Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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Darcy wrote: "So, since laptops are, as it turns out, much less expensive than they used to be, I was able to upgrade my life. Probably it helped that it's back to school time and they've lowered the prices a bi..."Welcome to the 21st century! What next? A flying car? (You do know about those right? I mean..everyone has one now)
Jane wrote: "I won a Giveaway, too!! 
-- a historical thriller set in modern Egypt of 1940.The Hidden"Way to go Jane!! Must have been an A&Mer night.
Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "I won a Giveaway, too!! -- a historical thriller set in modern Egypt of 1940.The Hidden"Get out! What's going on??
About bloody time some A&Mers w..."
Thanks, Bobby & Derek!
I'm curious. I wonder how they pick out the winners. I'm sure it's nothing so simple as picking names from a hat... or is it?
Cheers to the winners and Darcy's upgrade. About the flying cars that an Australian has invented and mass marketed, cheers to you too! I have been hearing about the flying tube that will make the west coast a back door neighbor to the east coast. I thought I was seeing floaters in my right eye. It is such a relief to know it was flying cars and tubes!
I have no idea. I sort of rememeber Terri having a guess once but can't recall whether she was serious or not.When I first joined I won 10-11 books over a few months time but then it was over a year now since I won again.
Linda wrote: "Cheers to the winners and Darcy's upgrade. About the flying cars that an Australian has invented and mass marketed, cheers to you too! I have been hearing about the flying tube that will make the..."We're so advanced over here. :D
Bobby wrote: "I have no idea. I sort of rememeber Terri having a guess once but can't recall whether she was serious or not.When I first joined I won 10-11 books over a few months time but then it was over a ye..."Yes, I know the answer *puts hand up*
They have developed an algorithym that takes into account many things for the giveaways.
I don't think it is a very good one, but it takes in how many books in that genre on your shelves, how quickly you read and rate the books you win and then I think it must add a bit of pot luck in there too.
I think it is flawed because you see people winning books who have next to no books on their shelves. I guess if they have 15 supernatural romance books and they enter a giveaway for one, then only having books of that genre on their shelves might cheat the system.
I think they need to add 'friends number' to their algorithym. Not that someone needs a lot of friends, it's just that the giveaways are supposed to help spread the word about the book, and if someone has a few friends, say 5 friends or more, then there is greater chance of someone winning who can spread the word about the book.
Sorry I have been a little absent the last couple days. I will be on properly later to catch up on everyone's reads etc..
I have been preoccupied the last few days with shopping around the land for new bulls. Visting Cattle Studs and Bull Sales.
We've been having a nice time though. Since my parents are beef farmers too they have been along for the ride so we've been packing up the picnic basket, throwing Mum and Dad in the backseat (I have only had to tell them once to stop their bickering or they can get out and walk home..:)..) and traveling around the countryside looking at cattle. Stopping off in quiet country towns for our picnic, then back on the road to visit more farms.
I haven't even been thinking about books. :)
On the giveaways algorithym. It sucks. On discussion I see from those who offer the giveaways. Real-life example of a giveaway: of 3 copies,
1 went to a user with 0 ratings, 0 reviews, but had been on Goodreads for years
1 went to a user with 0 reviews, hundreds of ratings
1 went to a frequent rater and reviewer
That's an algorithym?
I won my first giveaway book last week too. Must have been the week for it. :D
Bryn, sounds like the ole pulling out of a hat algorithm. :)
Maybe I have a shot at winning a book after all! :)
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Terri. Keep your firm grip on your parents.
I have won two books. One was a few weeks after I joined, the other about 8 months later. There was an article on Huffington Post in the last couple of weeks about winning books here. They suggested that the author autograph the book and send a short note along with the book, requesting feedback. Neither one of mine did (I didn't get it with either, and one came without any notification that I had won, even an e-mail; I thought I had ordered it on Amazon but had forgotten!), but I still read each of the books and gave reviews of them.
I wouldn't be surprised if authors take it as a given anyone who wins will give feedback. Might that stipulation be in the rules to the far right when you enter your name? I can't remember.
They encourage you to write a review as promptly as possible(on the far right as you said Jane), which is completely understandable. But from a selfish point of view, I like the pulling a name out of a hat method. I'm not a good writer & therefore not a good reviewer. It would be exciting to win a book, though. If I did win one, I'd do my best to put a decent review together.
Yeah. In the authors' terms it says winners are "encouraged but not required" to review.As such they'd want to be pretty careful with what they put in notes etc.
Derek wrote: "They encourage you to write a review as promptly as possible(on the far right as you said Jane), which is completely understandable. But from a selfish point of view, I like the pulling a name out ..."Oh goodness, you wouldn't believe the number of times I revise and revise: besides spelling, punctuation and grammar--the obvious stuff, which words fit best, in what order the sentences make the most sense...
Frankly, I like the pulling names from a hat method also. They give their so-called criteria in the first paragraph, from the sublime to the ridiculous...
or, maybe they go by birthdays and assign winners by sun sign, a different one each go-round for the same book :)
Like I said, Derek, it took me four months to write the The Boat of Fate review. I feel intimidated by some of these reviews.
Derek wrote: "They encourage you to write a review as promptly as possible(on the far right as you said Jane), which is completely understandable. But from a selfish point of view, I like the pulling a name out ..."Your Gates of Fire review was very good, Derek. It was heart-felt.
Thanks Jane. :) I loved that book. I usually have a hard time putting my thoughts down. After reading a book, I'll have all kinds of ideas in my head for a review, but when I go to write them down or type them in, it just seems to fall apart. I've always had that problem with writing. I do really enjoy reading reviews by others, though.
I make notes as I read on anything that strikes me. When I write a review, I don't use all of the notes, but they are a guide. That might not work for everyone but it does for me.
Since the day I joined GR, I've learned to know my fellow readers a bit - the ones that appreciate the same kinds of books that I do, the ones that usually suggest me authors and themes I know I'll like, and so on.So, even if I appreciate the thoughtful and well penned reviews from some of us, I have also noticed that a couple of words and an adequate number of stars from others are worth checking.
That's a good perspective, Simona. I feel the same way.
Simona wrote: "So, even if I appreciate the thoughtful and well penned reviews from some of us, I have also noticed that a couple of words and an adequate number of stars from others are worth checking..."
Yep. I agree. I remember when we were talking about this in here recently.
I always find something is better than nothing. A few words on how someone feels about a book is as important to me as reading a long review.
Goodreads just informed me there was a problem posting my last comment. The season is about to change. When the little yellow butterflies appear, we will have some autumn feel to some days. I do not like little yellow butterflies.
10 more days until the first day of spring over here. :)
Looking forward to true Autumn here. 111 degrees F yesterday!
Has anyone else been occasionally getting redirected to a page that says something like 'A word from our sponsors'?
Derek wrote: "Has anyone else been occasionally getting redirected to a page that says something like 'A word from our sponsors'?"Not here...thank goodness.
I have had trouble editing. Goodreads sends me to a list of things to do such as mark if I don't want email on the subject. It has happened twice lately, and I don't think it is my fault.Bobby, when will you cool down? The weather--not you!
Linda wrote: "Goodreads just informed me there was a problem posting my last comment. The season is about to change. When the little yellow butterflies appear, we will have some autumn feel to some days. I do..."Our leaves have already started to turn. Earlier today I saw some red leaves on the maples in the back yard. Goodness, I can remember Augusts as a kid: terribly hot weather and high humidity like we had earlier this summer in June and July.
Terri wrote: "I have been preoccupied the last few days with shopping around the land for new bulls. Visting Cattle Studs and Bull Sales."Interesting!
Back in May I was at a cattle ranch in Montana. I was there to shoot (photograph) a cattle branding. They still do it with hot irons, cowboys driving the herd in then cutting out and roping the calves. Never been that close to working horses before. Even more fun than the rodeo I shot a year or two ago. Seems I have been around a lot of beef recently :)
G
Linda wrote: "I have had trouble editing. Goodreads sends me to a list of things to do such as mark if I don't want email on the subject. It has happened twice lately, and I don't think it is my fault.Bobby, ..."
Good thing you specified....we have the potential of staying near 100 through September. A few years ago it was 98 on Halloween!
In Florida, you never know which week winter will happen. I've worn shorts and flip flops on Christmas and I've worn sweaters and coats and boots. I'm just hoping this summer is an indication the drought has broken and it isn't just a wet year within a still ongoing drought. My plants are very happy. The lakes are still low. It has rained daily since May.
G H wrote: "Interesting!
Back in May I was at a cattle ranch in Monta..."
We still use hot irons here too. Some use freeze brands, but mostly they are hot irons.
Rarely do we rope in Australia. Some big places that are very isolated and hard to get to do rope and brand and castrate, but the majority will run calves/cattle up a 'race' and do the branding etc..in a special calf cradle or 'cattle crush'. Much easier on animal and handler. :)
Terri wrote: "...a special calf cradle or 'cattle crush'"I heard about that. It flips the calf on its side while holding it, right?
The roping is old school. Makes for good photographs though.
G
Crystal wrote: "In Florida, you never know which week winter will happen. I've worn shorts and flip flops on Christmas and I've worn sweaters and coats and boots. I'm just hoping this summer is an indication the..."This summer I've been in Brittany. We stayed in a b&b with a luscious garden: I complimented the owner, and she said that short of a couple of weeks, it rained daily for 9 months.
Suddenly it didn't seem paradise anymore. :)
It stays hot in Mississippi well into October, but with every front comes through the base temperature becomes lower. We can get a hot spell in mid-winter or a little cool spell in summer (85° rather than 90°). It has been known to start off with hot weather in December, tornado comes through, and we would get snow all within a day's time. Brittany did seem perfect for awhile. A friend took his wife and two kids to Hawaii. The weatheir was wonderful. He had just about decided to move there until he got the bill for their first mean. They hightailed it back to Memphis. Ever where Bobby lives, I would like to know about the year round weather. Crystal, I love Florida weather, except Disney World in July. Danielle, it is the weird weather that makes me crazy. The weather should stay as it should be.
I live in North Florida, about 1/2 hour west of Gainesville. The weather is pretty good from October toApril, but from May to Sept is hot. This year we have had more than the usual amount of rain which has kept things cooler and my A/C bill down. But I love winters here unless it gets below 20 degrees F. And yes it can. My first year here, 1988 it snowed on Christmas day, clogging the Interstate until they had to close it. The high one day(record) was 11 degrees Fahrenheit.
G H wrote: "Terri wrote: "...a special calf cradle or 'cattle crush'"I heard about that. It flips the calf on its side while holding it, right?
The roping is old school. Makes for good photographs though.
G"
That's the one. Lot less painful than being roped.
Although...as you say...roping makes for good photographs. :-)
So many sad, senseless acts of violence around here lately. My thoughts are with Christopher Lane & his family. The whole thing is so sad, it makes me sick. What the hell is wrong with this society? Too many things to go into. Too many idiots with guns.
Derek wrote: "So many sad, senseless acts of violence around here lately. My thoughts are with Christopher Lane & his family. The whole thing is so sad, it makes me sick. What the hell is wrong with this society..."Thats terrible. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Anne wrote: "I live in North Florida, about 1/2 hour west of Gainesville. The weather is pretty good from October toApril, but from May to Sept is hot. This year we have had more than the usual amount of rain ..."
That's why I prefer to live near the coast. The interior gets hotter and no sea breeze.
It has been hot and dry this summer in Utah - We are one day short of a record for 100+ days this summer (22). We really haven't had any rain since early July. Some of the local reservoirs are down to less the 40% capacity and dropping rapidly. We really need a wet winter this year
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Allan Hands (other topics)
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Get out! What's going on??
About bloody time some A&Mers won some giveaways.