Review it in Five Words?

(This one's for the Tweet-geeks)

In the last week or so, @randomhouse issued a challenge to its marketing staff: review a book (Gone Girl) in five words or less. 

I love it. 

While I'm sure we're not all reading the same book, I'd love to hear from you - about anything you've read, or are reading,  #InFiveWords

Have fun!                                         

P.S. Have you read Gone Girl? I'm intrigued by a lot of those cute little tweets but they don't say much! I'd welcome a longer review of it, too. Contact me if you want to review it here!

E or eh? Reading Levels of Snob Appeal

At this point in the ebook reader, ebook and self-publishing evolution, it's time for readers to speak up.

The options are getting better and better. Venerable book review publications are rethinking their "we don't review self-published works" stances. High-quality book publishers (read: those with editors as a must-have, not just a nice-to-have part of the package) are faced with the challenge so many other marketers face.

How can we distinguish one little fish from so many in the sea?

Goodreads is, IMHO, one of the ways we - readers! - can help each other select winning titles from the lot.

But what can a marketer do to convince you to bite on their hooks, and dive into their books?
 Eager to hear from you ~~~ on Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, or right here.

PS: Want a free book about snobs? You got it. Thank Mr. Gutenberg. 

                                                 ~Diane Stresing

Several Shades of Sad: on Swimming and SM

 

I can't claim that I've got a handle on Live Tweeting yet, but I have started playing with short-form reviews on Twitter.

Today's experiment with Swimming Home by Deborah Levy seemed appropriate - the paperback version is just about 160 pages long. And it's sad, so I didn't want to delve too deeply into its meaning. (If you know me, you know I like movies and books that make me laugh, not cry.) It's clearly got something to say about sadness, and marriage, and mental health. Not necessarily in that order.

You're welcome to follow me and see what I read next (hint: I hope it makes me laugh!) Or, better yet, let me know what you're reading. Then I'll follow you.