There is a really fascinating debate on the nature of covers, centred around SFF, but I’m sure they apply across the board. It started off with the cover of The Black Prism by Brent Weeks and has now moved on to the cover I was showing off a couple of days ago for paperback release of Nights of Villamjur. Things got very very interesting when two editors joined in namely Simon Spanton (of Gollancz) and Julie Crisp (of Tor UK and editor of NoV). One of Julie’s comments stuck out:
The top three reasons for buying an SFF book are: read the previous in the series, read other by author and saw in shop. Most readers will experiment with a new author because it reminds them of someone they’ve read previously and enjoyed. I’m guilty of it myself. They want that simple association – something that’s immediately comparative. And we would be remiss if we ignored that…
And there is lots of discussion of how these affect the design and choice of covers for books. Mark was also game enough to come up with this own thoughts on his blog.
I must admit to be being in a bit of a meh mood this week. I’m putting it down to soon-to-be-a-year-older. I’m not enjoying getting older it seems. And I was thinking about how I spend my time and what is the best use of it. So I was a bit out of sorts when I wrote…
So we write reviews why? If they don’t really sell books…
… on both blogs. Not because I don’t see the value of them or the value on doing them but if they don’t have a big enough affect on sales why do so many people and publishers invest a lot of time and money doing them and in part of my head I was wondering why don’t people read reviews before buying a book? Not that every book gets a review so I guess often you do have to buy blind. But if you had the choice you’d read a review right?
Anyway, in addition to the comments, I put this question on Twitter and emailed a few people directly and here are their thoughts on:
Why Reviews Matter?
Starting with and continuing really from the points above is. Julie Crisp:
And of course reviews matter – they’re the first rung on the ladder of that wonderful word-of-mouth phenomenon that everyone craves for their books. And actually the fourth most popular reason on that list was Recommendation! It’s just I didn’t want to write a whole essay about marketing research into the buying habits of the SFF readership.
And then Simon Spanton:
Reviews matter because when you are fighting to get your book to be theone that’s bought rather than another one of the 80 plus books in the genre that might have come out that month you want to use every available weapon in your armoury.
Yes you might have a great cover but then so might 5 other books sitting on the table next to yours, yes you might have a brilliant blurb but then so might 6 others on the table (3 of which are also in the selection of 5 books with great covers) and so on and so forth – its all about reducing the purchase choice down to as few possible books as possible.
And this assumes the reader is standing in a bookshop. They might be online and your review might be their first contact with the book and your review might be so splendid that they will ignore the fact that the cover has, say, a hooded man, on it
A review may, in some instances, be the 4th reason why someone has bought a book but that might still account for 10% of the total sales and that’s a percentage (admittedly pulled out of the air) that no-one can afford to ignore.
And in other circumstances a review might be the first reason someone buys a book.
Publishers wouldn’t spend thousands upon thousands of pounds every year sending out free books for review if they thought they were just pissing that money down the drain. Reviews are only part of the process but they are a really, really important part.
Selling a book is not easy – as a publisher you want all the help you
can get.
Juliet who is the lovely person behind @_thevoyager_ and behind the marketing at HarperCollin’s Voyager
Reviews are important in a variety of ways:
- They ‘place’ the book. e.g. if it’s a quote from Robin Hobb then you know you’re in for well-written, character-led fantasy.
- People like buying books which have been endorsed by authors/sources they respect. If George RR Martin likes something, and I’m a big fan of his, then I am more likely to buy it. Similarly, if a newspaper or magazine, or a reviewer, that I respect reviews something, then it also positively impacts on the likelihood that I will buy it.
- Our reader panel said that reader reviews on Amazon are the second most important factor in whether or not they buy a book, after pricing
And Mark Charan Newton commented a reply on his blog:
To do your best to influence things, in whatever way that might be. No one review can make or break a book. But a movement online can help sway things, to get people talking by word of mouth etc. To be honest, the more people reading online reviews, the more the situation will change. But slowly…
A selection of some more great thoughts from Twitter:
Lit reviews r considered criticism & not shy of slagging off which is unlikely to sell lots of bks
@crimeficreader (It’s a Crime)
Reviews matter because if the art you love isn’t worth discussing, it’s probably not worth consuming, IMHO. YMMV.
because they help others discover new writing so not *every* book sold is by Dan Sodding Brown AND they guide people away from/toward. More importantly perhaps, they sell authors, and the craft of writing
Reviews matter, who wants to spend their hard-earned money on something that’s rubbish? I like to know what others think b4 buying
On a saturday many custs start a sentence with: I was reading a review in the Telegraph..I have to keep a pile of the weeks reviews on the counter for when they can’t remember title/author, ‘but was a very good review’
Aiden and Neil Williamson had the sharpest responses:
Gav – I don’t review in an effort to sell more books. I review because I have an opinion and I love to create a forum for discussion. In the grand scheme of things, we bloggers really are just a small facet of the industry and are only of small (but growing) importance in selling novels.
and
What Aidan said. You’re not employed by publishers. If you think the purpose of reviewing books is to help sell them isn’t that a conflict of interest? Do you never give negative reviews, for example?
then Arachn came to my defence:
@ Aidan and Neil: I disagree. I think many reviewers hope their positive reviews will help sell the books they enjoyed – at least, I know I would. Of course, if by “helping selling books” gav meant “helping selling all the book I happen to review”… that’d be a quite different story.
Where to start?
I’m going to start by repeating myself from the above blog:
Should bloggers engage with publishers? Should they find interesting things to blog about? Should they share what they are excited by and passionate about? Of course they should. Does it give us a conflict of interest? Only if you we, as a whole, go from being honest to being a tool. We don’t get paid, we don’t do it on the whole for free books, and we do it for free! There is little point in doing this if we don’t enjoy it.
Arachn did have me right. I want everyone who thinks, ‘I want to read that,’ after reading one of my reviews to rush out and get a copy and read it. That’s why I style my reviews in such away to explain why I enjoyed a book and what, if anything hampered that enjoyment, in the hope that if you want to read it you’ll get a spoiler-free experience as possible.
I don’t though go in for the lit cric review. To analyse and deconstruct a work is take a lot of the enjoyment away from it. And enjoyment is the one thing I value above all in reading and I want to share that enjoyment.
So I don’t on the whole do ‘bad reviews’ as this implies that I hated a book and still thought it was worth finding out what happened in the end. I have reviewed ‘bad books’ where there is enough there to keep me reading but the author spoils my enjoyment in some way. And that comes across I hope.
Enjoyment, now there is a loaded term. The OED says, ‘take pleasure in’. But that’s not helpful either especially if I list some of the books I’ve ‘enjoyed’ because they’d range from Cursing Bagels, a collection of poems by Alfred Brendel to The Atrocity Archives by Charlie Stros via hundreds of other books and authors. And looking at those if I could remember and list them all and from looking at the Book Review Index you would probably be as confused as I am about what I’m going to enjoy.
Satisfied might be a better word. It’s that feeling when you come to an end of a book and you feel like it was worth your time reading, even if it wasn’t perfect. Though books rarely are perfect the highs usually more than make up for their imperfections.
Then the more important question then is how do I choose what to read?
And this is were reviews come in, though I’m lucky enough to get a lot of books before they have been reviewed, I am guided to/away from (to go back to Lee Harris) a book a lot of the time because of a recommendation of some sort – reviews being the most thorough but depending on the person it can just be as simple as you gotta read this book.
I am constantly battling away from my own brand of comfort reading, which probably explains why out of the 100 books I’ve read I’ve also read 71 different authors and do on the whole read ‘new to me authors’ going as far to make 2007 a year of debut authors.
I put a lot of value in reviews from traditional reviews to bloggers, though not often in Amazon reviews. All this it seems puts me at odds with the general book buying public.
I guess I was a little hurt that people are so relaxed about reading that a good cover is all that is needed to decide if a book is for them. But then a lot of books don’t get reviewed for a number of reasons so a publishes does need all avenues they can find in order to attract the right person to buy them. It would be wrong for a horror story to be packaged as if it was a classic, that is unless you like the idea of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies…
I am cheered though by all the responses.
I haven’t changed my mind. I am here to sell books. Not every book. I am here to ‘sell’ the books that I like in the hope that you find them enjoyable and that after you’ve read them, you think ‘I’m glad I bought that I really enjoyed it’. If so then I’ve done my job.
I probably should go deeper and pull at the stitching, look in all the nooks and crannies. Would that make you more likely to buy a book? Or help you enjoy it more?
In fact what do you think? Do reviews matter? And what should a review actually do?
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now.
I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can’t imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
There are dangers in that – two books I’ve read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn’t see it.
But I’m with you. I’m not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn’t really like.
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now.
I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can’t imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
There are dangers in that – two books I’ve read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn’t see it.
But I’m with you. I’m not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn’t really like.
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk’s other people bought this or you might like features. So I’m with you on that – it’s a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you’ll find a review to help you decide.
When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I’m constantly finding ‘new-to-me’ authors. It’s sometimes easier with debuts as you really don’t know how they are going to develop.
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn’t stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don’t always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers.
I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it’s fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I’m happier it is here rather than there.
But never are they a complete surprise book
Then again I’m so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I’d feel guilty and not sure I’d enjoy it if I did.
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk’s other people bought this or you might like features. So I’m with you on that – it’s a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you’ll find a review to help you decide.
When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I’m constantly finding ‘new-to-me’ authors. It’s sometimes easier with debuts as you really don’t know how they are going to develop.
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn’t stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don’t always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers.
I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it’s fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I’m happier it is here rather than there.
But never are they a complete surprise book
Then again I’m so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I’d feel guilty and not sure I’d enjoy it if I did.
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say.
How I choose books to buy
I belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:
I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores.
Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews.
Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.
It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed.
Reviews
I started to write reviews but I’m no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.
I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don’t want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don’t write negative reviews.
Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I’d like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it’s important to me, just like to many others.
Strangely I’m quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I’m going to buy anyway – it’s nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
You can say ‘great post’ if you like…
I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn’t see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake.
But there probably is that missing element from the ‘blog-o-sphere’ of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it’s contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before.
But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn’t and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are.
I just can’t see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time.
I’d like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say.
How I choose books to buy
I belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:
I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores.
Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews.
Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.
It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed.
Reviews
I started to write reviews but I’m no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.
I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don’t want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don’t write negative reviews.
Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I’d like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it’s important to me, just like to many others.
Strangely I’m quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I’m going to buy anyway – it’s nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
You can say ‘great post’ if you like…
I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn’t see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake.
But there probably is that missing element from the ‘blog-o-sphere’ of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it’s contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before.
But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn’t and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are.
I just can’t see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time.
I’d like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
Hey Gav, couldn’t read this and not give my thoughts…
To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It’s the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.
I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can’t you do that more.
I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b’hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it’s a bit chunky…
It’s a bit like Preaching – see these books… you’ll love ‘em just like I did!
Hey Gav, couldn’t read this and not give my thoughts…
To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It’s the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.
I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can’t you do that more.
I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b’hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it’s a bit chunky…
It’s a bit like Preaching – see these books… you’ll love ‘em just like I did!
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now. I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can't imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now.
I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can't imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
I don’t listen to reviews unless I’m dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That’s when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.
Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I don’t listen to reviews unless I’m dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That’s when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.
Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
There are dangers in that – two books I've read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn't see it. But I'm with you. I'm not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn't really like.
There are dangers in that – two books I've read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn't see it.
But I'm with you. I'm not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn't really like.
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now. I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can't imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now. I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can't imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
Reviews are very important for me. I rarely read a book without seeing a positive endorsement for it somewhere. I used to select books based on the cover, but that led to so much disappointment that I rarely risk that now.
I buy almost all my books based on the thoughts of a few trusted bloggers and so far the success rate is very high. I can't imagine going back to the old days of hit and miss selection based on the quality of the blurb in a book shop.
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say. How I choose books to buyI belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores. Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews. Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed. ReviewsI started to write reviews but I'm no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don't want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don't write negative reviews.Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say.
How I choose books to buy
I belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:
I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores.
Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews.
Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.
It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed.
Reviews
I started to write reviews but I'm no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.
I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don't want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don't write negative reviews.
Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk's other people bought this or you might like features. So I'm with you on that – it's a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you'll find a review to help you decide.When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I'm constantly finding 'new-to-me' authors. It's sometimes easier with debuts as you really don't know how they are going to develop.
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk's other people bought this or you might like features. So I'm with you on that – it's a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you'll find a review to help you decide.
When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I'm constantly finding 'new-to-me' authors. It's sometimes easier with debuts as you really don't know how they are going to develop.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I'd like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it's important to me, just like to many others.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I'd like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it's important to me, just like to many others.
You can say 'great post' if you like… I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn't see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake. But there probably is that missing element from the 'blog-o-sphere' of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it's contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before. But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn't and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are. I just can't see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time. I'd like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
You can say 'great post' if you like…
I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn't see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake.
But there probably is that missing element from the 'blog-o-sphere' of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it's contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before.
But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn't and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are.
I just can't see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time.
I'd like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn't stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don't always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn't stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don't always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
There are dangers in that – two books I've read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn't see it. But I'm with you. I'm not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn't really like.
There are dangers in that – two books I've read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn't see it. But I'm with you. I'm not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn't really like.
There are dangers in that – two books I've read this year have been so highly praised that I really really wondered what planet some of them were on when I read both of them. I really couldn't see it.
But I'm with you. I'm not likely to blinding pick up a book from a bookshop anymore or go back to the limited time when I went off SFF mag reviews and ended up with boxes of books that I didn't really like.
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I tend to use lists and recommendations on amazon to find new books, then check out my fave bloggers to read their views before actually buying a book. Reviews from trusted sources can be THE most reliable guide, especially for new authors
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say. How I choose books to buyI belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores. Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews. Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed. ReviewsI started to write reviews but I'm no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don't want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don't write negative reviews.Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say. How I choose books to buyI belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores. Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews. Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed. ReviewsI started to write reviews but I'm no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don't want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don't write negative reviews.Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
I was tempted to start my comment with “great post” but that would not fit to the rest what I want to say.
How I choose books to buy
I belong to the group of people who buy 98% of their books online. The reason for that is:
I live in Germany and I read books in English. You don’t get many fantasy books in English in German book stores.
Therefore I don’t need an eye catcher but I need reviews.
Reviews, that explain to me something about the content and then I want to know what the reviewer liked/disliked. I neither want to read a treatise nor this “great book, I liked it” stuff.
It takes some time until I decide whether to buy a book or not. Therefore I have only a small number of books where I have been disappointed.
Reviews
I started to write reviews but I'm no professional reviewer. I bought most of the books I reviewed.
I write reviews about books I like because I want to share my opinion about these books. And of course I hope that more copies are sold. Because the more books are sold the more probably I get more books from this specific author. I don't want to waste my time to read books I find worse and then spend additional time to review them. That is the reason why I don't write negative reviews.
Conclusion: For me reviews matter.
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk's other people bought this or you might like features. So I'm with you on that – it's a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you'll find a review to help you decide.When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I'm constantly finding 'new-to-me' authors. It's sometimes easier with debuts as you really don't know how they are going to develop.
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk's other people bought this or you might like features. So I'm with you on that – it's a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you'll find a review to help you decide.When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I'm constantly finding 'new-to-me' authors. It's sometimes easier with debuts as you really don't know how they are going to develop.
I do actually like Amazon.co.uk's other people bought this or you might like features. So I'm with you on that – it's a good way of just discovering something. And hopefully you'll find a review to help you decide.
When you say new authors – is that new to you or newly published? I'm constantly finding 'new-to-me' authors. It's sometimes easier with debuts as you really don't know how they are going to develop.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I'd like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it's important to me, just like to many others.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I'd like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it's important to me, just like to many others.
Reviews come right after “author and/or series” for me, in the list of reasons why I buy a book. Mostly done online, I follow a long list of blogs. I also participate in the discussion on sci-fi, fantasy forums on SFFWorld. All this exchange of ideas and opinions help me choose my next books. Are reviews important? Yes, of course. I'd like to thank every blogger and reviewer for taking the time to tell the others what they think about a particular book. Because it's important to me, just like to many others.
You can say 'great post' if you like… I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn't see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake. But there probably is that missing element from the 'blog-o-sphere' of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it's contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before. But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn't and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are. I just can't see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time. I'd like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
You can say 'great post' if you like… I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn't see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake. But there probably is that missing element from the 'blog-o-sphere' of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it's contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before. But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn't and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are. I just can't see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time. I'd like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
You can say 'great post' if you like…
I was probably unwise not to do more English Lit modules when I was doing my degree. But I didn't see the value in deconstruction for deconstruction sake.
But there probably is that missing element from the 'blog-o-sphere' of someone spending their time destructing a book and placing it within it's contemporaries as well as the wider context of books that have gone before.
But as you say it comes down to time and effort. I could probably do quite a good job of explaining how something works, what doesn't and give examples and give theories and links about what external influences and parallels there are.
I just can't see that a lot of people will get value from it especially me when there is limited time.
I'd like more time for reading and reviewing and thinking and commenting on the book world – but who is going to pay me or a bunch of mes to do that?
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn't stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don't always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn't stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don't always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
Both! Have found Charles de Lint and Guy Gavriel Kay (@brightweavings) through Listmania and recommendations on amazon, but also find debut authors on blogs I read regularly e.g. Mark Charon Newton (@MarkCN). This doesn't stop me browsing in Waterstones and buying books based purely on cover and blurb, tho I do check them out online when I get them home. I have to admit, many of these impulse buys tend to be urban fantasy or YA and don't always live up to expectations! Found Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn) and Jacqueline Carey that way, so mooching through the Fantasy/SF sections in Waterstones can turn up some gems
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.
Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.
As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
It’s an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.
The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don’t have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I’d enjoy that.
And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It’s also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I’m quite proud of that.
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.
Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.
As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
It’s an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.
The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don’t have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I’d enjoy that.
And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It’s also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I’m quite proud of that.
Hey Gav, couldn't read this and not give my thoughts…To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It's the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
Hey Gav, couldn't read this and not give my thoughts…
To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It's the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.
I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I’m useful to publishers; they won’t send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it’s a fun way to build my freelancer’s bio.
This touches on blogging and networking which I’ve been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that’s around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books.
I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I’m useful to publishers; they won’t send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it’s a fun way to build my freelancer’s bio.
This touches on blogging and networking which I’ve been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that’s around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books.
I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
Hey Gav, couldn't read this and not give my thoughts…To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It's the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
Hey Gav, couldn't read this and not give my thoughts…To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It's the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
Hey Gav, couldn't read this and not give my thoughts…
To me reviews matter because I want to know what other fans thought of the book, whether that is from blogs or Amazon.co.uk, but very rarely from more traditional sources, although genre specific magazines are sometimes good. It's the reason I review as I just want to give my thoughts on what I enjoyed or found not quite to my taste, all in the hope that one person may read one of my reviews and want to read the book because of it.
I hope this is why most people review – because they love then genre and want to spread the word.
I don't listen to reviews unless I'm dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That's when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I don't listen to reviews unless I'm dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That's when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.
Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I don't listen to reviews unless I'm dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That's when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I don't listen to reviews unless I'm dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That's when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I don't listen to reviews unless I'm dealing with something that I am really unfamiliar with. That's when a review comes in handy. If others liked it and offer reasons why, it can influence whether or not I will buy the book.
Usually I buy books for the first few reasons mentioned on that list, though. And this was unnecessarily brief…
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.
Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.
As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
I would say in general that reviews are important to some readers but not to others. I think recommendations are important to most (if not all) readers; we all surely have people whose opinions we trust when it comes to books, and reviews are a form of that. Different people will want different kinds of reviews: some people will want several hundred words of analysis, others will be happy with a summary of what’s good and bad about a book, and still others might just want to glance at a star rating.
Personally, I like to get a sense of what makes a book tick (and I don’t think that spoils a book if it’s done carefully); and that’s what I generally aim for with my reviews (whether I achieve it is, of course, for others to judge!). I do use reviews to help me decide whether to read a book or not; but I have also been known to buy books of which I’ve never heard, just because I like the sound of them. That doesn’t devalue reviews in my eyes, though – I’d agree with Paul Raven’s emphasis (in the post) on the importance of discussion. Reviews help to keep discussion about books alive.
As to the question of why we write reviews, I think there will always be an element of wanting to share our opinions come what may. The most important thing, in my view, is to enjoy reviewing for its own sake.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I'm useful to publishers; they won't send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it's a fun way to build my freelancer's bio.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I'm useful to publishers; they won't send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it's a fun way to build my freelancer's bio.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I'm useful to publishers; they won't send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it's a fun way to build my freelancer's bio.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I'm useful to publishers; they won't send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it's a fun way to build my freelancer's bio.
I review because I enjoy doing it. Sure, I know I'm useful to publishers; they won't send me books otherwise. And I guess in that way, reviews matter. They seem to matter to the people who follow my blog. I also enjoy it for the sense of community, the networking opportunities, and it's a fun way to build my freelancer's bio.
Strangely I'm quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I'm going to buy anyway – it's nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
Strangely I'm quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I'm going to buy anyway – it's nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers. I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it's fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I'm happier it is here rather than there. But never are they a complete surprise bookThen again I'm so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I'd feel guilty and not sure I'd enjoy it if I did.
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers.
I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it's fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I'm happier it is here rather than there.
But never are they a complete surprise book
Then again I'm so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I'd feel guilty and not sure I'd enjoy it if I did.
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can't you do that more. I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b'hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it's a bit chunky…It's a bit like Preaching – see these books… you'll love 'em just like I did!
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can't you do that more.
I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b'hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it's a bit chunky…
It's a bit like Preaching – see these books… you'll love 'em just like I did!
It's an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don't have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I'd enjoy that. And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It's also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I'm quite proud of that.
It's an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.
The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don't have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I'd enjoy that.
And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It's also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I'm quite proud of that.
This touches on blogging and networking which I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that's around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books. I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
This touches on blogging and networking which I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that's around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books.
I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
Strangely I'm quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I'm going to buy anyway – it's nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
Strangely I'm quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I'm going to buy anyway – it's nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
Strangely I'm quite dismissive of reviews of authors/series I know I'm going to buy anyway – it's nice to see validation if they get good reviews but I know I want to read for myself if their latest is good or not…
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers. I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it's fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I'm happier it is here rather than there. But never are they a complete surprise bookThen again I'm so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I'd feel guilty and not sure I'd enjoy it if I did.
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers. I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it's fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I'm happier it is here rather than there. But never are they a complete surprise bookThen again I'm so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I'd feel guilty and not sure I'd enjoy it if I did.
CdL and GGG are two of those – where do I start? – writers.
I think the last time I bought books in bulk was when the local Borders had it's fire sale. I am forever picking up the odd book that I know is going to sit on the shelves but I'm happier it is here rather than there.
But never are they a complete surprise book
Then again I'm so submerged in releases from reading blogs, twitter, amazon, bookshops that I guess it would be nice , but bloody hard, to pic up a random book and read it there and then but I'd feel guilty and not sure I'd enjoy it if I did.
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can't you do that more. I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b'hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it's a bit chunky…It's a bit like Preaching – see these books… you'll love 'em just like I did!
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can't you do that more. I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b'hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it's a bit chunky…It's a bit like Preaching – see these books… you'll love 'em just like I did!
I do like trad reviews – but they so rarely touch genre that its like giving a dehydrated man a drink. I get grateful they are there but after I think why can't you do that more.
I use other bloggers reviews as a kick up the b'hind as well to read a particular book like The Temporal Void. I keep putting it of for no other reason than it's a bit chunky…
It's a bit like Preaching – see these books… you'll love 'em just like I did!
It's an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don't have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I'd enjoy that. And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It's also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I'm quite proud of that.
It's an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don't have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I'd enjoy that. And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It's also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I'm quite proud of that.
It's an interesting point about discussion keeping books alive. On mass the amount of thoughts on books be it blogs, goodreads, forums or amazon shows that they make connections with millions of people but still they are described as something that is dying.
The next big thing has to be how to make engagement easier. I just don't have to level of commitment to visit forums and discuss and deconstruct books. I wish I did as I'd enjoy that.
And reviewing is a great way for me of ordering my thoughts and thinking about a book. It's also nice to look back on them – Under the Dome is review 101. I'm quite proud of that.
This touches on blogging and networking which I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that's around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books. I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
This touches on blogging and networking which I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that's around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books. I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
This touches on blogging and networking which I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks – I do love blogging and I love the community that's around it. I love twitter and my presence there is where I get a lot of satisfaction seeing everyone else talk books.
I do blog for fun but sometimes I wonder if a straight review is enough or if there are other ways of sharing a book and an author with other people that build on that?
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