My Quandary - How to Support Each Other's Books

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 4

I know a number of authors whose publishers, or to be more accurate, whose editors expect them to review or blurb other books from the department or imprint. I think it goes with the territory. Until now I'd never heard of an author being asked to do a write-up on a book he'd never seen. I can forsee demand rising for classes in literary ESP. But I have been involved in discussions about how to sound neutral about a book you hated. I've also heard some of the most positive authors saying that they can almost always find something agreable to say about a book if they think about the problem for long enough.
Oddly enough I once reviewed a book for one readers' site where I was asked a number of times to critically review anything that I was sent. I found the requests slightly odd and asked what I was supposed to do if I found the any of the books teriffic. By return of post I recieved a rather peculiar novel which I didn't like at all. I can't help feeling that the book was chosen for especially for me. I wrote precisely what I thought of it and the website's owner was delighted. However, I'll always think of reviewing that book for her as a very strange experience.

Regards,

Pat
I review books here: http://www.litarena.com/books/

I see this happening with some publishers, litarena, and I don't really want to be part of it. It's tough to be expected to write an amazon review or post a weblog entry about each new title when: (a) it takes a lot of time to read it and write the review, (b) folks figure you're being ultra-positive because the publisher expect it. Then, there's the problem that comes up when one thinks the book isn't any good.

Malcolm
_________________
Malcolm R. Campbell

http://www.malcolmrcampbell.com

I can't see bing honest aout a book when the publisher is expecting you to read it and write a positive statement. They should give you an option, letting you opt out if you hated it.

Although I have written several reviews of other's works, it has been purely optional and at the request of the author; or because it was read and enjoyed, not requested by a publisher or editor. If I did not like the book, or it was poorly done, I simply refused to do a review. If I am offering an opinion, I want it to be an honest one, even if others disagree with it. I think that honesty and integrity are very important.
_________________
Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/