Amazon Vine

[Divia]

I posted this on the other MB, and I was wondering what items people picked from the latest Amazon Vine newsletter.

I only got one book and that was the Tsar's Dwarf. Its OK, but I have to confess its not overly exciting just yet.

[LCW]

I finally got an invite to join the Vine program but there was really nothing good left in the newsletter for this month. I got one book by John Shors about WWII. It looked good!

Also, is it always just books or is each newletter customized to each participant. Also do we have to pick a certain number of items per month?? Sorry for the questions but I can't figure out how to get back to the Vine information on the Amazon site!

[Ash]

I think its customized based on the survey you fill out. I think you can change the info

I had the same problem with the newsletters. Because it comes out at noon EST, I can't get to it for several hours as I am at work. So by the time I get there, there's not much left.

FWIW I read Shor's first book, and was underwhelmed. Let me know what you think of this one, because like the first one, its an interesting premise.

[Divia]

The new newsletter comes out tomorrow. Spiffy.

I think you can pick choose titles or whatever from the newsletter then the following week they have a "left over" newsletter and anything that people didn't pick you can choose. You have to review 75% of what you get though.

Last month there was nothing but books. People got their knickers in a knot over that becuase a lot of em want software n stuff. Well, I think there were other things besides books, but not a lot.

No one really knows how the newsletter is directed to people. I think its what you buy normally from amazon and things you review. but there were people saying they always buy and review software and havent recieved any yet.

I'm OK with just getting books HOWEVER, I do want some better book choices. THe two books I picked last month SUCKED. There was a good amount of HF on the newsletter but they were lackluster at best.

[Divia]

ONce again the Amazon vine newsletter had issues!

What did everyone get when they finally got something?

I got an Italian language CD which I am excited about. :)

[LCW]

Woohoo!! I got a Yoga video that I was planning on purchasing anyway once it was released. I have the instructors other video and I love it so this is such a score!!

I also picked a novel by Katherine Neville who wrote The Eight. I haven't read it yet but it got good reviews so I thought I'd pick this one too.

[Divia]

Whats the title of the book? I'm thinking about getting the graphic novel, but its not really calling my name....

[LCW]

It's called The Fire: A Novel. Looks pretty good!

[Divia]

hmm that wasnt on my list.

[Misfit]

This should be fun,

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip . . . with Recipes!
By: Guy Fieri, Ann Volkwein
Category: Cookbook

Food Network star Guy Fieri takes you on a tour of America's most colorful diners, drive-ins, and dives in this tie-in to his enormously popular television show, complete with recipes, photos, and memorabilia. Packed with Guy's iconic personality, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives follows his hot-rod trips around the country, mapping out the best places most of us have never heard of. From digging in at legendary burger joint the Squeeze Inn in Sacramento, California, baking Peanut Pie

And,

Kentucky Clay: Eleven Generations of a Southern Dynasty
By: Katherine Bateman

Eleven generations of a founding American family are examined in this sweeping history that traces the Clays of Kentucky, a true Southern dynasty. The Clays of Virginia and the Cecils of Maryland were second sons of the English aristocracy who gambled on the New World. Some of the most well-known members of this clan include Henry Clay, who ran for president against James K. Polk; his cousin, Cassius Marcellus Clay, prominent abolitionist and Lincoln’s advisor against slavery; and the

Although the product page says it's less than 300 pages. How does one tell the story of eleven generations in less than 300 pages?

[boswellbaxter]

I ordered the Clay book for hubby.

[Divia]

I swear there is another Amazon Vine thread...

Anyway I didnt get anything. I'm on the fence about two but Im not that interested.

Joseph
By: Shelia P. Moses

For Joseph Flood, life is tough. Tough because of Mama's addiction to drugs and alcohol. Tough because Daddy is away with the army fighting in Iraq. Tough because it looks like there's no way out once you're living in a homeless shelter in a North Carolina ghetto neighborhood. And tough because Joseph is enrolled in yet another new school where he doesn't know anyone and has to keep what's going on in his life a secret. Joseph struggles to keep Mama clean and to hold their broken family

The Wettest County in the World: A Novel Based on a True Story
By: Matt Bondurant

Based on the true story of Matt Bondurant's grandfather and two granduncles, The Wettest County in the World is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. The Bondurant Boys were a notorious gang of roughnecks and moonshiners who ran liquor through Franklin County, Virginia, during Prohibition and in the years after. Forrest, the eldest brother, is fierce, mythically indestructible, and the consummate businessman; Howard, the middle brother, is an ox of a man besieged by the horrors

[Misfit]

We had a thread on the old board. I didn't see the Clay Book on my list.

I'm with you Divia, I'm not going to get something unless it interests me. Too much of a waste of reading time.

[LCW]

I didn't really see anything that interests me! Plus I still have to write my review for Serena before I can choose anything else. I've been busy!! Next Thursday when they make the stuff from the last newsletters available there might be something!

[Divia]

Ok, so what did you get, if anything with the leftover letter. I got the one HF novel that I thought wouldn't be bad..

Four Seasons, The: A Novel of Vivaldi's Venice
By: Laurel Corona

In glittering 18th-century Venice, music and love are prized above all else--and for two sisters coming of age, the city's passions blend in intoxicating ways.

Chiaretta and Maddalena are as different as night and day. The two sisters were abandoned as babies on the steps of the Ospedale della Pietá, Venice's world-famous foundling hospital and musical academy. High-spirited and rebellious, Chiaretta marries into a great aristocratic Venetian family and eventually becomes one of the most powerful women in Venice. Maddalena becomes a violin virtuoso and Antonio Vivaldi's muse. The Four Seasons is a rich, literary imagination of the world of 18th-century Venice and the lives and loves of two extraordinary women.

[Misfit]

Well my first try were for those healthy choice instant heat and strain 'em meals but there were gone by the time I got on a PC. I can only get one thing until I write another review so I picked a book that one of my AF's got last month and loved,

Sarah's Key
By: Tatiana de Rosnay

Category: Books , LITERATURE

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

My newsletter had some cool electronics, software and printers but nothing I could really use so why bother. I was tempted to get the baby cam thing for my coworker with the baby but that's against the rules.

I'm really starting to feel bad for authors of those books that come back every month -- they can't even give them away :D

[EC2]

UK's vines are different. I've just ordered The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper.

I grabbed a WONDERFUL set of hair straighteners two months ago - worth nearly £90.00. They actually work on my hair. You've seen my photo on my blog and my avatar and I really do mean what I say when I say it's a decent hair day. I have wild, frizzy, wavy hair. (what you see in the avatar is the result of a same day visit to hairdresser!) Those straighteners were fantastic. Then last month I got a hot brush that rotates by itself and although I didn't like it at first, I've become used to it, so that was a good grab.
There's nothing in the electronics or DVD's I fancy this time around, so I'll just settle for one book for now.
You get ready meals offered on Amazon USA Misfit? :eek:

[Misfit]

You get ready meals offered on Amazon USA Misfit?

Well Amazon does sell groceries over here. They had some tea on the list also, but it was lose and I'm a bag lady (at least when drinking tea).

I think since I mainly buy books from Amazon and little else it's limiting my vine choices -- especially what was offered on today's leftover newsletter.

[LCW]

I didn't really see anything I wanted. There was a book called Old Dogs with anecdotes and pictures of dogs in their twilight years. I really wanted it but it was sold out :-( ! I might just buy it anyway though. And there was an offer for Trend brand security software. I bought a laptop last month and paid about $80 for it! Arrgh!! But the good thing is that the newsletter was a reminder to get my reveiw for Serena up. I loved that book and bought one for my Mom and sister. It's really really good!

Edited: Arrgh, why am I so apostrophe crazy??

[diamondlil]

Well my first try were for those healthy choice instant heat and strain 'em meals but there were gone by the time I got on a PC. I can only get one thing until I write another review so I picked a book that one of my AF's got last month and loved,


Sarah's Key
By: Tatiana de Rosnay

Category: Books , LITERATURE

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.


My newsletter had some cool electronics, software and printers but nothing I could really use so why bother. I was tempted to get the baby cam thing for my coworker with the baby but that's against the rules.

I'm really starting to feel bad for authors of those books that come back every month -- they can't even give them away :D


I have added this book to my TBR pile. The story does sound interesting, but the main reason for adding it is because I had just finished A Time of Singing when I first say this and so I was inspired by the fact that the author's surname was de Rosnay! I know it isn't exactly the same as Ida's surname, but it is very close, and so that was enough for me!

[Misfit]

It's not an era I normally read about, but my AF (who is quite a reader of many genres) really loved it so I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl.

[diamondlil]

What's an AF?

[Misfit]

What's an AF?

Sorry, Amazon Friend. Amazon US let's you have Friends and Interesting People. They show up on your profile page and you can click and see what they've been reading lately. I've come across a few interesting reads that way.

[Divia]

I did get the wettest county. I'm normally not that type of chick but I love gangsters and outlaws so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm still wiating on my first amazon shipment?? It still hasnt come yet. This has to be the slowest one ever.

There were a few cookbooks that I really wanted...but they were all gone. :(

[Misfit]

Mine came quite quickly, but then if they do ship out of Seattle (which is where Amzn is located) it doesn't take UPS too long to find me. Which BTW, it is so wasteful the way they ship this stuff. My usual orders are typically packed in one box and always the smallest box that will fit. These come individually (arriving on the same day) and in a box much too big for one book. What a waste.

[Divia]

Ok what did everyone get today? I got another teen book. I went to a conference today and they talked about it. I soo wanted it and it was on my vine list! ROCKIN. The other stuff was mystery and thrillers. :( I have NEVER reviewed a thriller in all my lifel. A lot of teen books..and a lot more teen vampire books... :rolleyes:

[boswellbaxter]

I got Susanne Dunlap's The Musician's Daughter off Vine today. I was halfway hoping for the hair dryer, but the electronics are long gone by the time I get the e-mails.

[EC2]

I got Susanne Dunlap's The Musician's Daughter off Vine today. I was halfway hoping for the hair dryer, but the electronics are long gone by the time I get the e-mails.

In the UK the Amazon Vine newsletter always comes through just as I'm sitting down to evening work - around 8pm. So I'm generally able to grab an electronic bargain. Best one has been the hair straighteners that retail for £90.00 - about $180.00 Between that and a book and having hair like mine, no contest!!! I've had some straighteners that double as curlers this time around. Straightener is good. Trying to curl gives you 3rd degree finger burns. I've also ordered a couple of books on the second batch, but can't remember what...

Is The Musician's Daughter a YA?

[Misfit]

I had such high hopes, there was a glitch and the newsletter appeared about one hour early (although still dated 11/20) with come cool electronics, including noise reducing headphones. I clicked and I was denied at being over my limit. When it came back on at the regular time all the cool stuff was gone. I got a diet/exercise book and some diet drink. I'm not taking any more books unless I really think they're going to interest me.

I got the high end canned cat food last week. It just showed up yesterday. I'm planning a video review :)

[Divia]

Is The Musician's Daughter a YA?


yes. but to date I havent like any of thie historical musical themed books saved one Queen's Soprano so I decided not to get this one.

[LCW]

I got dog treats!! I gave them a three star rating. Their touted as healthy but they're really not. But my extremely picky dog ate them so that's saying something!

[Misfit]

Didn't see much to interest me today, however I think I recall Margaret mentioning this book that she'd picked up through librarything (can't recall the thread) and it being quite hard to finish,


Gladiatrix
By: Russell Whitfield

[boswellbaxter]

I ordered the Yogi Berra biography for my husband. I still need to read and review the YA book by Susanne Dunlap that I got from the last newsletter.

[LCW]

I got a workout dvd and a contemporary novel called Almost Home.

[Divia]

I totally forgot about the newsletter!

I'm on the fence about Gladiatrix. Its on my wish list and I kinda sorta want it....