Monday, February 16, 2009

Monday Musings





Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book reviews…
Do you read any non-blogging book reviews? If so, where (newspaper, library etc)? Do you have any favourites sources you'd like to share?


My answer...

Yes, I do read reviews - both on blogs and non-blogs. I really use reviews mainly to get a synopsis of the book to see if it's a storyline I'll like - not so much for someone else's opinion on the book (unless it's someone I know has the same reading interests that I do). I use Romantic Times and I've subscribed to that magazine for years. I love it and use their reviews to make my shopping list each month. I also will use the reviews on Amazon, and sites such as Library Thing, Shelfari, Goodreads, etc. Like I said, I mainly use reviews to see if it's the type of book I like not for the reviewers opinion. I really believe reviews are subjective - my "5 star" book might only be your "1 star" book. We're all different and they have enough different type of books for all of us :)

Do you read reviews?

Monday-MySpace-Comments
MySpace Comments and Monday Comments

13 comments:

  1. LOL! I don't do Mondays either. :)

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  2. more cats...hmmm....

    I do read a fair number of non-blog reviews, but I agree that it is more about to see if it might be my cuppa tea than their actual opinion about the book.

    oh...I think I am getting a hairball...

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  3. I do read reviews from other sites, but I can count on fellow book bloggers for a wider selection of reviews.

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  4. cute kitty :) I dont do mondays either!
    I read reviews on Amazon and magazines.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  5. I like to read mostly blog book reviews, I pick some books I read that way.

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  6. Love the cat. I like reading the book blogs because I've discovered books I really wouldn't want to read. So they are helpful that way.

    My post is up now.

    Robin

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  7. I hate Mondays, too, especially when the shower's broke. A morning bath just isn't the same.

    I read blogs and my book groups have great suggestions sometimes.

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  8. That's funny, you're the second person I've found who seeks out reviews for the synopsis. I avoid reading most of a synopsis, too many give away too much of the book for me. I use reviews to see if the book is considered, fast-paced, edgy etc and the general genre. :)

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  9. I agree.. reviews are extremely subjective. Like you, I also don't rely so much on how a reviewer liked the book but on what the book seems to be about and what it's writing style is. :D

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  10. That is interesting you are not swayed by other reviewers opinions. I tend to think twice if a book I am interested in has a low star rating on Amazon.

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  11. Ah! Shelfari and Amazon can be a good review source too. That fact completely slipped my mind.

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  12. Kate - I tend to go the opposite way. If I see a book got terrible write ups from reviewers, I'll want to check it out for myself ;)

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