[quote=""keny from prague""]
just once it would be nice to read a blurb that didnt endorse a book. "This book is ok but you'd be better off buying something over there..."[/quote]
One of the quotes on the back of my copy of Jeremy Paxman's The Political Animal was from William Hague who said, 'It left me disappointed.' That alone was such a refreshing change that it made me want to read the book.
What does annoy me: jacket copy which gives away major plot points.
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On quoting reviews on jacket blurbs
- Miss Moppet
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: April 2009
- Location: North London
- Contact:
[quote=""Miss Moppet""]One of the quotes on the back of my copy of Jeremy Paxman's The Political Animal was from William Hague who said, 'It left me disappointed.' That alone was such a refreshing change that it made me want to read the book.
[/quote]
Doesn't Terry Pratchett do that on some of his? I have loads of Pratchett's in the house but can't go look because they're in my son's room and he's gone to bed!
[/quote]
Doesn't Terry Pratchett do that on some of his? I have loads of Pratchett's in the house but can't go look because they're in my son's room and he's gone to bed!
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
[quote=""Miss Moppet""]One of the quotes on the back of my copy of Jeremy Paxman's The Political Animal was from William Hague who said, 'It left me disappointed.' That alone was such a refreshing change that it made me want to read the book.
[/quote]
Wow. I've never seen a negative comment like that on a book cover. They're always mush-gush and urp-slurp. That was pretty brave of the publisher to include that one. Although you are testament to the fact that it worked!
[/quote]
Wow. I've never seen a negative comment like that on a book cover. They're always mush-gush and urp-slurp. That was pretty brave of the publisher to include that one. Although you are testament to the fact that it worked!
- Miss Moppet
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: April 2009
- Location: North London
- Contact:
[quote=""EC2"]Doesn't Terry Pratchett do that on some of his? I have loads of Pratchett's in the house but can't go look because they're in my son's room and he's gone to bed![/quote]
Don't know as I have never read a Pratchett but if so it's one more reason I should!
[quote="Michy""]Wow. I've never seen a negative comment like that on a book cover. They're always mush-gush and urp-slurp. [/quote]
Yes, like the ones on the inside cover of my library copy of Juliet by Anne Fortier:
The problem? Mosse and Weir were responsible for two of the most disappointing books I've ever read in my life. I feel their taste can be no rule for mine and it's a strong factor in my urge to return the book whence it came, unread.
Don't know as I have never read a Pratchett but if so it's one more reason I should!
[quote="Michy""]Wow. I've never seen a negative comment like that on a book cover. They're always mush-gush and urp-slurp. [/quote]
Yes, like the ones on the inside cover of my library copy of Juliet by Anne Fortier:
Ingenious, intriguing, a thrilling story that keeps you turning the pages. This is a wonderfully textured novel of history and imagination that brings Italy, past and present, beautifully to life. (Kate Mosse).
This book is a stunner. Elegantly written...every character lives, and medieval and modern Siena are brilliantly evoked. The theme is delightfully original - and the kind of thing you wish you had thought up yourself. (Alison Weir).
The problem? Mosse and Weir were responsible for two of the most disappointing books I've ever read in my life. I feel their taste can be no rule for mine and it's a strong factor in my urge to return the book whence it came, unread.
[quote=""Miss Moppet""]Don't know as I have never read a Pratchett but if so it's one more reason I should!
Dang, I've been and looked at son's Pratchett's, but I can't find the adverse quote, so I dunno. I could have sworn I saw it. It'll turn up when I'm not looking.
Weir certainly is selling it high. I think you'd be ready to wallbang it before you reached half way.
Dang, I've been and looked at son's Pratchett's, but I can't find the adverse quote, so I dunno. I could have sworn I saw it. It'll turn up when I'm not looking.
[/quote]Yes, like the ones on the inside cover of my library copy of Juliet by Anne Fortier:
The problem? Mosse and Weir were responsible for two of the most disappointing books I've ever read in my life. I feel their taste can be no rule for mine and it's a strong factor in my urge to return the book whence it came, unread.
Weir certainly is selling it high. I think you'd be ready to wallbang it before you reached half way.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
[quote=""EC2""]Weir certainly is selling it high. I think you'd be ready to wallbang it before you reached half way.[/quote]
Gawd, I still have that one for Amazon Vine.
Gawd, I still have that one for Amazon Vine.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
- Miss Moppet
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: April 2009
- Location: North London
- Contact:
[quote=""EC2""]Weir certainly is selling it high. I think you'd be ready to wallbang it before you reached half way.[/quote]
Well at the moment I'm thinking:
1. Not in the mood for it.
2. Flicking through it, I'm not in love with the way the contemporary parts are written and the historical bits look like total wallpaper.
3. The author bio manages to say twice in the space of three sentences that the writer did postgraduate studies at Oxford, where she met her husband. If a one para bio is this badly edited it doesn't bode well for the book.
4. Still not in the mood for it.
There are also quotes by Katherine Neville, Susan Vreeland, Jamie Ford and Karen Essex but I don't know their work so it doesn't mean much.
Comparing this to Vanora Bennett's The People's Queen, which happens to be the other newish book I have to hand, it isn't being sold nearly so hard - I guess because Bennett is a well established author. There's one short quote from Simon Sebag Montefiore and that's it, as opposed to eight on the Fortier. Neither book carries any quotes from print reviews.
Well at the moment I'm thinking:
1. Not in the mood for it.
2. Flicking through it, I'm not in love with the way the contemporary parts are written and the historical bits look like total wallpaper.
3. The author bio manages to say twice in the space of three sentences that the writer did postgraduate studies at Oxford, where she met her husband. If a one para bio is this badly edited it doesn't bode well for the book.
4. Still not in the mood for it.
There are also quotes by Katherine Neville, Susan Vreeland, Jamie Ford and Karen Essex but I don't know their work so it doesn't mean much.
Comparing this to Vanora Bennett's The People's Queen, which happens to be the other newish book I have to hand, it isn't being sold nearly so hard - I guess because Bennett is a well established author. There's one short quote from Simon Sebag Montefiore and that's it, as opposed to eight on the Fortier. Neither book carries any quotes from print reviews.
Amazon Vine is interesting as the advance copies are aimed at booksellers too, so they state the promotion details and tell you who is getting what in terms of shout. Of course I can't remember where I have put Juliet down in the house, but the blurb is full of what the marketing will entail, but I have Daisy Goodwin's My Last Duchess in my study. No quotes on the ARC but it says 'Daisy Goodwin is a hugely respected talent in the worlds of TV and journalism and is chair of the judging panel for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2010. My Last Duchess is guaranteed major review and feature coverage on publication. (my italics). Platform and media clout count for a lot.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com