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

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

Dorie, yes, I can't imagine the publishers not seeing the reviews at Amazon and Goodreads without clicking in sent links. But then I tend to review books that don't have tons of reviews; so maybe they do need the NetGalley links to keep straight which reviewers are actually doing their job.

Oh, I don't know anything about going to Amazon via NetGalley. Sorry. I just go directly to Amazon and Goodreads, post my review, and then go back to NetGalley and leave the review links in my feedback.

Thanks, Carol. :) Thinking about it, though, I think I'm reluctant to e-mail the publishers links because I fear it will seem like I want to make certain they see MY review. (Yes, I know they asked for it.) Also, I firmly believe in critical reviewing; not the friendly type where you are deeply concerned about the author's feelings and finances; and I feel like if I e-mail a highly critical review, it might seem like I was throwing it in a publisher's face; something I would never have any interest or intention of doing.

Shelia, are you saying NetGalley told you not to say you are reviewing an ARC? That may be the problem. Reviews in the US are suppose to clearly state you got the book or any item for free. Seriously, it is some type of government rule. Also, If you don't state you are reviewing an ARC and post a review right when the book is released; or before, since that is allowed for some books at Amazon; you clearly might be suspected of being associated with the author, or a fan who hadn't read the book yet.

Yes, stating NetGalley and the publisher should be enough, but Amazon does not always have knowledgeable people checking reviews. It might be that a computer or human checker is only looking for the terms "ARC" or "free". Of course, there are plenty of ARC reviews that were posted that don't have those two terms, but, once again, don't expect Amazon to always handle things in a fair or intelligent manner. It's unfortunately wishful thinking to expect that.

My reason not to comply with "this straightforward request" is probably laziness. :)

That seems unfair. My guess is most who are following an author on Facebook or Twitter would be fans of the author, not actual friends who personally know the author. I'm sure there are thousands of posted books reviews at Amazon by author fans.

I've been asked to e-mail reviews, too, but have ignored the requests if they are asking for the reviews being sent to Amazon or Goodreads, since I am providing the links to those reviews at NetGalley. However, I also have been requested to e-mail a link to my blog review . . . only I don't have a blog . . . so, ignore those requests, too.

For those who have a blog, are you a different type of reviewer than a "consumer" one, and is your blog connected to your NetGalley account?

I've never heard of that notice coming up for a book. From my observation, Amazon has said in the past there should be no book reviews from those associated with the author, but there certainly are many, many of those and Amazon does nothing about them.

It's usually only non-book items that get that notice, since Amazon believes the reviewer is associated with the product's maker or seller, or was given a free or discounted item. Amazon no longer allows reviews for free or discounted items, unless they are ARCs.

Is it possible you are reviewing ARCs, but not stating you got the book for free, as you are suppose to state? Or . . . and sorry to ask this . . . is it possible you have written reviews in the past that you were paid money to write?

Maybe other UK reviewers are getting that notice, too, and it simply has something to do with reviewers outside of the US?

Thanks, Dorie. I had no idea what that was since none of the reviews at NetGalley appear to be "featured". If Amazon allowed for reviews before publication, we would not have these concerns; but I understand why they don't.

Thanks, Renee. Last night when I added an Amazon link, I did not get the pop-up message, so I guess that review wasn't a "featured" one. What exactly is a "featured" review?

Yes, Dorie, that's what I was thinking, too, and didn't go back to add links at first once they changed the system. I'm sure the publishers and authors see the reviews at Amazon. But then I feared it might negatively affect my NetGalley account, so went back and added a few Amazon links.

I have the same question. In the past, when I went back to add the Amazon link, there was no problem. Now, with the new system, I get the same type of message; but thought it said my review would then cease being featured, or whatever it's called. I just continue and add the Amazon link, because posting links is important at NetGalley.

I think the spending requirement may have more to do with fraud than greed. Amazon possibly is trying to keep fraudulent type reviews from being posted by those who create multiple accounts to post such reviews.

Unless you get a rejection e-mail, it's usually just a computer glitch at Amazon that is keeping reviews from being posted on the pages. Whatever it is eventually gets resolved and the reviews show up. I've had reviews delayed this week, plus one that is not posting for a book that is yet to be released. The Kindle version has been released, and that is why the review went through, but the hard copy version is still a pre-order, so the review is in limbo somewhere.

Personally, I would still send feedback to the publisher or author, stating what happened and that you are sorry it did. Then, if you seriously think you'll get a copy of the book in the future, state that you will come back to the feedback and add a review, as well as post that review wherever you usually post reviews. If you seriously think you will not be getting the book in the future, make no such promises, just apologize.

Is getting free books more important to you than writing honest reviews? Only you can make that decision.

Literary fiction readers:

As you personally see it, what are the main differences between literary fiction and other fiction? Also, do you sometimes or often find books listed in that genre at NetGalley that you believe don't belong there?

Alison said: Of course this has now become a bit like a second job...

Yes, book reviewing can definitely become a major avocation. You are more dedicated than I am. I just post at Amazon and Goodreads and have no blog. From my observations, not having a blog appears to be one of the major reasons for request rejections. I have no interest whatsoever in blogging, though.

Since there is a direct link to US reviews on some . . . or all? . . . of the Amazon UK book pages, I can see why they will delete reviews posted on UK pages written by US reviewers. Too bad they don't have a direct link on the US pages to see the UK reviews. It's interesting to see how similar or dissimilar views on books are from reviewers in other countries.

Biographies & Memoirs
Entertainment
History
Nonfiction (Adult)
Outdoors & Nature
Religion & Spirituality
True Crime

Mostly I get books out of the biographies & memoirs, history and nonfiction categories. I'm glad to see they have an historical fiction category now, because nonfiction and fiction books should not be listed together in any categories, in my opinion.

That's my one and only complaint about NetGalley--they apparently allow publishers or authors to list the books in whatever category they want. The true crime category is another problem one. A true crime is one that actually happened and is a nonfiction story. Yet there are fiction crime stories listed in the true crime category.

Alison wrote: I have also posted WAAY more than five reviews this week on all platforms with no problem.

My three delayed ones posted this week, but I haven't had any NG ones to post recently, since the books haven't been released. I even had one book that wasn't even here at Goodreads. Hopefully, Amazon's problems are all resolved.

How often do you post at Amazon UK? I posted two reviews there last year and that's about it. One ended up being deleted, because it was posted with the US reviews, which readers of the UK site could just click in.

P.S. Oops . . . I just looked at your profile, Alison. You live in the UK. So, I guess you post at Amazon UK a lot. :) Okay, so how often do you post reviews at Amazon US?

Thamy wrote: I don't usually search for categories and always check all the new additions.

How many new additions are there usually when you search? I would think there would be so many that it would make you dizzy looking at them all! :) I only do category searches.