Action Heroine Fans discussion

Since we have two Goodreads authors of relevant books as group members, I went ahead just now and created a "written-by-group members" shelf in our bookshelves. I've added Elizabeth's and Thad's books to it.

In another group I help moderate, one person recently asked if anybody can add books to the bookshelves, or if only the moderators can. Some Goodreads groups actually have the latter restriction; but I want to make sure you all know that this one doesn't, so add all you want to! Also, in some groups the "currently reading" group shelf is reserved for common reads; but since our group doesn't do those, here that shelf is for any group-relevant book that you're currently reading!

Re the above comment on the "currently-reading" shelf, I've since learned (over in the Moderators Support group) that MOST Goodreads groups do keep that shelf reserved for common reads. Because our past practice is in the minority and has created some confusion, I decided (unless anybody objects?) to join the majority. So, from here on, nothing will be posted here on that particular shelf unless we're reading it as a group. (We've never had any common reads in this group; but we can if you all want to!)

Yesterday, allegations were reported to Goodreads that all of the five-star reviewers for Connor Fitzgerald's B-squad trilogy, one of whom was our former group member "Jackie" from Aberdeen, were actually the same person using phony personas. Goodreads has apparently found this to be true, since her account has been deleted and her posts removed. I've deleted those books from our bookshelves as of this morning.

It's been stated before on other Goodreads threads, but this kind of use of "sock puppets" is unethical, and violates the trust that should exist between Goodreads members, and between authors and readers.

That's not good. I don't know of any sock puppets of my books, if suspected, please let me know. Thanks Werner.

Will do, C.C., but I've never had any reason to think that the reviews for your books (nor for books by any of the other authors in our group) are anything but genuine! Happily, this sort of thing doesn't happen very often.

I think this goes hand-in-hand with this discussion on 'fake reviews.'

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...

Yes, Sadie, that discussion is definitely appropos to this one! Thanks for the link.

Werner wrote: "Yesterday, allegations were reported to Goodreads that all of the five-star reviewers for Connor Fitzgerald's B-squad trilogy, one of whom was our former group member "Jackie" from Aberdeen, were a..."

What do you mean all of them? You mean the author himself made phony accounts to give himself fake reviews??? =P

That's exactly what he meant, Erin. We've caught it before. Thankfully it doesn't happen too often, though.

Erin, it's a fact that a few unscrupulous authors have been caught doing exactly that. I'm not making any accusation against Fitzgerald himself in this case, because I notice that the Goodreads management didn't delete his account (at least, at the time --I haven't checked since), though several of his "fans'" accounts were deleted. The fake reviews may have been posted by, for instance, a misguided friend or relative of his; but usually the author is the culprit. :-(

Werner wrote: " The fake reviews may have been posted by, for instance, a misguided friend or relative of his; but usually the author is the culprit. :-( ."

If thats the case it is just too sad. It's horrible that an author would do such a thing, but to have their reputation trashed because someone was trying to help is just almost worth crying over. Unless, of course, it was done with the full consent of the author. Then it's just as bad.

More often than not, Sadie, I think it's done with the author's full knowledge and consent. Of course, that isn't to say for sure that this was the case here. But I have enough suspicions on that score that I'd personally never read any of the books in that trilogy --that's just me, though. They might (or might not) be perfectly good books of their kind, but the probability of rewarding a swindler and cheat just rubs me the wrong way. That makes it especially tragic if an author writes well enough to make his/her work a success the right way, but chooses to go the shady route instead.

Werner, I'm assuming it's okay to add books to the shelf that members have read with action heroines?

I created a few categories for genres and added a few books.

Yes, Danielle, it's absolutely okay to add books of this type to the "read" shelf, if any of our members have read them! And organizing them more by category is fine too. Thanks for giving that some attention; your additions look good!

You're welcome! I hope members add some titles as they come across good action heroine books.

Yes, I'd like to see more members helping to build up this bibliography, too!

So ... now I'm confused. Does that mean I can add one of my books with an action heroine. And another book not authored by me but which is a remarkable book with female protagonist and antagonist.
I'll await your word, Werner.

Yes, Susan, you can absolutely add any books you want that feature action heroines! Use the "choose shelves" feature to put them on the appropriate shelf; if it's one you wrote, be sure to put it on "written by group members" (that automaically puts it on the "read" shelf as well). We also have a "to-read" shelf, for action heroine fiction you think looks really interesting and you might want to read sometime.

I just added my book to the general list and haven't figured out yet how to move it to the written by group members shelf. I'll get it done eventually.

OK, figured it out. Got it moved I think.

Yup, Charles, I checked just now, and it's on both the shelves it's supposed to be. I'll keep it in mind; my to-read shelf is already so full it's pathetic, so I use our group's shelves as sort of an auxiliary place to keep track of books I might want to read. :-)

I have huge TBR piles at home but don't put many of them on here because I read so haphazardly.

I hear you, Charles! :-)

Charles wrote: "I have huge TBR piles at home but don't put many of them on here because I read so haphazardly."

Ditto, but that's a wonderful problem to have.

it is indeed.

The bookshelf is a goldmine. On the first page alone I saw books I'd love to read but hadn't heard of before.

Okay, I finally finished the Millenium trilogy about the girl w/the dragon tattoo. I read the first two books in the series quite a while ago. The 3rd had been sitting on my TBR pile ... all 1000 pages of it. I'm so glad I finally read it. All sorts of good stuff, and the best part was the ending. Tense action scenes. And a nice reunion at the end. :)

I really liked that trilogy too, Susan. It was great as an audio book.

Karin, thanks for your feedback on the bookshelf! My ambition is to make it the best bibliography of action heroine fiction on Goodreads.

Susan, you might be interested in our group's thread on the Millenium trilogy (www.goodreads.com/topic/show/517592-s... ). I noticed that at the moment, it doesn't show up on the group homepage unless you click on "More discussions."

Jim wrote: "I really liked that trilogy too, Susan. It was great as an audio book."
Who was the reader? Male? Female? Did you like him/her?
Susan

My review is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It says that Simon Vance was the reader. He was a good one.

Werner wrote: Susan, you might be interested in our group's thread on t..."

Thanks, Werner, will check it out when I get a chance. At the mo, I'm flat out revising my latest crime thriller, hope to get it out by September. Alas, so much to do, so little time. :)

Best wishes with the new book, Susan!

Jim wrote: "My review is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It says that Simon Vance was the reader. He was a good one."

Hi Jim, I read your review of the Dragon Tattoo book, 1st in the series. Have you read and reviewed the others? What? there are only 36 hours in a day, you say? Ok, kidding.

I did. Book 2 review is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book 3:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm working on the Miles Vorkosigan series now.
;-)

Over the past several days, I've been doing some work on our bookshelves: pruning a few titles I'd added that I decided didn't really belong there, tweaking a few shelf titles and adding several new shelves, and mostly classifying all of the books by customized shelf (or shelves). I'm hoping this will make for an easier and more enjoyable browsing experience. Check it out, and see what you think!

Thanks for all your hard work Werner!

You're welcome, Sadie! (It's a labor of love. :-) )

So, I thought it might be fun to count up how many of the books on our shelves I've read. I'm kind of disappointed to discover it's a measly little 11. I own at least that many more (mostly those that have been freebies at some point). But...11! Definitely time to do a little more concerted Action Heroine reading. Anyone else? Make me feel better about 11? Make my head hang lower?

Sadie, after you counted your total, I was curious to count mine; I've read 40 "books" from the list (out of 253); but eight of those are really short stories, not whole books, and as in your case, several were freebies. But nah, you don't need to hang your head; there are a lot of categories that are worth reading in, not just this one! Think of it this way: a smaller total of "read" books means that you have a larger total of to-read ones to look forward to with excitement and anticipation. :-)

I've read 30+, although it's a bit hard to tell due to different editions. I didn't see any of the Kitty books in there. That's a fun series that starts with Kitty and the Midnight Hour.

I have Kitty and the Midnight Hour in my stacks of to-read books. But I've never added it to our group bookshelf, since I've been told she's not really a kick-butt type of heroine (though certainly strong and brave, and demonstrating those qualities in other ways).

She's a freaking werewolf & constantly getting into deadly scrapes. Just where are you setting the bar, Werner? Seems to me she'd clear most...
;)

Hmmmm! Jim, I was going by your answer to my question (back in July), "...would you say that Kitty (and Anna...) are action oriented fighting heroines?" You replied: "Neither are kick-ass heroines, although Kitty is far more dominant than Anna, both were/are low in the warrior ranks. They have other strengths and are dominant forces." Not having read any of the books in the series, I don't have any firsthand knowledge of Kitty's capabilities myself.

Actually, I don't set the bar here very high; if a lady can handle herself well in a physical fight, or rise to some other kind of physical action challenge that takes strength and conditioning (or enough guts and endurance to substitute for those), I'd say she's earned her place. (Some of our heroines here are more kick-butt than others.) If you think Kitty and the Midnight Hour should be here, definitely go ahead and add it; your endorsement is good enough for me! (And I have high respect for werewolves; no species prejudice here! :-) )

Well there you go. You shelved (or didn't) books by genre based on my opinion. Bad move, Werner. How many times have I told you that I'm a dismal failure at that? I break books up by fiction & nonfiction with shelves in the middle that contain philosophy, religion, & mythology all mixed together since I can't seem to separate them. Seriously, you need to improve your standards!
;)

Read the first Kitty book. It only takes a couple of hours & you can make up your own mind. No need to dive into the series. It's simple enough that you can pick it up or put it down without a problem.

Jim wrote: "Seriously, you need to improve your standards!" Good point, Jim; I definitely do. :-) I'll try to give the first book a read sometime next year (for me, that IS pushing it up near the top of the pile!), and make my own call. If I like it, I'll probably follow up with more of the series sometime. (After all, what's one more series when you're already juggling ten or twelve? :-) )

Good reviews will get me to look at a book, but with the "look inside" feature available in most places I always give the think a look before plunking down money. I've seen books with a lot of five star ratings that are horribly written and then I tend to think the reviews are either faked or solicited from friends/family. But I don't assume a book with just 4 and 5 star reviews has been getting fake reviews unless it just really reads terribly.

Soon to be published, my kick-ass heroine Natalie, in Natalie's Art. See the trailer (and Natalie) here http://susanfleet.com/nataliesart.html

Susan, you definitely need to start a thread for your Natalie series in the Group Members Who Write/Publish folder (and post that link there!); that's where readers who might be interested would expect to look for it. (There will probably be quite a few interested readers here; I plan to check out the trailer myself.) And you need to put this sequel to Natalie's Revenge into the Goodreads database, too; I went to add it to our group bookshelf just now, and couldn't find it! (Books can be added even if they aren't published yet, as long as they're scheduled to be.)