How To: When You Miss The Hype Train // Thursday Ramblings

THURSDAY RAMBLINGS IS A CASUAL FEATURE/MEME HERE ON JOSIE’S BOOK CORNER WHERE I PICK A TOPIC AND DISCUSS IT WITH YOU. THIS IS A CASUAL POST, FILLED WITH RAMBLING AND CHATTING! SO BASICALLY, WE ARE SIMPLY HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TOPIC AT HAND!

You know that feeling you get when you read a really hyped up book that you’ve heard fellow bookworms and book bloggers talk and rave about, and it feels like you’ve completely missed the greatness that they were all talking about? You’re sitting there wondering: what in the world happened?! Well munchkins, it’s simple. You missed the hype train.

Hype is dangerous. I mean, fire-breathing dragon type dangerous. Oh, it’s absolute bliss when you’re a part of it, but when you’re part of the crowd who haven’t read the book yet and people are screeching at you mindlessly to read this INCREDIBLE book, it’s a whole different story. Mostly, you’ll be so worked up and excited about said book. You’ll be thinking: “it sounds so GOOD” and “my blogger friends said they loved it and we have similar tastes, I’m excited to read this” and then POOF – you read the book and you’re left feeling a little bit underwhelmed. I’ve felt this on a number of occasions and it’s SAD. So dang sad. If you’re a bookworm, you’re bound to have experienced this at least once. The feeling that you’ve somehow ended up stranded and alone while everyone is having a jolly good time on that hype train. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, MY FRIEND.

Missing the hype train is horrible. It’s a sad, frustrating feeling. But what can we do to deal with this? Let’s see some totally ineffective but true helpful reactions to missing the hype train.

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RUSH OVER TO SAID BLOGGER FRIENDS WHO LOVE THE BOOK AND PROCEED TO SCREECH YOUR PANIC

How can it be possible that all your close blogger and bookworm friends love the book and yet, you find yourself detached and underwhelmed? Is there something that you possibly skimmed over something that was essential to the enjoyment? Did you somehow magically PICK UP THE WRONG BOOK?!

FLIP BACK A COUPLE OF CHAPTERS IN A FRENZY OF DESPERATION TO SOMEHOW MAGICALLY ENJOY IT THE SECOND (OR THIRD) TIME AROUND

It must’ve been something you missed… It MUST’VE been! A little titbit here and there that you skimmed in the rush of your excitement to start the book? Yes…yes… that MUST be it! (But trust me, if it’s not happening the fourth time around, then you’re in denial.)

SOB AS YOU REALISE THAT YOU MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE BOOKISH WORLD WHO ISN’T ENJOYING THE BOOK

Unpopular opinions are cool, but being part of a fan-base is just so nice – being part of the group that fangirls about the characters, about the story and the book in general. Ergo, when the realisation dawns that you are not going to be part of the fan-base, ABSOLUTE PANIC – cue the slow and quiet sobbing as you continue to read the book and continue not enjoying it.

YELL AT THE BOOK IN THE HOPES IT WILL GET BETTER AFTER THE FIRST 50%

Violence is bad, let’s not hurt these poor books feelings now, okay? (Totally did not suggest or condone this)

THROW THE BOOK DOWN IN FRUSTRATION AND HEARTBROKENNESS

It seems as though there’s no way you’ll ever come to enjoy this book the same way as everyone else does – so why bother?

*no books were harmed in the making of this blog post… heh*

FRANTICALLY SEARCH THE INTERWEBS FOR ALL THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS OF SAID BOOK

In the search to be included in SOME sort of group, you look to the negative side of book reviews for reassurance and relation. If you can’t join the light side of the book’s fan base, you’ll just have to settle for the dark side. *cue continued sobbing over disappointment of the book*

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Oh the joys of being a reader under the influence of hype. Sometimes you suffer, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you get to the train on time, and sometimes it decides to fly past you without any disregards for your feelings or your expectations. I FEEL YOU. REALLY, I DO.

What is your reaction when you miss the hype train?