Fake and paid reviews on Amazon are nothing new, but they’ve been gaining attention once again. A few weeks ago my mother sent me a link to a New York Times article titled, The Best Book Reviews Money can Buy. I read it, processed it, wasn’t surprised and moved on to something else. I’ve never relied on reviews when deciding on a book to purchase.
Ironic. I know. This coming from someone who writes book reviews. I like to think of my reviews more as sharing what I thought about a book with a friend. A friend’s recommendation is one way I find books to read. I also take the old fashion route when deciding on a book–I read a sample and/or jacket description.
I still buy print books. I still go to brick and mortar shops, browse the isles, read the back and inside jacket flaps. If something catches my eye I take a chance. I do the same thing with ebooks on Amazon–only I rely on the free sample and general description. It’s my system and it’s always worked for me, so why would I change?
Another tactic is the book to movie route. If I discover the movie I’m dying to see is based on a book, chances are I’ll want to read the book before I see the movie. (Or after, if I didn’t realize the connection til later.)
There are plenty of ways to discover new books without relying on what may or may not be pseudo-reviews. Yes, it’s shameful some authors have stooped so low. But people are people–no matter who they are or what position in society they hold.
So. Do you rely on book reviews when deciding on a book to purchase? Do you read Amazon reviews? Goodreads reviews? I want to know!
Amanda, often times I scope out a-l-l the review sites to compare the ratings before committing to a book. I find that a fun and satisfying process. Best tho’ is when I hear what my fellow book reviewers have to offer – you are top dog or should I say cat with me in that arena, having scored a couple of my all-time favs – to steer me and my selections. But, in the end, it is the actual words and the first few pages of a book that guide me … if time gets away from me then I KNOW that it’s a book for me.
I read the article you refer (here) to at work and I wasn’t at all surprised to hear what the author of it had to say, in fact, I had heard tell of that waaaay before the article was published by the NYTimes. Book sellers know these things … as you yourself *knew* of it already. Good blog post my friend. Continue to rock by honestly reviewing books you like and very rarely don’t like. My life is richer because of your reviews.
Namaste,
jan
http://www.universitybookstore.blogspot.com
I’m with you Jan! When I hear from someone I know about a book that holds more weight than reviews on any commercial site. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
sure, you betcha, wouldn’t miss it for the world! <3
Okay -
Have your new blog in my reader…… looks nice! As always.
As for me and relying on reviews, it depends on the reviewer. There are some reviewers such as yourself whose reviews I take seriously others I do not.
As for fake reviews, does not surprise me a bit. It’s human nature.
Thank you, Shellie!
Yes, there will always be those people who abuse the system. I try to ignore it and push forward with the search for good books.
I really like your reviews, Amanda, and have bought books that you’ve talked about.
I love my Kindle, but there’s nothing like the look, feel and smell of a brick and mortar bookstore, we read the jackets. I use the shot-gun approach to find out about new books, meaning as many ways as possible: newspaper reviews, t.v., Oprah, the internet, recommendations from friends, we frequent blogs that we’re interested in and books get mentioned there, like sci-fi blogs, children’s book illustration blogs, your blog, etc; the best seller lists, and I look up google lists of “classics” and I’m catching up on those, sometimes in the books themselves they will list the author’s other books and I’ve gotten some great books that way, also sometimes in the back of the books the publisher will review a book or two. There’s probably more ways we find out than I’m listing here.
Thanks for sharing what works for you Annie! I use to browse the bestseller lists, especially when I worked in a bookstore (years ago!), but I’ve never read book reviews in a newspaper. Ultimately, it’s hit and miss. I read The Dog Stars because it’s post-apocalypse (my favorite) and it it had multiple 4 and 5 Stars (I didn’t actually read the reviews). But I ended up giving it 3 stars. Go figure!