Books on the Nightstand discussion
What do you want us to talk/write about?
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About fifteen to twenty years ago, when the ..."
Thanks, Tanya.
Recently, The library owned audiobook had so many issues that I had to take it back for attention. This required finding an emergency substitute. I found something that would satisfy my husband and me on the weekend trip we were about to take. It was a celebrity memoir not narrated by the author. We were just about at the end (5 discs for my auto's 4 disc changer) when I read those hated words "abridged".
We finished it. I was disgruntled, but my husband said he was happy - he didn't need anymore.
When I took it back to the library and showed the dreaded word I was told the library didn't buy that one - they do not buy abridged books. It was one that was leased from a service.
I was assured to know my library has the same standards that I do.
The only time I have ever listened to an abridged audiobook was when I was immersed in a series and the next book in the series was considered especially long and verbose. Since it was a series and the author often revisited certain scenes, I don't feel like I really missed any context.
A idea for a segment would be since Christmas is approaching, good Christmas books to read.Keep up the good work
Hi Ann and Michael!I'm not sure if you've discussed this before, but after listening to today's episode (#246), it got me thinking. I'm not sure how the topic would start, but I was thinking of the subject of those books that you've finally read because everyone said how great it was, but then you walk away a bit (or a lot) disappointed. I thought of this when Michael sounded a bit disappointed he didn't like "The Phantom Tollbooth" as much as he wanted to/should have. And Simon recently sounded a bit sorry that he doesn't love Grahame Greene as much as his Gran did. I know many times I've been recommended beloved books from people and in the end I thought they were just meh. Perhaps it was the anticipation, or the expectation, that I should love it? In a nutshell, can books live up to hype or are we always setting ourselves up for disappointment?
Thank you!
Chris
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I'm not sure if you've discussed this before, but after listening to today's episode (#246), it got me thinking. I'm not sure how the topic would start, but I was thinking of th..."
Good one Chris and I might add, because of just finishing Jill McCorkle's Life After Life. I fall into the it was o.k., but not great audience. But I wonder if it's because of where my brain is right now (stressed with double shifts, Petoskey, book sale, some health issues, etc.) if I had or would read it at a calmer time if my head might have been able to handle a character portrayal book better (vs plot driven).
Linda wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hi Ann and Michael!I'm not sure if you've discussed this before, but after listening to today's episode (#246), it got me thinking. I'm not sure how the topic would start, but I was ..."
Funny you say that, Linda! I saw your "ok" review of "Life After Life," and thought, "But everybody liked this!" ;-) Perhaps it's guilt, I feel like I'm letting someone down or disappointing them if I don't enjoy a book they love. And I really try sometimes!
Mod
I'm not sure if you've discussed this before, but after listening to today's episode (#246), it got me thinking. I'm not sure how the topic would sta..."
Chris, I knew what others thought before I read it. I had to scroll down past "friends" to find someone else in Goodreads who felt the same way that I did.
It took a lot for me to right "O.K" on a book being featured at a Booktopia I'm going to.
Actually, instead of books that are perhaps over-hyped or ones that you only found to be "meh" that others have loved, I would love to hear about critically panned books (books that got little/no attention or poor reviews) that are are personal favorites. For the life of me I will never understand why Waiting for Columbus wasn't bigger than it was in the U.S.; why A Happy Marriage (by Raphael Yglesias) didn't get any buzz despite excellent NYBR coverage or; why neither The Reapers are the Angels or Exit Kingdom (by Alden Bell) have been ignored despite having some of the most gorgeous writing I've ever encountered *and* has zombies!
EDIT: I just double-checked and Exit Kingdom hasn't even been published in the U.S yet (there isn't even any scheduled release date that I can find) and this despite the fact that not only is Alden Bell an American living in Brooklyn, his wife is Meg Abbot (meaning that he knows people!)
EDIT: I just double-checked and Exit Kingdom hasn't even been published in the U.S yet (there isn't even any scheduled release date that I can find) and this despite the fact that not only is Alden Bell an American living in Brooklyn, his wife is Meg Abbot (meaning that he knows people!)
Linda,That's how I felt after meeting Cara Black....I liked her so much that I just knew I'd love her books. I could not finish Murder in the Marais....uhhh, can you say embarrassing?
To Tanya's post, a perfect book for a segment like that would be Union Atlantic by Adam Haslett, which I'm sure Ann and I have discussed before. It came out during a HUGE fall season a few years ago and was missed by nearly everyone. Also, the cloth cover didn't do it many favors--the paperback cover was much better.
Mod
For instance: why aren't people reading and talking about THE PEOPLE IN THE TREES??? I feel about it much like I felt about Waiting for Columbus -- perhaps not so emotionally, but equally as strongly. -- The reviews are great, there are copies in bookstores (at least in independent bookstores), the author is fabulously engaging and adorable (I'm dying to get her to a Booktopia).
Hi Ann, I would like to hear you and Michael discuss your opinions on the star rating system for books. I think it would be interesting to know whether you believe too much emphasis is placed on ratings, and your experiences and thoughts as booksellers about the rating to book sales relationship. I'd also be interested to know how other readers are influenced (or not influenced)by x number of stars. I find that I am heavily persuaded to read or not read according to a rating, and I've picked up on certain queues that indicate a book is "overrated". For example, if a book has just come out, if it's genre fiction, or if the sample size is small it tends to have a higher rating than it may deserve. Then again, and I'm sure this is true for others, I'm completely confounded by certain book's ratings so I don't know why I pay so much attention to them!(Sorry if this is something that has already been discussed).
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That's how I felt after meeting Cara Black....I liked her so much that I just knew I'd love her books. I could not finish Murder in the Marais....uhhh, can you say embarrassing?"
Janet, I think Cara Black got better as she wrote. The most recent one went very well and I thought was so much better than the first Murder in the Marais.
Mod
That's how I felt after meeting Cara Black....I liked her so much that I just knew I'd love her books. I could not finish Murder in the Marais....uhhh, can you say embarrassin..."
Yes, that's the trouble with series ... as the author gets more practice (to put it bluntly), the books usually get better as the series goes along. (Until they get too formulaic and then I lose interest, but I don't think applies to Cara Black).
So should I read her books in reverse order? lol
Mod
The possible problem with that is missing out on the evolution of the characters, the relationships between/among the characters and developments progressing the series.
Just read that the Man Booker prize may be opened up to U.S. authors. How do you feel about it? Personally, I'm not keen as I've sort of viewed the Man Booker as a way to discover great books by authors we seldom hear about in the U.S. Seems like we have lots more ways to discover American authors.
Why is it that you have to read books so many months before they come out?
Mod
Janet I feel that the Man Booker people understand the importance of the American readers that they have recently cultivated.
I read today that they have decided to open up the Man Booker to American authors. Also, read that this may be a reaction to the creation of the new Folio Prize for English language literature. I'm starting to see how the subject of "literary prizes" could be a podcast. I'd be interested to hear which prizes are the most respected by people in the industry and why. I think there was an episode where Ann interviewed someone about the Edgar. But I would enjoy an episode with more of an overview.
I like that idea, Janet. There are so many different honors and awards out there and I don't personally know which ones are most "significant" other than the Pulitzer and the Newberry.
Following on from comments about prizes I'd also like to hear more about how they're perceived etc ... Thanks :)
Mod
@ linda,there is an episode dedicated to this topic. I wish I could pinpoint the number, but I remember because I found it quite helpful.
Linda wrote: "Partially because I'm shoulder high in library book sale, but how about a show explaining the distinction between mystery, thriller, and I think there's at least one more word to go in there right ..."Horror?
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I don't think so, Chris, but hey, what do I know at this point.
Elizabeth wrote: "@ linda,
there is an episode dedicated to this topic. I wish I could pinpoint the number, but I remember because I found it quite helpful."
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Mod
How about Crime, Chris?
I would like to hear what you think about the Goodreads policy about reader reviews, etc. I feel too many people are too hot under the collar about the whole thing and aren't exactly giving it time to find out what it exactly entails.
Agree 100% with that assessment Melissa.
Melissa W wrote: "I would like to hear what you think about the Goodreads policy about reader reviews, etc. I feel too many people are too hot under the collar about the whole thing and aren't exactly giving it tim..."Was there a change or addition? Can you explain or direct us to a link for those of us who don't know about it? Thank you!
I don't have the link but there is a post somewhere from GR that had about 4000 comments as of yesterday.
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I, too, am in the dark and want to know what the new policy states. Someone mentioned to me that there has been a great deal of bickering on GR in the last few days. I think it's in the feedback group. I have not been following that lately but am interested in this topic also. ???
The new policy is that GR will take down reviews and shelves that bully or harass authors. For example if somebody says that such and such an author is **tch (not the w word) and one shouldn't read them because of that particular behaviour, even if the book is fine. They are also taking down shelves that say some of the same things. Basically they are enforcing the TOS (Terms of Service) that they had been neglecting to enforce and people are upset that they are suddenly doing this. A part of the problem is that they basically didn't make a system wide announcement of the new policy and how it was going to be enforced and that they put the announcement as part of a thread and now people are complaining in that thread (which is about 5000+) responses and its not about what the new policy is, but rather people complaining about it.And as people say about other free services, you joined their free service and therefore you have to abide by their rules.
Thanks so much for the explanation, Melissa! :-)
I think the biggest beef is that Goodreads just started deleting shelves without giving members advance notice to allow them to save their reviews elsewhere.
Mod
Janet wrote: "I think the biggest beef is that Goodreads just started deleting shelves without giving members advance notice to allow them to save their reviews elsewhere."I think that is the biggest beef.
Toni wrote: "The Washington Post has an article on the issue and helpful links:http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/c...
They use an analogy involv..."
It may have started out that way but I think it's becoming about larger issues now. The new policy (or enforcement of the old policy) is making many reviewers question whether they want to continue to review here. I just posed a question in the Feedback thread....if I review a memoir or autobiography am I allowed to comment on aspects of the author's character that I deem negative? If I am allowed today, will I still be allowed tomorrow? It seems to me that Goodreads is going down a slippery slope. Also Goodreads failure to make a site-wide announcement of the new terms of service is not sitting well with a lot of folks. Why are they sweeping it under the rug? And I too would be interested to hear what Ann and Michael think about it.
And perhaps relevant, perhaps not, remember that Jeff Bezos now owns the Washington Post.
Mod
I'm still formulating what I think about this. Should I be allowed to bully an author? I don't think so. I'm trying to figure out where to draw the line. The Book Riot Podcast brings up some interesting scenarios.
Carol wrote: "Book Riot Podcast #20 Seared and Freckled talks about this issue too and brings up some good points. I'm still formulating what I think about this. Should I be allowed to bully an author? I don't..."
I will give it a listen. And also to the point, should an author be able to bully you? From what I've heard there were authors stalking and threatening reviewers.
I think that the idea if an author stalking anyone is very very scary .
I had no idea any of this was happening until I read this thread. And I looked at the books for the author mentioned in the Post article and it became abundantly clear who the cited members must be. I am still thinking it over, but it all feels too Orwellian to me.
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I'm still formulating what I think about this. Should I be allowed to bully an a..."
What awful behavior on the part of the author!
I'm listening to The Book Riot podcast and they are making some really good points. Something Rebecca said jogged my memory that I queried whether Junot Diaz is a tad misogynistic in my review of This is How You Lose Her. He does seem to write somewhat autobiographical, which a lot of writers do. My review is still there.
Relative to the controversy, I like to remember there are two sides to every story. I'm sure there are some thin-skinned and hot-headed authors that do awful things to reviewers. Just as there are a large number of reviewers that cross the line and bring personal-sounding grudges to bear against authors. Everyone can be inflated when wearing their Internet mask (not to mention that there are a lot of trolls on all popular Internet sites - I am a mod on another site) and say things they never would in person. One webite stated an author had to get an court injunction against some reviewer! I'm not pro-censorship, but I am pro-manners. Too many people use "Well, its my opinion and therefore..." to get away with saying and possibly doing a lot of nasty stuff.
Victoria wrote: "Relative to the controversy, I like to remember there are two sides to every story. I'm sure there are some thin-skinned and hot-headed authors that do awful things to reviewers. Just as there are ..."Oh, I agree. Lots of people say things on the internet that they wouldn't say to your face. The new Terms of Service though seems to come down firmly on the side of authors because they define that a book review has to be entirely about the book and not about the author. Per my example above, does anyone think my query about Junot Diaz was inappropriate? If so, I don't see it. I didn't say that I thought he was, I just kind of wondered aloud based on the autobiographical nature of his writing. This is what makes me think that GR has gone too far.
Here's the link to the controversy...not sure how much you can see if not a member of the group.http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
That group is open to all. I read a page or two at the top and bottom the other day.
Books on the Nightstand
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About fifteen to twenty years ago, when the audiobook industry's retail market was in its fledging state, market research said that the average audiobook length that consumers wanted was about 4-5 hours or *at most* 8 hours long. The industry responded accordingly. Now, audiobook listeners want every single word, so the number of abridged editions of audiobooks now being produced is correspondingly small.
Most of the abridged editions you see now are leftover from years past, author/celebrity reads who don't have the time/stamina to narrate the full editions of their own works (it's much harder than it seems, even for an author) and/or a British import (the UK market has a place for abridged works.)