Should price be mentioned in reviews?

[L J]

Some reviewers routinely mention price in reviews while others seldom if ever do so. I'm not talking about when reviewer received free book to review. That should always be mentioned.

I was involved in a discussion among readers about book price in reviews.

Some thought price was irrelevant. The quality of the work not price should be considered so price does not need to be mentioned.

Some thought price reviewer paid and usual price should be routine part of review.

I think price is relevant especially if out of line, high or low, with the norm for genre, format, or author.

Example:
An independent author I'd been reading more than doubled the price for her new books. I read a couple of new ones. They were longer than the older ones but not as well constructed. Thinking back I wonder if I should have mentioned price in review because if the books had not gone up in price I might have stuck with her, giving her a chance to become more skilled at writing longer books.

Should price be considered when reviewing a book? Should it be mentioned as part of review?

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Good question. Since I get the vast majority of my reads from the library, and the majority of the others used, I have no idea.

I have noted in my reviews that a picture-book might be outsize and therefore overpriced, not worthy, or (once) that it was a nice comfortable, smaller & more affordable book. Just because I do sometimes imagine what it would be like to purchase picture-books for gifts.

I *imagine* that in the case of the independent author I may have warned potential readers that she was raising her prices w/out raising quality. That is a shame.

[L J]

Cheryl wrote: "Good question. Since I get the vast majority of my reads from the library, and the majority of the others used, I have no idea.

I have noted in my reviews that a picture-book might be outsize and ...
I *imagine* that in the case of the independent author I may have warned potential readers that she was raising her prices w/out raising quality. That is a shame. ."

I think that author's price increase was what had me coming down on the side of price being relevant.

Most books I read now come from library or hoopla but I usually know how much they would cost me to buy and the library pays more. Some books I don't recommend for purchase, that author's among them, because I don't think they are worth the cost.

I think mentioning finding an expensive book well worth the price is relevant and helpful. It seems if one is going to do that then mentioning expecting more for price paid is also relevant.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

That makes sense to me.

[L J]

Cheryl wrote: "That makes sense to me."

Thanks.

People who objected most to price being relevant are professional librarians. I see their point if what we were talking about were critical analysis of a book. We're talking about reviews written by and for readers who probably find price relevant when considering book purchase.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Exactly... "by readers" being maybe the most important point. We are not paid or professional critics, nor are we mindful of building a collection, but rather we are actual end consumers!

[Raymond]

Once upon a time, price did not matter to me. The author and subject matter was all that was important but the world turns and circumstances change. Now price is one of the most important factors for me. On average I get through eight books a month (very dull job) now was i to buy them as hardbacks I am looking at upwards of two hundred GBP's every month. Too steep for me.

[L J]

Raymond wrote: "Once upon a time, price did not matter to me. The author and subject matter was all that was important but the world turns and circumstances change. Now price is one of the most important factors f..."

True for many now. I know it is for me.

I bought favorites in hardcover and some I also bought audio. If it was something my mother would read I bought paperback for her, as arthritis made holding hardcover difficult. The number of books grew. I've made a rule, for every book I bring in, even if free, at least one book has to leave the house. If it cost money, then another book for each dollar spent.

Mostly I now read e books and audios from library.

[Raymond]

LJ. second hand paperbacks from Amazon, charity shops (before the lock-down's) and kindle e-books on sale make up the majority of my reading material these days.
There is a positive side to this erstwhile depressing post. I have bought books just because of the cost and discovered a number of great writers, that I would not otherwise have read. Paul Tremblay, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ragnar Jónasson amid many others.

[L J]

Raymond wrote: "LJ. second hand paperbacks from Amazon, charity shops (before the lock-down's) and kindle e-books on sale make up the majority of my reading material these days.
There is a positive side...bought books just because of cost...discovered...great writers..."

I can relate to that. It's part of the reason I made the rule about books going out when books come in.

[Raymond]

Good rule, I just find it difficult to give the good ones away

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Move house. I move and therefore cull often. :sigh:

[Raymond]

The last time I moved was the last time I culled. I understand. lol now I will be, when I expire, naturally entombed in brick walls holding a great deal of crumbling paper. There are worse ways to go methinks.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

Oh, yes! :laughing:

[Raymond]

In fact that may be my funeral pyre. No longboat pushed out into a freezing loch for me. Rather a single match struck and applied to an old and rather sere Stephen king novel where the pages have curled and bronzed with the winter damp and summer heat. I could have a send off with Voltaire, Dickens, Hoeg and Kant running flames along my heels. I would consider this better than King Olaf's cruise into the frozen loch.

[Cheryl, first facilitator]

:)