52 weeks, 52 books discussion

Have you read any of these group books? If so, would you consider posting a review on Goodreads and on Amazon? Reviews are so important to authors getting recognition, particularly for lesser read works. Reviews should be honest, but respectful - what did you like, what did you not like, that sort of thing.

So review a book, post a link to it in the comments, and I'll give away one of the group books at the end of March. If we get more than a 100 reviews up, I'll give away 2 books and so on!

**And hopefully this goes without saying, but please do not mention me or this contest in your reviews. That is not relevant to your honest opinion of the book.**

1. The Banks of Certain Rivers: Review here: http://amzn.to/Zeql9x
2. The Comfort of Lies: Review here: http://amzn.to/1esOgdc
3. When She Was Gone: Review here: http://amzn.to/1idJ3wO
4. The Search Angel: Review here: http://amzn.to/MRRO2a
5. The Theory of Opposites: Review here: http://amzn.to/1brFApu
6. The Fable of Bing: Review here: http://amzn.to/1brFApu
7. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves: Review here: http://amzn.to/1cLb9Mj

I'm sad...i haven't read any of them yet. I can't wait to read the reviews so I can pick out some good ones.

Are you promoting these books for some reason?

I just reviewed a couple of these books on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/review/RL20E8TY9QS

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ARIUT9...

I've read #1 and #5. I'm happy to write a review for #1 but I don't think you want me to write one for #5!

I am dying to read #7 - I swear I will get to it before the end of April!

Glenda wrote: "Are you promoting these books for some reason?"

These just happen to all being books I really liked that are not heavily reviewed or read yet, unlike some others. Nothing in it for me.

Beth wrote: "I've read #1 and #5. I'm happy to write a review for #1 but I don't think you want me to write one for #5!

I am dying to read #7 - I swear I will get to it before the end of April!"

Did you write a review for #1, Beth?

Sandra wrote: "I just reviewed a couple of these books on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/review/RL20E8TY9QS

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ARIUT9..."

Good reviews, Sandra

I have read and reviewed one of them The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyer. I reviewed on my blog Writer's Corner, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

Book #1 was ok I hated book #2 I've heard #5 is awful and #7 I didn't like either. There's probably a good reason these books aren't getting many reviews.

IMHO if we want the review system to have any integrity it should not have to be solicited. If people like (or dislike) a particular book enough , they will be compelled to do it on their own.

I'm sorry , I don't mean to be rude, just one person's honest opinion.

Camie wrote: "I'm sorry , I don't mean to be rude, just one person's honest opinion."

No worries, Camie. You are of course entitled to your opinion. In my opinion, many people don't review books because they don't realize that this is important to getting books visibility, especially lesser read books. And I can't agree that lack of reviews = bad book. The number of reviews is usually just a function of the number of people who read a book; and readership does not, in my opinion, correlate with quality unfortunately. As I said, I have no stake in these books and get nothing from people reviewing or not reviewing then. I just think it's important for me as an author to spread the word about other books I enjoyed. Hope that makes sense.

I always review the books I've read here on Goodreads. I do it for other readers and also for myself. The only reason I've never, until now, posted reviews on Amazon is that I don't buy from them. I assumed that you had to buy the book from a site to review it there. I appreciate readers that write reviews, a lot of times I will read reviews after I've read a book to see if my opinion was shared, good or bad. I also tend to look at reviews of books I'm not sure of, or that have been recommended to me, before I read the book. Honestly, though, I don't think of the author a whole lot when writing a review, I think of other readers...

Sandra wrote: "I always review the books I've read here on Goodreads. I do it for other readers and also for myself. The only reason I've never, until now, posted reviews on Amazon is that I don't buy from them..."

That's totally fine, Sandra. I think we all have our own perspectives. As an author, I think of other authors because I know how difficult it is to get noticed. But as a reader, I appreciate reviews too.

Oh , don't get me wrong. I purchase tons of books from Amazon. I am a huge fan of Good reads as well , and I rely heavily on the reviews of others as a guide for what I buy. That is really my whole point. I want really honest heartfelt reviews !!!! : )

Camie wrote: "Oh , don't get me wrong. I purchase tons of books from Amazon. I am a huge fan of Good reads as well , and I rely heavily on the reviews of others as a guide for what I buy. That is really my who..."

So do I :)