Where Did I Get That Book?
Following Lenore from Presenting Lenore and Marie of The Boston Bibliophile (as well as many other bloggers), I thought I'd look back at how I acquired the last 20 books I reviewed. See Lenore's and Marie's posts for more information about revealing sources.
Books Reviewed on Beth Fish Reads
Here are books, with the sources in parentheses.
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll (audio library)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (audio bought)
Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart (eBook bought)
Delectable Mountains by Earlene Fowler (audio bought)
Imperium by Robert Harris (audio rental)
Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb (audio bought)
Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm (audio bought)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (print library)
Plainsong by Kent Haruf (audio rental)
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand (print publisher--blog tour )
Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy (book club pick, print publisher--unsolicited)
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (audio library)
A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton (audio bought)
A World I Never Made by James LePore (print publisher--blog tour)
The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips (print publisher--requested)
The Game on Diet by Krista Vernoff and Az Fercuson (print publisher--pitched)
Magickeepers by Erica Kirov (print publisher--blog tour)
The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Eptstein (print publisher--blog tour)
Home Game by Michael Lewis (print publisher--pitched)
About Alice by Calvin Trillin (audio bought)
Bought: 7
Rented: 2
Borrowed: 3
Given: 8
Average rating of books I was given: B
Average rating of books I acquired myself: B-
I'd say I'm not that influenced by the source of the book. Do you think you are less critical of review books than you are of books you bought or borrowed?
16 comments:
You are a reading machine! Hey, come on over when you get the chance. I've betowed you with a little love!
I don't think you're particularly influenced by the book's source either, but then I didn't think so before either! I know I'm not. I don't rate books so much, but if I sort out my review copies they're similarly favorable/unfavorable in proportion to my own books.
i try to be impartial when reviewing books no matter where they come from. out of the 10 books i've read most recently, 4 are from publishers/publicists and the rest are from the library--hence my overdue fine problem! ha.
All of the books I read are from the library. I'm just glad I have that to supply my reading habit along with the weird book posts that follow.
Wow, that's a ton of books. I love that you include audios.
I haven't checked out my tally but maybe I should.
I don´t think bloggers are less critical of review books. I enjoy most books that I finish, and my only fear is that one day I´ll find myself disliking a book by an author I ´know´ which is why I have decided that in that case I won´t review it at all.
I thought it was interesting that you rated the books you'd been given higher than the ones you'd bought.
I think my books would have a similar rating to that - I am very picky about ones I get from publishers - whereas I'll give anything from the library a try!
Like you, my "critical eye" doesn't open or shut depending upon how I acquired a book. A book is a book is a book! :)
I have been more careful about disclosing sources of the books I review as well. I hate having to take that step, but I don't want people to suspect that I review personal books different than review copies!
Do you purchase your audios through the audio book club where you download them or another place?
I didn't realize you listened to so many books. I can't - I totally zone out.
Lenore: I read for a living and sometimes I really need to step back from the printed page. Saves my eyes and my brain.
I keep meaning to do this and then forgetting about it. I'm writing myself a note now.
I don't think I'm easier on books I get "for free" but I think I'm more careful to give a balanced and thorough review. Is that being easier? Perhaps so. So I guess I just lied a little bit.
Interesting break down. I am not involved much with receiving ARCs so I haven't had to really deal with whether or not I am nicer in my reviews for free books or not. I pretty much call it like I see it--I did my own little breakdown of where I have received the books I have read this year and was very surprised at how many new books I have purchased! I am doing my part to stimulate the book buying economy! :)
*smiles*
Kim
Wow that's a lot of audio books. I've only listened to one audio book and I never finished it.
I think I'm critical of all the books I read, but I'm not sure my criticisms are deep enough. Or better yet, my analysis may not be as thorough.
Other people who read the same books as me, come away with entirely different takes on the story and leave me saying wow...never thought of that. I just liked it :)
I bought most of my books; there're some I got from BookMooch and a few review copies. My opinions remain truthful and fair no matter if they're review copies or books I bought. :)
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