SundayAtDusk’s Comments (group member since Jan 26, 2018)

SundayAtDusk’s comments from the NetGalley Addicts Support Group group.

I didn't like the NetGalley Reader at first because it seemed to be no different than the NetGalley Shelf. The font size was too small, and enlarging it using the touch screen made it hard to turn pages, since you always had to reduce it back to how it was before enlarging it.

I discovered tonight, however, that some books allow you to increase the font size in the settings at NetGalley Reader, so page turning is exactly like turning pages on a Kindle device. Unfortunately, not all books have that setting. I wish you could find out before requesting a book if it does or does not. I don't have the patience to keep increasing and decreasing font sizes, and I don't like scrolling.

Okay, thank you, I understand now. But how do you even see an update? I never see any updates on books others are reading.

Nancy, it simply seemed odd to me that someone would like an update of a book, where there is nothing but an update of pages or percentage read.

This is not exactly a NetGalley question about a NetGalley book, but this is the only Goodreads group I belong to where I feel I can ask the question. Why would people like updates of books that you are reading? I am currently reading a book where I did a page/progress update and four people liked my update! Why?

P.S. One person was a friend, but three were not. The author was not one of them. :)

Liralen wrote: "Oh—this happens when someone merges the edition of the book that you had on your shelves into another edition (or possibly when another edition is merged into yours—I can't remember offhand). Suppo..."

Good observation!

Dee wrote: "It may have been because someone liked the review - that’s normally what boosts those older reviews"
Oops . . . now it's gone.

Thanks for the info. I'll know now not to "x" out any additional books that are out of place. I'm pretty sure the title said "when the alligators arrive" or "come". Like you, though, I could find nothing on it anywhere on the internet. Maybe that was a subtitle that's not coming up.

This is a long shot . . . but does anyone remember a 2021 memoir that had a title such as: "When The Alligators Come . . . ." I think it was a NetGalley book, but am not sure. I'm asking because it oddly was at the top of My Books list this morning, and I deleted it without thinking I was deleting the review for good. (I know, very smart!)

I wrote it in April 2021 and it's no longer there listed in April of that year. I don't have a document copy of it, either, as I do many other reviews. And since I deleted my NetGalley membership for that time period, I have no record of the review there, if you can even go back that far in Feedback Sent.

Any ideas as to why it would show up at the top of My Books list? Since I can't find the book using the alligator title, is it possible the book was being deleted from Goodreads and elsewhere by the author? It's no big deal my review is gone, but it just seems very strange. Has anyone else found an old book at the top of their My Books list here at GR?

Nazi?! See! That's what I'm talking about! :) Good that didn't happen to me. I probably had at least 50 reviews with the word "Nazi" in them.

Good for you getting through to someone with knowledge! I have never been on the phone with someone who actually was looking at the review, and certainly have never gotten any type of explanation about a rejected one. However, years ago when they revoked my reviewing privledges, Jeff Bezos' office did send me an apology email and straightened things out.

I do think things have gone downhill since he left, and think they are now using very inexperienced reps to answer review complaints. Their emails show they understand nothing about the problem, and answer as if your complaint is the exact opposite of what you asked.

For example, multiple times I got an answer saying they could not delete a review I reported because it broke no guidelines, when I reported no review, but was complaining about them deleting my reviews! Huh? Amazon expects reviewers to simply accept such incompetency from reps, too. They are so big and powerful they are untouchable.

Donna wrote: "SundayAtDusk wrote: "Much of what goes on with Amazon reviewing has "no pattern or rhyme or reason", and they do not care. They have millions of reviewers, so mistreating hundreds or thousands is n..."

I have no problem with the reps when buying things and needing a refund or replacement. None whatsoever at any time. I immediately get absolutely anything I want.

On the other hand, the few times I talked on the phone with them about reviewing, all they could do, including the supervisor, was pass on what I said to Communities. They were genuinely concerned and said Communities would contact me.

No such thing happened, and it wasn't the fault of the reps I talked to, who handle order problems. They have absolutely nothing to do with reviewing. I wonder if it's more likely they look at your buying record . . . where you are actually rated as a customer . . . and then give you whatever you wished.

Sorry, I think their helpfulness had absolutely nothing to do with you saying you were a reviewer. I'm complaining about Communities reps, not the reps who handle orders.

I rejoined today. :) There is a book I really wanted an ARC copy of that was released this week. I was surprised it had not been archived at NetGalley, but it wasn't. I will greatly limit this time the number of books I request, so I don't end up feeling guilty about losing interest in so many books, and providing DNF feedback.

Much of what goes on with Amazon reviewing has "no pattern or rhyme or reason", and they do not care. They have millions of reviewers, so mistreating hundreds or thousands is no concern of theirs. Those who complain about the unfairness and mistreatment are considered to be "guilty" nuisances who take up too much rep time. You'll shop elsewhere? They don't care. They make over $300 billion in sales a year and have over 200 million customers.

Thanks for the information!

Can't help, but what type of books are in the New Adult genre? I've never heard of or seen that genre listed.

To keep your percentage up you have to write a review, but I usually did not for books I did not finish, unless I wanted to "warn" readers about something. There is no sin in writing a review for an unfinished book, however, and no sin in being a harsh judge. I'm more partial to such reviewers than those who worry about being too harsh.

Deleting my NetGalley Shelf actually has emotionally freed me in some ways. I'm reading much more this week than I have in at least a year, and feel more lighthearted when writing reviews. (Maybe because I no longer have an obligation to write any.) My problem now is deciding which unread books on my Kindle to read. I think I have at least 100, mostly from BookBub.

I deleted my account once again today. There were like 10 books on my shelf that had been there for months. Some I had started reading and lost interest, others I no longer found the topics interesting enough to even start reading. I felt that made me a bad NetGalley member, and deleting my account was the most honest thing to do.

Later tonight I will delete the unread docs from my Kindle. While part of me feels guilty for not reading and reviewing the books, the other part of me feels relieved that I no longer have to feel guilty when reading a book that is not an ARC on my NetGalley shelf. My NetGalley shelf is gone.

My guess is it's the author who puts a book published years earlier on NetGalley, hoping for newer attention and reviews.

Katt wrote: "Hi all, has anyone ever deleted their NetGalley account and opened a new one? My account was inactive since 2014 and I just started using it again but it’s showing old inactive info so I’m consider..."

You are welcome. :) As I said in the other thread, I closed my first account when I decided to read and review no more ARCs; but opened a new account when I changed my mind. I had no problem with NetGalley doing so.

P.S. I used the same user name for my new account.

I know, it was strange . . . I got lots of emails where you had posted comments, but when I clicked on the links in the emails, it said the comment was not found. Very odd.

Try closing your account and opening a new one. Or contact NetGalley first, if you think they would have a problem with it. You opened your account 10 years ago, and, due to your health problems, you aren't even the same reader you were when you joined. There is no fair reason you should be stuck with that account that shows inactivity and a bad review record.

P.S. You might even start a new thread here, asking others if they have ever closed an account and opened a new one.

Katt wrote: "I initially joined NetGalley in 2014 and had three titles approved. Something happened and I was unable to review. A few years later I was in a bad auto accident and had a concussion which left me ..."

Maybe you should close your current NetGalley account and create a new one. I don't think NetGalley has a problem with that. I closed my first account when I thought I was finished with ARC obligations. Then later, a publisher contacted me by email, though, wanting me to review a book, and I could only get a copy through NetGalley. So, I created a new account and started reading ARCs all over again.