationship where the friendships are not left straggling or barely there, that would be a perfect novel. My caveat to the romantic relationship is that it has to work. I don't like reading a book where two characters are together and they really shouldn't or it's an unhealthy relationship. At that point, just give me a friendship. Some authors I feel try to hard to make relationships work that shouldn't or they throw in love triangles, and forget it - I would rather read a series/book without romance, then with a love triangle.
7. Do you like descriptions? I like enough description to get an image in my mind, but I don't need excessive description. There are details that I don't need also when reading - I don't care what color something is or I don't care what someone is wearing, small descriptive words that don't change the overall plot of the story, I don't need. Worldbuilding on the other hand, I love as long as the worldbuilding doesn't take away from the plot. If there is more focus on setting a world than having a really structured plot, I won't really get into as much. I can easily create a world in my mind (mind you, it's also the world that I created in my dreams so I've had years of creating it, and it's flexible, so many fantasy and even Sci-Fi stories work in the world) so if it's not described, that's fine.
8. Do you prefer standalones or a series? This is one that I don't have a preference, or it's very genre dependent. I love thrillers, I think they work best as a standalone. Fantasy or Sci-Fi, I prefer as a series. But I have a limit, when a series is more than five books (with exceptions), it's harder for me to either want to get into that series or keep up with the series. There comes a point where I tire of the characters and the world, and want something fresh - or it starts to feel very repetitive because there's not a lot of room to take that story someplace new. And unless, I pick that sequel up almost immediately, sometimes it takes a while to get back to it, and then, I'm starting a lot of series that I don't end up finishing.
9. Single POV or multiple POV? I prefer single POV, but that's not to say that I don't find multiple POV books good. I just prefer single POV. I will say that a book with like four or five or more POVs, I don't tend to enjoy as much because it's harder for me to connect with the characters because I don't have as much time with them or I connect with two of the five, and then I'm rushing through chapters with characters I don't like just to get back to the characters I do like. A series that was this way for me was The 100, although overall, I loved the book series, there were chapters that I didn't care about because I hated the character or found that in my opinion, it was unnecessary for the story.
10. Do you prefer a strong start, middle, or finish? I prefer a strong finish. If I'm left unsatisfied but a rushed ending or a lacking ending, it kind of spoils the whole book for me. In order would be strong finish, strong middle, than a strong start. I can push through a start that's lacking, if it doesn't take super long to pick up.
