Book reviews and expectations

[alicambs]

I've been getting lists of the free and reduced ebooks available on Amazon for some time now. Each time a freebie comes up I read the summary (romance seems to be huge and to be honest generally bores me to tears, particularly the 'beautiful feisty woman meets handsome, determined man' cliché ) check the reviews, and then check in with Goodreads.

Comments

[ariss_tenoh]

So Goodreads is now part of Amazon's empire? That's disheartening. Personally, I don't trust websites that are purchased by large companies and then changed to reflect and boost that company's image and revenues. I remember when TV.com was turned from a fannish site to a commercial one. No more honest reviews or commentary and lots of ads. I expect the same will happen to Goodreads whose membership information must be a data "gold mine" for amazon.

'However, there is a line between relevant criticism and unhelpful, ad hominem attacks or off-topic reviews that single out individual readers or authors. Reviews-- or shelves--that cross this line are not allowed.'

Yes, on the surface this sounds very reasonable. But it's subjective and can be used to remove any comments that don't fawn over the author.

I try to read author blogs whose work I admire or book review blogs by fans. At least there's some measure of honesty there.

[alicambs]

Very disheartening and news to me until two days ago!

So far there has not been too much fawning and negative reviews are still very much present at Goodreads - just read the reviews on Enders Game by Orson Scott Card for starters, but I do understand your cynicism.

[caffyolay]

I think I must've been living under a rock as I didn't know that Amazon now own both Goodreads and The Book Depository. I rediscovered Goodreads last year. Been a member for about 6 years didn't bother with it for several of those. Went back last year and found it to be a much more interesting place these days with a lot more people I know.

Trying to decide whether a book is worth reading is a very fraught enterprise, imo. I tend to check reviews on Amazon and Goodreads but have become more jaundiced since I realised that some authors send their friends to leave glowing reviews. Mostly I tend to rely on recs from other book blogging friends who I know have the same standards as myself. And on Goodreads I'm often looking at books which several of my 'friends' have also read so I can kind of judge from that. You're right though, it's not easy.

[alicambs]

I only learnt about Goodreads two days ago purely by chance while following reviews, Book Depository I think I read about on the BBC web site. Very depressing.

I think I will have to develop more awareness of book bloggers and see who appears to have similar tastes to me and I thought Goodreads was it for a short time!

[caffyolay]

I do think the trick is to find the people who you know have similar tastes, but that's easier said than done. It's taken me 'years'. But still it does tend to be down to me to really search out the books and series that suit me. I use Goodreads a lot for that, following their links etc. I don't know if my tastes are similar to yours but I'm under 'Cath Russell' if you want to look. Welcome to friend me but I shan't be offended if you decide not to. :-)

[alicambs]

Thanks, and I will. :-)

[byslantedlight]

Yeah, it seems as soon as a small company is doing well, it's bought up by some big corporation and the whole feel of it changes. I was so disappointed to find that BookDepository was no longer a UK-based online bookshop. If I wanted to buy from Amazon I would have bought from Amazon (not that I didn't, it was just good to have a choice...) I've not worked out their underlying structure yet either - for instance the Points books seem to be more quickly available from BookDepository than from Amazon, even though they're the same company now... Oh, but I have recently noticed that Amazon's suddenly alot more expensive than it used to be - having got rid of most competition, they're hiking their prices, I wonder

[alicambs]

oh dear, I really should try to write less, shouldn't I... *headdesk* but then I wouldn't believe it was from you :-)

Yep it is disheartening to find the Amazon is permitted to gobble up smaller outlets. I'd have thought that the Book Depository acquisition would have been challenged by the OFT on grounds of reducing competition.

I tend to read on line a great deal becasue I love fanfiction and slash, however like you I despair at the m/m books, why people think that all we want to read about is sex and angst is beyond me!

Check out some lists here though:
Best_Fantasy_Books_with_Gay_Main_Characters

and you might enjoy reading this.
Rant on depiction of gay and lesbian characters in mainstream fiction

Also this list has some goodies and baddies.
Favorite_Unpublished_M_M_StoriesI'm going to create bookshelves for 'where the hell is the plot?', 'Angst ridden boring read', 'author appears to think that excessive sex will hide the lack of a plot' 'this is SO bad it's embarrassing