Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tuesday Thingers



From Wendi's Book Corner, we get today's Tuesday Thinger Question: Were you aware of the Early Reviewer Program? Have you received any books from the program? If you have, how have you liked the book(s)? Any other thoughts on the LTER program?

I have been extremely fortunate to receive a total of about 10 books from Early Reviewers! I think it's a fabulous program. I have always been very careful to make sure they get reviewed quickly, even if I have to bump other things. I get really annoyed when you see how many books have gone out and only a few reviews have been posted. I consider it a commitment and I think folks who don't meet the commitment should get dropped from the program. (Harsh, I know.)

I also think the way they hand out books is very interesting. It's a great idea to try and match readers to books to make sure they get read and they get into the hands of people who are really going to want them.

Here are some of the books I've received from Early Reviewers and the rating I gave them on LibraryThing:

  • The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff - 5 stars
  • Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 1.5 stars
  • A Dog Among Diplomats by J. F. Englert - 1 star
  • Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - 3 stars
  • Happy Hour is for Amateurs by Philadelphia Lawyer - 0 stars
  • The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston - 4.5 stars
  • The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax - 4 stars
  • The Stories of Devil-Girl by Anya Achtenberg - 4 stars
  • Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke - next on my reading list
  • The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss - 3 stars

Quite a bunch, don't you think? How could I not love a program that has sent me such great books? (Even if they also sent me a few clunkers.)

UPDATE: Just got word that I am getting a copy of Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor from the February batch! I am the luckiest girl in the world.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! I've only had two but there isn't much available to the UK and I only ask if it's book I really want. Reminders to review might be good because I know some people aren't in the way of reviewing - I only started a few months ago!

Mary (Bookfan) said...

What a list! I agree about reading an ET book as soon as I get it and then posting the review. It's only fair, right? I've even received emails from publishers, etc asking me about the book after I posted the review. Fun!

bermudaonion said...

You've done will with the program, except for that 0 stars book.

Lisa said...

BermudaOnion, the book was just awful, juvenile, frat-boy crap. Plus - there's a lot there I think was exaggerated, if not outright fabrication. For those who are curious, the review is here.

Lenore Appelhans said...

I remember that 0 star review very well!

jlshall said...

That's quite a list (I'm so envious!). I sort of feel the same way about people who receive ER books and then don't post at least a short review. Seems to me the reviewing is what it's all about.

caite said...

wow..I don't think that I ever read a zero star book review. have to check that out...lol

I have received a few books that I did not love..but none I disliked that much.

Wendi said...

I absolutely loved The 19th Wife, in fact, one of my book clubs is reading it now. :)

I tend to agree with you - if someone doesn't follow through on posting a review, I think they should be dropped from the program - that is the whole point of the ER program - to get reviews for the books!!

Thanks for stopping by and participating in Thingers last week! I've got the post up for this week, we're taking a look at the section called LT Member Giveaways. ~ Wendi