Comments on: Accept Review Books…Or Not

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:34:36 +0000

Anna: I completely agree – I think, when it comes right down to it, reading is a very personal experience for each individual…which is why I think we (book bloggers) need to be less judgmental about other people’s choices.

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:47:54 +0000

Great discussion! I accept review copies, but only books that I think I will like. I’ve been pretty lucky lately, and I think that’s because I’m selective and I know what I’ll probably like when I see it. I don’t care where the book came from, I’m going to give an honest review. I didn’t start blogging about books to receive review copies, but I’m grateful to get them because it’s opened me to new genres and new authors. Overall, I think it’s important for us to just read what we want and have fun with it.

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:11:23 +0000

Serena: Thanks for the validation!

By: Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)

Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:36:29 +0000

I agree with many of your thoughts on these subjects.

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:22:27 +0000

Darlene: Ditto all you wrote in your comment – I agree!!

El Fay: Interesting thoughts on Amazon reviews – I had heard a bit about that (which bummed me out!). I agree book bloggers (and bloggers in general) are here to stay and making an impact. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Tara: thanks for weighing in on the conversation!

Lisa: It is my pleasure to promote TLC – everything I’ve said I truly mean…your site is a joy to work with…And thank you for the nice comment on my blog

By: Lisamm

Lisamm — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:07:43 +0000

Wendy, this is an excellent, well thought out post, and it echoes many of my own sentiments about this book blogger “controversy” which I’ve refrained from commenting on, until now. You are so right when you say there is no free book, esp. when you factor in the time invested in reading and reviewing it. Thank you so much for the kind words on TLC. We really do strive to always be professional and straightforward with everyone, making it very clear to the bloggers who agree to host that we are only looking for honest reviews and opinions and nothing more. I’m so happy that you feel we’re doing a good job. Thanks again for the shout out. BTW I love your blog and really respect the amount of time you put into it!

By: Tara

Tara — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:27:46 +0000

Very, very well said. Like you, I only accept or request books that I want to read and that I would have wanted to read review copy or not. There has been one instance in which I chose not to post a review for a book because I truly had nothing good to say, but feel that I do give honest reviews, review copy or not.

By: EL Fay

EL Fay — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:31:45 +0000

Actually, there is a similar controversy with regards to top Amazon reviewers. (Check out the Harriet Klausner Appreciation Society blog. They’re definitely over-the-top, but they do raise some legitimate issues.) The big point of contention there is “shill reviewing,” in which a reviewer writes a few lines of useless praise for a book they haven’t actually read. And because they haven’t read the book, they can often post multiple reviews every day (this is what Klausner has been accused of doing).

This is a very interesting discussion. A few years ago, “Time” magazine decided to make YOU their Person of the Year in order to demonstrate the new democracy of Web 2.0. They made it sound like there was this new populist revolution going on in cyberspace, with amateur reviewers replacing paid professionals. I definitely think the publishing industry is changing, but “Time” still completely overstated things. Everyday bloggers really are becoming a new force in publishing, but that doesn’t mean corporate interests have taken a complete backside. I think it’s up to the individual blogger to decide for themselves that they are going to write honest reviews. And so far, that’s what I see people doing.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:24:18 +0000

Great post! I blog too because I like it. I like reading the books and receiving them. I love people reading what I write and commenting. I have no other agenda. I too am particular about the books I accept. I go to Amazon and make sure I’m going to like it. If there aren’t any reviews on it, well usually you can tell by a description if it’s your kind of thing or not. Ultimately it shouldn’t matter whether you’re getting arc’s, participating in blog tours or whatever. As long as you’re enjoying what you’re doing, I think that’s all that matters. Thanks for the myth busters!

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:41:13 +0000

Lenore: I use the same standard you do: Is this a book I would want to buy? If the answer is “no” I turn it down.

Lisa: Thanks for coming back…I have not seen a lot of blogs just posting blurbs of a book (as a review), but have seen a couple…and I agree, that is not my idea of really reviewing a book and definitely smacks of commercialism. But, as we’ve both said, if a blogger is doing that all the time, chances are I won’t be visiting their blog a lot as I can get blurbs of books from Amazon or any other seller. What I am most interested in is the bloggers opinion of the book. I can see where oversaturation of ANY book would turn readers off.

Les: Thanks for weighing in!

Diane: You’re welcome – I’m doing the same: prioritizing! Not always an easy task!

Teddy: *nods* I am probably turning down far more books than I accept these days.

Jeane: I find it goes in spurts. There are times when I am seeing a lot of books I really, really want to read; and then times when it seems like every offer is a book I don’t care much about.