Pre-packaged reviews

[Dave Rosenthal]

A publicist recently emailed me, wondering why I hadn't reviewed a book she had sent. She said: "I realize that you may have read the book, but don't have time to write a review so I've included some mock reviews below that you may find possibly fits how you feel about the book. Feel free to choose one if this helps."
Then she listed 10 blurbs, including: "Great page-turner! Couldn't put it down!"
At first, I thought it was a joke. Then I realized she might be serious, believing that I can't come up with my own cliches. So I'm wondering: Is it a joke? Or do these sorts of pre-packaged reviews come your way, too?

[chrisbookarama]

Never happened to me but I wouldn't appreciate the...um...help.

Christina

[Anysia]

Based on some of the emails I've seen going out from publicists, I wouldn't count on it being a joke. There are some awesome publicists out there that treat bloggers with respect and are treated with respect in turn. Then there are others who seem to think ... well, I haven't quite figured out what they think but their estimation of book bloggers intelligence seems to be rather low.

That reminds me that I keep meaning to blog on the topic to balance out all those posts I see around the 'net on what bloggers can do to get books.

[pussreboots]

I get the impression from some publicists that they expect us to drop everything and review their book NOW.

[Lexie]

yeah that always irritates me especially if I tell them that I'm in the middle of a grueling schoolwork schedule or work schedule. I'm sorry if I'm working 10 hours a day for four days straight--with toddlers, I'm a nanny--the very first thing on my mind when I get home is a shower, then real food, then sleep. Conversation with someone who can use prepositions is optional, but welcome as well. Even I have my limits of exhaustion.

[pussreboots]

I've been asked a couple times to post pre written material instead of writing my own review. I have never actually posted any of it. Instead I ALWAYS write my own reviews.

[Caitlin Hamilton Summie]

Speaking as a book publicist, I have to say that I find this offensive and unethical.

[Dave Rosenthal]

Anysia, pussreboots: Do publicists sometimes look at bloggers as billboards, on which they can simply paste their message?

[Harvee Lau]

I wonder - do bloggers feel they have to write good reviews in order to keep getting ARCs from publishers and publicists?

[Maria]

No, I have never felt I needed to write a (postive?) good review to get more ARC's. I believe when they send me a copy they are looking for different opinions. Not everyone likes every book. Books are like movies to me, just because the critics don't like a movie, that doesn't stop me from seeing it and even enjoying it.

[pussreboots]

Absolutely. The worst ones do. Fortunately they are not the norm. :)

[Anysia]

Some do, most don't. Some seem to confuse book bloggers with their marketing department. I suppose there are enough book bloggers out there willing to do anything for a free book that they can get away with it, but I find reviews by those types of book bloggers are uninformative even if positive (note: I rarely come across those book bloggers because they don't frequent communities like this).

I don't deal with publicists like that because they make me uncomfortable not only because they tend to treat book bloggers like children to be corralled and directed, but also because they don't seem to understand the value of a detailed, honest review (whether positive or negative) to the reader. I have had e-mails by publicists saying that negative reviews aren't tolerated or that books won't be sent if negative reviews are written. Since I review every book I request and give honest reviews I pay no attention to the threat, though more often than not I just don't deal with anyone with those requirements.

I think what some publicists don't understand is that the book bloggers that are writing the types of reviews that publishers want for their books (at least the ones I imagine they want) are ones that are inundated with offers of books to review and so don't respond to threats of this kind. There's nothing wrong with establishing expectations between blogger and publicist, but there's no need for the blogger to acquiesce to expectations that violate the expectations that readers have of the blogger, which is usually for an honest review.

Having said all that, I have found that these types of publicists are NOT the norm. Most publicists are professional, reasonable people and act accordingly. I'm sure dealing with bloggers who don't hold up their end of the bargain for a review can be very frustrating, but it isn't productive to express that frustration toward all potential reviewers rather than the particular reviewers who are not being reasonable.

I think I got a bit off topic there, but that's the hazard of asking me for my opinion. ;-)

[Maria]

I have never had anyone ask me to do a mock review. So far every publisher/publicist/author has asked for honest opinions on their books. I would never post something that was considered my opinion, on my site Maria's Space if it was someone else's.