Terminalcoffee discussion

I just won my first ever First Read from this site, after three years of entering. It's a biography of Will Eisner and I'm very happy about it.

Any of you enter these? Win? I assume I haven't won before because even though I've been entering for three years I'm pretty selective about my reading, so I probably only enter one every three months or so, and they tend to be books that a lot of other people are interested in.

I'm on the shit list because I won a book over a year ago and it was such crap that I never got past the first chapter. I didn't review it - I suppose I should have but it just seemed it would be so hurtful to the author.

I just won #5, I only enter in the fantasy or mystery genre's. I found Louise Penny from a first read, and am glad I did.

I would review it Lori, they need to know what people think, good or bad. I reviewed a book by a Goodreads author (not a first read) that I pointed out a couple flaws, and he sent me a note agreeing that those areas were week.

What are First Reads?

What Britt said.

Britt and Alecia: http://www.goodreads.com/book/explore

Jim, I will certainly do that IF I ever win another! I fear I'm on the Red List.

They have book giveaways which you can find under the find books tab. A first read is when you win a copy of the book to read and review.

I enter FirstReads all the time and have won 4 so far. I have posted reviews for all of them. I donate the books to my library when I'm done.

There is a similar program on LibraryThing.com called Early Reviewers. They also have a Member Giveaway program. I haven't won anything on that site yet.

*sits next to Myles in the Blacklist Green Room*

It irks me too when an author rates their own book, Myles, turns me against the book if there aren't many ratings and I won't read it.

Thanks Lori and Jim!

I've entered to win quite a few but have only won one. The book was okay and I did review it.

I think there's a FirstReads thread in TNBBC group.

Myles wrote: "I won three this summer after only a few months of trying...and then got blacklisted.

I reviewed everything and did all the little things, but I made the mistake of criticizing an author for ratin..."

Do you still giveaways at LibraryThing Myles? I do only b/c it's so easy.

i've won some (2) books on other sites, but the selection of first reads books available for my country is not too good.

Congrats, Sarah!

I've won 4 books so far, and reviewed all of them. I even continued to win after writing a negative review of one of the books.

It doesn't bother me if someone rates their own book as long as they are kind of cute about it.

Myles wrote: "Lori wrote: "*sits next to Myles in the Blacklist Green Room*

It irks me too when an author rates their own book, Myles, turns me against the book if there aren't many ratings and I won't read it...."

I'm not very active on LibraryThing at all other than posting reviews now and then. Also I didn't connect with anyone. I thought that might be the reason I don't win anything.

But then I read that despite of your being so active on LT, you didn't win anything. I didn't buy a membership though.

I like GR best. I'm somewhat active on Shelfari too. My other book site, Bookarmy, is shutting down.

I've been on GR almost a year. I've won 7 First Read books. One of them never was sent to me.

Sarah Pi wrote: "It doesn't bother me if someone rates their own book as long as they are kind of cute about it."

Yes, I should have stated that, I've seen some very funny author reviews. As a matter of fact, that will make me more interested in their book.

FabulousRaye wrote: "I've been on GR almost a year. I've won 7 First Read books. One of them never was sent to me."

You should message the giver. I had two books that were very, very slow in coming (8+ weeks) and as soon as I messaged the publisher they were sent.

I've entered 94 and won 6. I've reviewed 3 (with ratings of 1 star, 2 stars, and 4 stars) and I'm currently reading one, and I have two more I need to read and review. I won several within a short time, which is why I'm backlogged.

Giving a bad review/rating doesn't prevent you from winning again.

I've entered about 50 times and won once last week.

Whoa. There's a giveaway for a book called "How to Be Perfect."

Influenced by A. J. Jacobs's The Year of Living Biblically, Harrell managed to recruit 20 members of his Boston congregation to join him in a month-long effort at living Levitically. Holiness was the ultimate goal, but so was learning.

As a longtime minister and preacher who had successfully skirted Leviticus for most of his life, author Daniel Harrell wanted to come to grips with all that Leviticus teaches--not just loving neighbors, but the parts about animal sacrifice, Sabbath-keeping, skin diseases, homosexuality, and stoning sinners, too. Yet rather than approaching Leviticus with a view toward mitigating its commands, he decided to simply obey them.

Clearly I need to write a book about my one month commitment to Sharia law. Oklahoma notwithstanding. When can I start stoning people?

Those of you looking for anal erotica may want to enter this Giveaway -

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Or if you're a member of the senior set, maybe this is more up your alley:

Lady Justice Takes a C.R.A.P. City Retiree Action Patrol (Lady Justice#1)

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

The "takes a crap" book title did make me chuckle the first time I saw it.

I have been on GR since April, and so far I have won 3 books. One of the books I liked best this year was one of my first read wins. In Free Fall

I've won 7 or 8 but failed to recieve 2 of them. I enter quite a few as I thought it about time I try some new genres but I seem to mainly get the ones from my main past reading genre - sci-fi and fantasy. I was really lucky to win Eadric the Grasper as this was fantastic. I would never have bought it which would have been a downright shame.

I just won a First Read giveaway! This is my first one and it's kind of exciting. This is the book: Zombielicious

Congrats, Michael!

James wrote: "I've won 7 or 8 but failed to recieve 2 of them. I enter quite a few as I thought it about time I try some new genres but I seem to mainly get the ones from my main past reading genre - sci-fi and ..."

They pick winners based in part on what contestants report on their profile as being their favourite genres. I suspect that they select by country as well. I've won 2 books so far and both were written by Canadian authors.

Okay, this is BRILLIANT! I never knew it existed.

I just entered to win a copy of Cinderella Ninja Warrior! I'm sure I'll get a laugh out of it. :)

It's going to take me days, I absolutely LOVE this! Wonder if I'll actually win anything?

Amelia wrote: "Cinderella Ninja Warrior!"

I saw that one too and it sounds like it could be fun!

Since May, I've entered 123 giveaways and won 6 books, so that's a pretty good average.

But are they six books worth reading?

I've stopped entering giveaways because I don't like the obligation to read and review stuff right away. I still have 2 books I won last fall that I haven't read or reviewed.

Sarah Pi wrote: "It doesn't bother me if someone rates their own book as long as they are kind of cute about it."

I have this disclaimer for almost everything in life.

Larry wrote: "But are they six books worth reading?"

On the whole, yes. In fact, I recommended one of them to you, I think. :)

I won 3 in rapid succession and then none since. I didn't review one of them because I didn't read it so maybe that's why I stopped winning. But the first book I won ended up being one of my favorite books I've ever read so I totally think it's worth it.
I love this book so much: Finlater

How quickly are you expected to read them? I won one just recently. It's sitting on a pile of unread books on my bedside table.

Gail, within 3 years is the limit I give myself.

I'm not sure. But I won this particular one over a year ago. Maybe I'll just suck it up, read it, review it, and see if my status improves. If I'd never won one I adored I wouldn't care. But now I'm just sure there are a hundred other Finlaters out there that I'll never get to read.

I think I put in for at least 50 today, I'm totally excited! I figure if they're FREE I can hardly complain. Better than the two I bought in the beginning when I didn't know how some GR authors work around here, friending you and peddling their wares. I ordered the first two off of Amazon before I knew any better.

I started the one and gave it a scathing 1 star review, had a big blowout with the blowhard author and agreed to give it another go. It wasn't so bad. I grudgingly had to admit that once I got into it it was pretty good and I reviewed it honestly. I still think the author is a bit annoying, but the book wasn't bad.

I've never managed to get more than a few pages into the other one.

I find quite a few of the Authors on GR annoying. Or maybe it's only the annoying ones that attract notice.

There are some nice ones, like Jessica Treat, I really like her and think she's lovely. I don't read her books...I just think she's lovely. And, there was a guy Powell, first name started with a D. I really liked him too. Don't know where he went. Donald? Think it was Donald.

I do know some nice ones as well.

I won my first book!



4 pages of people have marked it as "to-read", so that looks good. Of course, two of them already gave it 5 stars even though the hadn't yet read it...suck ups! I don't add 'em till I win 'em. It would be a lie if I did, because chances are I wouldn't go out of my way to buy any of them...except possibly the latest prehistoric porn from Auel. I've read the rest of them, my OCD won't let me not read this one. :)

I signed up for a LOAD of them, if I was remotely interested, I signed up. I figure, it's free. I don't have to finish it if it's awful, I just have to review it...as kindly as possible given the circumstances. :)

Plus I did some middle grader stuff that I will read, review and pass on to the nephew.

I'm really really picky about what I sign up for, so I've only won once or twice.