Tuesday Thinger...and a chance for even more rejection.

Time to talk about one of my favorite web sites, once again. Yes, let's see what we might find out this week about Library Thing. In fact, this week's question is about a new and wonderful feature of Library Thing, Member Giveaways. Another reason you should be hitting yourself on the head if you have not yet joined Library Thing.

Now in the past...like last week if you forget...we talked about Early Reviewers, which is a way for publishers to give away books in return for a promise of a review. Now, the fine folks at LT have expanded the program to allow anyone who is a member of LT...author, reader with way to many books in their house...to offer books, again, usually in return for reviews but sometimes just in return for a good home.

What does a book consider a good home? An inch of shelf space, all their own, without someone else piled on top of them? A weekly cleaning with a gentle feather duster? A large community of fellow tomes? Well, I can offer one out of three!

But the question...yes, there was a question....from Wendi's Book Corner

Question: Were you aware of the Member Giveaways Program? Have you posted any books in the giveaway? If so, what are your thoughts on the program? Have you requested any books, and if so, did you win any?

Was I aware of it? Indeed, I was!
Have I posted any books? No. They are all happy here and do not want to leave me.
Have I requested books? Indeed, I have! There is always room for a few more.
Have you received any books? Indeed, I did! Move over everyone.

Yes, my dear readers, I have a tale to tell to counter last week's very sad tale of woe. I know you were no doubt very affected by my lack, in recent months, of ability to 'win' an ER book. See, as I think about it, I see it as a judgement upon me. I must not have been a good enough Early Reviewer. That is why I am being punished. I don't understand it...as soon as my ER book came in, I read it, wrote my review and posted it on LT as required. I don't understand how I was lacking, but I must have been. {{sob}}

But now, here are all this other chances. All sorts of books...and I do mean all sorts. New...used...advance review copies...e-books...1 copy offered...50 copies available. I do notice that they tend to be a little more, how can I say this, heterogeneous, a bit more diverse, a bit idiosyncratic. Ok, some of them are just a little bit weird.
Now don't get me wrong. There are a number of solid, classic, middle of the road books. But let's face it. If you allow anyone to offer any book they want, you might get a few odd ones, and I think it is great! Even odd books need a good home. But there seems to be a fair number of time travel/paranormal/devil worship/wizard books offered. Not that there is anything wrong with that...I am just saying. {{all my devil worshiping, wizard fans leaving...}}
There are also a number of non-English books. They might be great ones, but I can't say, since the descriptions are not in English.

But on a positive note, yes, I have 'won' one book so far. Actually, it just arrived the other day, so I have not read it yet, but it looks amusing. It is The Septic's Companion: A Mercifully Brief Guide to British Culture and Slang. I figured a better knowledge of British slang would be useful when reading those English mysteries that I love. Don't want to confuse your diddle with your divvy.

But the program is not without problems, serious problems. First, unlike the ER requests that all timed out on the same date, and therefore led to just one acceptance or rejection message, these books all have different request dates. So if you go on to LT frequently, you will often be faced with yet another rejection notice. {{sob}}
Also, looking at the offerings this morning, one does have to wonder about a site that would allow not one but TWO books about the Backstreet Boys to be offered. Surely there must be some limits of good taste. I mean TWO?

...and now, as we need a picture of a dog, a Bandit pic that I made a wee change to. And be sure to visit his blog!

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