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The Next Best Book Club discussion
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First Reads books
Caity - did you do a review of your december win? not saying you havne't, but I know I kept entering and didn't win anything for ages because I hadn't finished my first book that I got up. Once I did and posted the review, I won something the next week, so it does happen!
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "I read Esther's review as well as commented on it, it was very tactfully written even if she didn't like it!Thanks for the comment.
With well known authors like Dan Brown or Nicholas Sparks I feel free to bash.
But with a first reads book I think the review should try to include some constructive criticism.
that book is actually a re-release...I think it originally came out in the late 80's/90's...I remember reading it as a teen
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "Caity - did you do a review of your december win? not saying you havne't, but I know I kept entering and didn't win anything for ages because I hadn't finished my first book that I got up. Once I..."I finally decided to post that a review is forthcoming after reading this thread. I am just now getting around to reading it, even though I've had it since February, because I simply didn't have time to read this past semester. I had three extra-curriculars and 19 hours of class (including two production courses), plus I was auditing concert band. I didn't read much this past semester unless it was for class.
i know how that is...it took me forever to read my first one but i finally did and when i posted the review it was like bam..I won another...so now I just post in the review block, won as part of a goodreads first reads, review to follow after book is read
Haha, yeah. That's what I did, and the books I want more don't come up for a couple of days, so hopefully I'll get lucky. There's one on night time photography that I would LOVE to win, but the one with 52 ideas looks like it might have some potential, as well. I need to add my photography books to my bookshelves...It's just a matter of waiting, I guess, and hoping I can get something.
I have a stack of four to read still, >< I'll start the next soon. I had to give an honest review recently that was only two stars and it made me feel horrible. Especially since the author had friended me, o.o <-- deer caught in the headlights. But I felt like if I reviewed dishonestly I wouldn't feel free here. The book was John F. Kennedy Lives in the Future!, It was just too disjointed for me. A couple of the stories were great, if only there had been more consistancy.
I have a stack to read adn review...in the last month apparently my luck has turned and i've won like 7...i'm trying to fit them into various challenges for groups I belong to
lol...its all true....in the space of a weekend, i bought close to 500 books on ebay/amazon... ;)
I'm just now really getting into my 2nd FirstReads win, Training the Problem: Stories and a Novella. I thought maybe I don't win as many because I take too long to read them and write a review.Dee, WOW, you won 7 books?!
Double wow, you bought close to 500?! That's some splurge :). Sooo jealous.
I won my second book!!!I woke up to an e-mail from goodreads saying I had won a copy of The Wake of Forgiveness, which I think sounds very interesting, especially the setting and time period of turn of the century Texas.
I was starting to think I was just cursed.
I won that one too!! i just entered it last night I think...lol!!Caity wrote: "I won my second book!!!
I woke up to an e-mail from goodreads saying I had won a copy of The Wake of Forgiveness, which I think sounds very interesting, especially the setting and t..."
yeah, I love ebay lots because you find lots of goodies...you can get boxes of like 50 books for 10-15 bucksMona wrote: "I'm just now really getting into my 2nd FirstReads win, Training the Problem: Stories and a Novella. I thought maybe I don't win as many because I take too long to read them and write a review.
De..."
Caity wrote: "I won my second book!!!I woke up to an e-mail from goodreads saying I had won a copy of The Wake of Forgiveness, which I think sounds very interesting, especially the setting and t..."
I got an ARC from B&N!!
I won my first First Reads book. . . . "Broken" by Karin Slaughter. . . . I haven't started it yet because it's the newest book in a series so I've been waiting to get the beginning books before I read it. . . . but I'm getting impatient (haha) and am starting to wonder if I should just read it even though I haven't read the other books in the series. . . . any thoughts??
ashlee - I won it a few months back and read it...I hadn't read any of the others in the series...there were a few bits and pieces that I didn't quite get with regards to the overall storyline...but each book is a separate case, so you don't need to worry about that...and she did a pretty good job of explaining the backstory (or at least I thought so)...it has inspired me to go back and read some of the others...
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "ashlee - I won it a few months back and read it...I hadn't read any of the others in the series...there were a few bits and pieces that I didn't quite get with regards to the overall storyline...bu..."Oh perfect!! Now I won't feel bad for just reading it. Haha - thank you!!
it has actually inspired me to go back and read the others...lol!
I'm joining in on this discussion now too. I am another "win a book from one of my first entries" person, but haven't won since and enter fairly regularly. I am also wondering (like someone else) if part of the reason is because I gave 2 stars to the book I won/reviewed. Honestly, I would have given it 1 star if it wasn't a pre-release giveaway. The writing itself wasn't horrible, but I couldn't care less and have been totally perplexed by all of the 5 star "this is fantastic and I can't put it down" reviews it got. Oh well. I star all the books I read but only write a review about 1/2 the time (not giveaways, just overall), so maybe that is the other reason I don't win more othen? I love free books though!!
Amanda, a big part of why they do these give-aways is to get people to write a review of some sort for the book, so even if you just write a diplomatic "some may like it but it wasn't for me" type of review, just a sentence or two in length, it'll be counted as a review and you should start winning again.I'm hoping to win a third some time, even though the photography books I wanted have both been announced now. I left a review forthcoming note in the box for my second win and I am STILL trying to read my first win so I can leave a proper review (at least a paragraph or so). Hopefully I'll get something.
Wow! I guess all I needed to do was complain a little. I posted on this link yesterday and won a Good Reads book this morning! I'll be reading Million Little Mistakes by Heather McElhattonI'm really looking forward to it. It sounds quirky and unusual and fun!
I've been curious about those choose-your-own-adventure for adults books. The kid in me thinks those would be awesome, the grown-up in me wonders if it's really as good as I'd hope it would be.
The book I won in June has not showed up yet.Me, Myself and I I have marked it as not received but I am still thinking I have been put to the back of the line because of this.
I won Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold by Jennifer Ackerman and just received it yesterday.
Marti - if you haven't received it by September contact goodreads and let them know you haven't received it adn they will talk to the people who listed it as a giveaway...but it does say 6-8 weeks for delivery (although its never taken me that long)Marti wrote: "The book I won in June has not showed up yet.Me, Myself and I I have marked it as not received but I am still thinking I have been put to the back of the line because of this."
I finished reading my 2nd FirstReads win and posted a review yesterday. I've entered for a bunch of others but for some, the chances of winning are really slim(1000 requests for just 1 or 2 copies).
I am reading a fantastic book that I won from goodreads; it is The Petting Zoo. I don't think it has been published yet, but when it is, it definitely a very good book.
After just posting a review of my 2nd FirstReads win,I just found out this morning that I won another one, You. It's a YA and sounds really good. I'm really going to try and read and post a review faster than I have in the past with my other FirstReads wins. Then maybe I'll win some more. I love free books:)
Here is my review of The Petting ZooA young artist runs from his exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art in New York City , only to find himself in the city zoo at the petting zoo location. It is nigh time and the zoo is closed ,but Billy climbs the fence and goes to the Noah's Ark exhibit of the petting zoo. He tries to calm down after leaving the art show abruptly. On leaving the ark ,Billy hits his head and gets quiet a gash. A raven speaks to him and Billy is off and running. The raven tells him where a ladder is so he can climb back out. Billy stumbles along the streets of New York in a daze and finally winds up in the back of a police car on his way to the mental hospital. He meets a whole different group of people.
Billy has a break down after leaving the hospital and can not finish paintings he needs to do for another show. The raven periodically comes to visit Billy with sage wisdom .
This book is psychological , metaphysical and spiritual . You decide how you wish to approach this book. Carroll is a master of the lyrical and poetry of words. Some phrases are so beautiful it hurts.
The book I have is a proof copy , I hope the editors do a little editing along the lines of the length of the book, some sections you get lost, but Carroll is soon back on track. I liked the book a lot and I hope it does well for his estate as he died before this book was published.
The only fault I found was pages fell out of my copy, which is unfortunate as I wanted to pass it along to others.
I just won a 2nd book from first reads, Homer and Langley by Doctorow. I'm looking forward to reading it, it's been on my list for a while. I guess it does pay to keep entering, though I usually don't enter those giveaways that offer 1 book and have several hundred people already signed up.
Susan wrote: "..I guess it does pay to keep entering, though I usually don't enter those giveaways that offer 1 book and have several hundred people already signed up. ..."Not living in the US means I'm ineligible to take part in most giveaways and of course I never won those I did enter.
Then a friend introduced me to book blogs. Many of them do have international giveaways. It takes persistence and you have to take time to read both the blog and the rules carefully but even when there are hundreds of entries I have won some great books.
I've won stuff from blogs too. Some of the giveaways are easier to enter than others. I really have to want to win the book/item to enter the ones which are more time-consuming.
Susan wrote: "I just won a 2nd book from first reads, Homer and Langley by Doctorow. I'm looking forward to reading it, it's been on my list for a while. I guess it does pay to keep entering, though I usually do..."Susan you got the one I really wanted . Glad it was someone I know. Congratulations.
Carol (Kitty) wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just won a 2nd book from first reads, Homer and Langley by Doctorow. I'm looking forward to reading it, it's been on my list for a while. I guess it does pay to keep entering, thoug..."I'll let you know how it is. It will be a bit before I get to it (haven't received it ,of course, and so many things to read. But I'm going to try not to put it off.
Susan it will probably be good, most of his books are.
Yes,he is a good writer. I'm glad this was one I won.
I have entered quit a few and have won one....There was one that finished last night that I desperately wanted (Dexter Is Delicious) and even though they were given out 75 copies, I didn't win...made me sad. The one I did win I entered on a lark, not really wanting it (not a type of book I normally read) -Play Their Hearts Out: A Coach, His Star Recruit, and the Youth Basketball Machine - I ended up giving it to my Aunt-in-law who loves that sort of thing...but I would like to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Katrina: Did you write a review of the one that you won? I think that's a factor in which members keep winning or not. I just posted a review on Friday of a FirstReads I won and on Sunday morning, I won another one.
It's kind of a bummer when you don't win one that you really wanted, especially when they're giving out so many copies. But I guess Dexter is popular. BTW, I entered that one too.
Ooh, Katrina, that sounds like a book I would read. I love basketball and am developing a taste for sports-related books.I can relate to not getting a book I really wanted. I entered not one but TWO give-aways that had 200 copies up for grabs. One of those I desperately wanted, the other I wanted more than a lot of the books I've entered to win. I didn't win either of them, but I know the one I desperately wanted I was PISSED because probably about a third of the winners had no books, friends, or profile pic, and most likely their only activity on the site was joining and entering the give-away.
I won one today called Mao's Last Dancer which sounds interestingCaity - that has been brought up numerous times on the feedback thread and based on what the website people have said, something like only 10% are of the no friends no books variety...but they have mentioned tweaking the drawing...and site activity is included, as are reviews...
Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "...Caity - that has been brought up numerous times on the feedback thread and based on what the website people have said, something like only 10% are of the no friends no books variety...but they have mentioned tweaking the drawing...and site activity is included, as are reviews..."Yep I agree. This is a social networking site and the First Reads are given to get reviews and publicity.
I can understand people being cautious about friends but if you haven't bothered to add some sort of profile pick and have less than a dozen reviews you are mostly likely trolling for free books.
The dry spell of winning books is over - I just won The House on Oyster Creek! yeahhhh. I am so excited because it is a book I really wanted to read.Although I still haven't received the last book I won and I have emailed the person who was giving it away and I have check the box about not receiving it! So maybe that was the key! Either way - I won.
Congratulations Marti! I was also going through a bit of a dry spell, but finally won Horace Helfin's Holiday Home. It seems like a cute book so I'm excited to receive it.
I received my free copy ofRescue Bunnies. It looked cute; I will read it in the next couple of days and let all you parents ,aunties and uncles etc. know how it is.
I received my copy of Homer and Langley. I'm afraid I have a few books to read before it so it will be a couple of weeks before I can get to it. I am looking forward to it.
The Next Best Book Club
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Guess I'll just keep being patient. There are a few coming up that I would love to get, including two on photography.