1. Links of Interest:
First, a public service announcement: please note that Wendy the Super Librarian has a new address, http://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/. Fix your links!
The contest is over, but the post is still super fun. Check out the evolution of Harlequin Historical covers at The Season Blog.
A wonderful October post on author Eva Ibbotson, an author I must read, from Just Janga.
I loved this response from author Courtney Milan to the absence of women authors on PW’s list of best books of the year. And the comments are even better.
Laura Vivanco is talking about Heyer v. Austen: Historical and Contemporary Fiction, over at Teach Me Tonight. And for anyone who wants a recap of how the Georgette Heyer conference went (at which Laura presented) this past weekend, check out this link.
Kristie is claiming that books like Love Story and Gone with the Wind are not really romances at AccessRomance.
Robin is trying to define “alpha hero”, who remains “frustratingly elusive” to her, over at Romancing the Blog.
2. Reviews of Unavailable Books: Are They Less Valuable?
What did we do now?
A couple of folks (not naming names because I can’t recall exactly who it was) tweeted the other day that they don’t like reviews of out of print (OOP) books, because they can’t go out and get them. Some others feel the same way about advance reviews of books that won’t be available for weeks or months: by the time they’re actually published, you’ve forgotten that great review. This is especially tough for Kindle readers like me, who don’t have a pre-order option.
I blogged about an OOP book just yesterday. I still think the purposes of (a) keeping a personal record of what I read, and (b) perhaps engaging in some discussion, make it worth it.
What do you think?
3. Forgetting my good fortune, once again
I met last week with a philosopher visiting from Georgia. That is, the Georgia in Eastern Europe. She’s in the US on a grant to learn about US higher education. She’s especially interested in bioethics. I asked her if she had any English language bioethics texts for her students. She said there is only one book she can acquire. “We’re at war” she said, shaking her head. “Everything … it’s so difficult.” I glanced at my shelves full of free exam copies of bioethics textbooks — each one would be about $90 new to students — and felt embarrassed. I said I would mail them to her. She shook her head: “They will not get to me. You will need to go through the US Embassy.”
I actually spent some time in Tbilisi, twenty years ago, when I was an undergraduate studying Soviet political systems. Even then, there was violence in the streets against Soviet rule, mothers protesting the loss of their sons to the war in Afghanistan, economic hardship. I can’t imagine living in chaos for decades, as she has.
Thinking that she would want the best, not the mediocrity I offer, I suggested to her that she contact bigger, better universities, like Penn or SUNY Albany, who have fleets of trained bioethicists at the ready. She shook her head vigorously, saying, “I am here with you now. I want your help.” It was such a direct, human appeal. I was totally taken aback. It hit me that she doesn’t have the luxury of shopping for the best, or waiting until next time. She’ll be back in Georgia in a few days, not sure if she has a job or even a building from one day to the next. It has been a sobering experience, and a forceful reminder of how lucky I am to be an academic in the US, despite all the problems we now face.
4. Book Discussion
I’ve chosen Judith Ivory’s Black Silk for the next book discussion, Sunday, December 6. Note how autocratic the process of choosing the book and time is. I actually have a weird thing where I think it is kind of narcissistic to ask readers for help with my own blog, so I don’t do it often. Anyway, it’s a very interesting book. One of the most important characters is dead, and the hero sleeps with another woman for most of it. How can this be a romance? It’s just been reissued — isn’t that a gorgeous new cover? — and is also available in non pirated digital versions. Join us!
5. Coming up this week.
Damned if I know. I have a million post ideas and about 5 minutes of free time in any given day. I was actually thinking of writing a post on not having time to write posts.
I am reading The Hound of the Baskervilles for a new “culture club” (we are actually calling it “Kultur Club”. What can I say? We are pompous academics.) which my spouse started up, so I’ll review that one, and the Jeremy Brett film version as well.
Happy Week!
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#1 by SarahT on November 9, 2009 - 8:33 am
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My fave review blogs have a mix of older and newer titles. So, no, I’m not bugged by a review of an OOP book. If I like the sound of a book which is OOP, I make a note of it and keep an eye out for a used copy or a reissue.
#2 by Marianne McA on November 9, 2009 - 8:43 am
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I enjoy reading OOP reviews. Admittedly, in earlier times madly desiring some OOP book could lead to years of UBS searching, but now a book has to be quite obscure to be unavailable. I checked the book you blogged about yesterday: Amazon.co.uk has 40 copies available, starting at £0.01.
(I slightly miss the pre-internet experience of longing for books – the instant gratification is wonderful, but I miss the thrill of the hunt.)
Ibbotson is great, though I didn’t enjoy her children’s books the way that reviewer did. I haven’t read Platform 13 however, and it does sound like fun.
And Laurie R King’s ‘The Moor’ is fun after ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ – while it’s an auto-buy series for me anyway, I did particularly enjoy seeing them return to Baskerville territory.
#3 by Magdalen on November 9, 2009 - 9:21 am
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I’m not unhappy with OOP reviews, mostly because if you want it enough, it’s available used. But also because if you find a copy at a UBS or elsewhere (church jumble sale, etc.), you want to read a review of it. Being able to search review sites for that author is a good thing.
But I am particularly happy to see Sarah say she doesn’t mind OOP book reviews, as I’m currently re-reading selected texts by four non-current authors for a guest blog post on Monkey Bear Reviews. It’s coming, Sarah, I promise!
#4 by RfP on November 9, 2009 - 9:37 am
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2.
In my view, reviewing is not in service to bookselling, so it doesn’t matter whether or not the book is available as a new edition in a chain bookstore. Beyond that, I value reviews that introduce me to books I wouldn’t have easily found otherwise.
4.
Optimizing participation in your blog is not the same as using your readership to create your content or other forms of watering down a blog’s viewpoint or narrowing its inputs.
#5 by Victoria Janssen on November 9, 2009 - 9:37 am
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Eva Ibbotson is really worth reading. Sometimes they’re a little dated, but still worth reading.
#6 by Carolyn Crane on November 9, 2009 - 10:06 am
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Well, OOP reviews started the fun Windflower tour, where one person found a copy of this much raved-about book and sent it around the world. It was very enjoyable. And I’ve ordered on the USB sites when I’ve had to.
Oh, I can’t help but notice that you have chosen one of a certain bonny Scottish lass’s favorite books ever (I’m pretty sure that one is). Some autocrat you are! Your last book club was really fun!!
#7 by azteclady on November 9, 2009 - 10:25 am
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OOP book reviews: I like them–perhaps because I like to hunt up for new reading material at used bookstores and the local Friends of the Library sales.
I don’t much care for too early reviews of upcoming books, though–too much hype, too early, can kill my interest on a particular book.
Good fortune: I know just what you mean–all my family lives in Mexico. It’s not the same by a long shot, but compared to the peace of suburban central Florida…
Have I mentioned yet how much I love your MMStepbacks?
#8 by Jeanne on November 9, 2009 - 10:32 am
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2. Being new to romance reading (18 months of frenzied but blissful catch-up), I very much appreciate reviews of OOPs. Living in a state with a great inter-library loan program, I can usually find a copy somewhere. So please keep them coming.
4. Book Discussions are a community service you offer – providing a time and space for your readers (especially us non-blogging lurkers) to share with each other. I didn’t like the first selection but I very much enjoyed the discussion. And now the next selection is a book I have longed to discuss with others. Thank you for choosing Black Silk this time.
#9 by Phyl on November 9, 2009 - 11:10 am
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2. Well, I just left a comment on the other thread that I ordered a used copy of the JKJ book. If it hadn’t been available for a penny plus shipping I probably would have passed and not been bothered about it.
4. That is a gorgeous cover for Black Silk. But I totally object to the fact that the woman is wearing a white dress under the black jacket. That is so wrong.
5. Is it safe to admit that I am anxiously awaiting the upcoming Robert Downey, Jr./Jude Law Sherlock Holmes movie?
#10 by Jessica on November 9, 2009 - 11:55 am
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Two quick points:
1. My stop on said tour was SKIPPED, passed over, ignored. I signed up over a year ago, my first try at being one of the gals on line, and … nada. I will never be able to read The Windflower without shedding a tear for my lost innocence.
2. It’s funny that you mention “a certain bonny Scottish lass”, because, since I have started blogging, so many of those have entered my (virtual) life that I honestly can’t figure out to whom you refer!
As you know, I agree with you on the purpose of a review, or their many purposes.
And I agree on the second point as well, although I am less sure of my ability to apply the distinction on my own blog.
LOL! So true about hunting for OOP books.
I am so glad you said something. Yes, the woman wears black black black through the entire novel — it’s a huge part of her characterization, her allure, everything! So this is a big problem. So I guess I should say that as a romance novel cover it is lovely, but not as the cover for Black Silk.
“Frenzied but blissful catchup”, what a great way to put it!
And thanks for your comments about the book discussion. I look forward to your thoughts on Black Silk.
#11 by Wendy on November 9, 2009 - 12:55 pm
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Thanks for the public service announcement. I know it’s a colossal hassle, but now Hughesnet users can actually SEE me.
This is probably the librarian in me talking, but I’m totally fine with reviews for OP books. Certainly there are a handful of books out there nearly impossible to find (I’m thinking of some of Mary Balogh’s trad Regencies), but generally speaking there’s always ILL at your local library, and countless options online. Digging up used books has never been easier thanks to Amazon, Bookfinder, PBS, Bookmooch and countless other services my addled brain can’t recall at the moment.
From my own experience, PaperbackSwap (PBS) has been a godsend for digging up long out of print category romances.
#12 by Jill D. on November 9, 2009 - 2:40 pm
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I like it when people mix up new and old reviews. I usually get my books from the library or paperbackswap, so an out of print book is not a probem for me. Actually, I usually don’t even know it’s out of print. Also, one of my most searched book reviews is Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers and that was published in the 70s. So, I think that the older “classic” romances – the ones that started it all are very popular among searches. I think the reason for this is that these books were written before reviewing became popular and there aren’t a lot of information about them.
By the way, I was also supposed to be on that tour for The Windflower and I don’t know where my name is in relation to where they are now on the tour. I hope I didn’t get skipped too. I really wanted to read it!
#13 by SonomaLass on November 9, 2009 - 5:03 pm
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I didn’t read romance for a couple of decades, so I love reviews that help me figure which of the MANY books I missed are worth looking for. The number of authors and length of some back lists is incredibly intimidating without guidance from the wonderful community of readers I’ve found on line.
Black Silk is one that I read only recently, due to just such a recommendation. Loved it, can’t wait for your discussion. But yeah, as pretty as that new cover is, it is not right for Submit. The same wonderful person who rec’d it has loaned me a precious copy of The Windflower; it is coming up soon in my NaNoReadMo pile.
I’m intrigued by the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie. I’m a sucker for Robert Downey, Jr., and always interested in a new version of Doyle’s detective. Have you read Laurie King’s version? It’s romantic.
#14 by Marg on November 9, 2009 - 5:04 pm
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I really don’t mind reading about OOP books. How else are we able to know what fantastic books there are that are no longer available and pressure for rereleases of those titles!
#15 by Sherry Thomas on November 9, 2009 - 6:52 pm
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I am liking your book club selections. I meant to say this in the Black Ice thread but forgot. In Black Ice’s case, even though it did not work for me personally, it was a book that roused a strong reaction. And the book contained many issues/fault lines that lent itself to animated discussions.
Black Silk, which did work for me, again is such a book. As much as I think it was fab–loved the reminiscences about Peg–I can totally see why certain elements in it would be total deal breakers for others.
(As opposed to say BEAST, about which I am completely irrational and cannot understand why anyone can possibly not love it as I do.)
ETA: And please, beg, borrow, steal a copy of MADENSKY SQUARE by Ibbotson, for which I have a similarly irrational love.
#16 by willaful on November 9, 2009 - 7:52 pm
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IME, reviews of OOP books are often the most interesting to read, even if I have no particular interest in reading the actualbook. They tend to be reviews that come most from a “I really have something to say about this book” place. I love reading about strange old categories that people find in the supermarket bin.
With some many people using sites like GoodReads and paperbackswap, ARCs aren’t much of an issue either. If I see an interesting book, I make a note online.
#17 by willaful on November 9, 2009 - 7:54 pm
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BTW – from Black Ice to Black Silk – what comes next, Black Duct Tape?
#18 by Michael on November 9, 2009 - 8:08 pm
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Re: Reviews of OOP books – I think its a great thing. For many of my favorite authors, significant portions of their backlist are OOP (Kinsale, Ivory, Gaffney). Without reviews of those older titles, I’d never have hunted them down at the UBS or book sales.
Great choice with Black Silk. Its one of Ivory’s that I have, but haven’t read yet. I’ll have to finish it in time.
#19 by Jessica on November 9, 2009 - 8:58 pm
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Lol!! Actually, I was thinking about the Black Moth by Georgette Heyer!
#20 by heidenkind on November 9, 2009 - 9:42 pm
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That post about the PW top 10 list was just depressing. Sometimes I think women are doing pretty well with gaining respect and equality, but then something like that comes up. I really wouldn’t be surprised if all the people on the panel to pick those were men–in fact, I’d be shocked if the opposite were true.
I don’t mind reviews of OOP books. Some of them ARE impossible to get hold of (coughwindflowercough), but what’s a little book lust between friends, right?
#21 by Wanderer on November 10, 2009 - 12:55 am
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I don’t mind OOP book reviews because I’ll either search out a book in the library or used book store or choose something else by that author that is available. I’m not a big fan of the advanced reviews because I’m all about here and now. If you’re telling me about this great book but it’s not out til next month, it’ll be long gone from my memory when I see what other great books are available right now.
Nice choice for the next book discussion. I’m going to try and read it and join in because I’m a fan of Judith Ivory’s work. This and the Judy Cuevas books are the ones I have never read. Adding this to my Nov reading challenge. All I can say is thank gawd for audio books. They help me squeeze in reading when I normally wouldn’t be able to.
#22 by Kaetrin on November 10, 2009 - 1:22 am
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I don’t mind a review of OOP books – that’s what libraries and book exchanges are extra good for I think.
I’m really looking forward to the book club discussion of Black Silk. I read with interest the discussions about Black Ice but I hadn’t read it so couldn’t join in. I have read this one and I must say, I just didn’t get it. I’ve been wanting to discuss it with others to try and understand the mystique so I’ll be definitely tuning in.
#23 by Janine on November 10, 2009 - 2:59 am
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Yes, you really must.
Out of print reviews are essential, IMO, to keeping a conversation alive about which books are the classics or canon of the genre. And why is that important? Because it leads people to discover and read those books. Which gets readers some wonderful reading experiences while writers who read them have the opportunity to learn from the best. I was lucky enough to discover Kinsale, Gaffney and Cuevas/Ivory while all of them were still writing romance regularly, but now that they aren’t, I fear those books will cease to be read. Ibbotson is a great example of an author I discovered through internet word-of-mouth after her books had gone out of print in this country. I would hate for anyone to miss out on these authors.
So no, reviews of OOP books don’t bother me. Most can be found with the help of book search sites like addall.com.
As for reviews of books which aren’t out yet, even if you can’t preorder because you prefer e-books, is it really so hard to open another window, go to your favorite online bookstore, and add the book to your wishlist there as a reminder to yourself that the book is one for the TBB list?
#24 by Janine on November 10, 2009 - 3:01 am
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Damn, willaful beat me to it!
#25 by Janine on November 10, 2009 - 3:11 am
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My favorite of the three Black Silk covers is the one of the original edition from Jove, which had Submit in a black dress. I unfortunately can’t find my copy of that one right now. I really hope I didn’t thoughtlessly cull it from my book collection when I moved last year.
I’m reading the Avon e-book right now for a review Robin and I are working on for Dear Author.
#26 by Kari on November 10, 2009 - 12:22 pm
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I have a friend that was in Tbilsi for the Peace Corps last summer. Her group ended up evacuating to the hills of a bordering country before being sent back to the US and reassigned to another country. However, while she was still there, she said there were lots of problems with people stealing your mail unless it was sent to the Embassy.
#27 by Sherry Thomas on November 10, 2009 - 8:40 pm
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@Janine:
That dress had a ZIPPER! Talk about anachronism.
#28 by Janet W on November 10, 2009 - 9:39 pm
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Love OOP reviews … I always hope that an outpouring of interest in a book … like Jane L talking about The Windflower in conjunction with the new Carina Press, if I’m not mistaken, will lead to wonderful long out of print books being reprinted. And here’s a public promise: if The Windflower is re-offered as an e-book, I’ll buy one
… an e-book reader that is.
#29 by Janine on November 10, 2009 - 10:33 pm
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@Sherry Thomas: Good point, but I still felt it captured the allure of Submit. And her hair was the right color, or closer to it, than her hair on the new cover. When it comes to covers, I care more about things like hair color than things like zippers.
#30 by Sunita on November 11, 2009 - 12:10 pm
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I’m late to the conversation, but let me add to the chorus who like reviews of OOP books. I think OOP reviews are particularly appropriate because this is a personal blog, not a comprehensive review site. I’m interested in *your* take on books, that’s why I come here. Also, abebooks.com has made a ton of money off me as I catch up with corners of the genre I’ve missed despite reading romances regularly for decades.
Also, I have a copy of The Windflower; I’m happy to send it to you on a long-term loan.
#31 by Sherry Thomas on November 11, 2009 - 2:45 pm
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@Janine:
Absolutely. But the zipper did and does make me giggle.
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