Rant about new Amazon reviewer ranking system

[Ariadne]

I read an interview with an author, sometime in the last couple weeks, whose book was marketed as YA even though that wasn't his intent when he wrote it. He wasn't pleased at first. But his publisher felt that it would sell better that way, and they were right... Grr, now I wish I could remember who it was and where I read it... sorry to be so vague, but maybe this sounds familiar to someone else. But authors often don't have much say in the matter.

[Ariadne]

Oh and here's that WSJ piece on Mme K, from 2005 - meant to add this to my previous post.

(Edited to add - looks like our posts crossed, Catherine!)

[Catherine Delors]

Thanks, Susan. I found this on the WSJ site:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110006483
"The only days she doesn't read four books are the days she reads five."

[Catherine Delors]

Ariadne, you beat me to it!

[Misfit]

[quote=""Catherine Delors""]I don't know whether this thread is the proper starting point for this, but I would like to see ratings for books, on a voluntary basis of course, along the same lines as movies. So the reader knows what to expect in terms of sex and violence[/quote]

I know there's a site with ratings for romance, but it sure would be nice to have something like that for all books.

"And finally it is fascinating to hear of someone who knows the mysterious Madame K! I'd love to know more about her, and I'm sure I am not alone..."

Boy, whoever could break that mystery would be a major super star in Amazon Land.

[Misfit]

Now I'm getting PO'd. I can live with the fact that "fan votes" don't count towards ranking and vote totals, but some of them are just not sticking at all. I visited Telynor yesterday and I know I gave her a helpful (left a comment) yet today it's not there. My negative fan voter is still active as all get out though.

[LCW]

Yep! Yesterday evening I had four less votes than I had in the morning. I think they show up briefly but there must be some sort of software that scans the Amazon reviews and instantly deletes the helpful votes it doesn't think should stick. It's BS, IMO!!

[Telynor]

[quote=""LCW""]Yep! Yesterday evening I had four less votes than I had in the morning. I think they show up briefly but there must be some sort of software that scans the Amazon reviews and instantly deletes the helpful votes it doesn't think should stick. It's BS, IMO!![/quote]

I agree. I find it very annoying myself, as I try like hell to be honest in my reviewing and rating, and I tend to stay with the folks that I know and trust in return. I know that when I get a comment from any of you with a review, then it means that I did my job right. That means a lot to me these days. I guess they're trying to reform the system, but so far they've come up with bupkiss.

[Rowan]

In honour of the crappy Amazon review system I give you this graph....



Not created by me....

[Misfit]

Interesting post on the Discussion Boards today, it seems they've made some headway on the campaign voters. I've been dropping negatives like flies this afternoon. Although I still see votes I've casted not showing at all and/or not sticking. Grrr.