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10 Years of Bitchery: November Retrospective

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We’re getting closer to our 10th anniversary in January 2015, so it’s time for another retrospective tour through the most popular content from the past decade. Many thanks to Morgan Doremus from Miss Media for digging through the archives and coming up with all this fun stuff. In April, we looked at the most popular reviews for contemporary romance – which were many of those with low grades – D-, F+ or F. In May, … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: November Retrospective

10 Years of Bitchery: October Retrospective

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I’m a few days past the 31st, but there’s still time for another trip down Bitchery Memory Lane to check out some of the most popular reviews, posts, and comment threads in the past ten years of Smart Bitches. As we approach our 10th anniversary in January 2015, I hope you enjoy having a look through the lens of wayback as much as I do. Many thanks to Morgan Doremus from Miss Media for digging through the … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: October Retrospective

10 Years of Bitchery: September Retrospective: Covers and Snark!

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It’s the last day of the month, and so it’s time for another trip down Bitchery Memory Lane to check out some of the most popular reviews, posts, and comment threads in the past ten years of Smart Bitches. We’re leading up to our actual 10th anniversary, which is in January 2015, but until then, I hope you enjoy having a look through the lens of wayback as much as I do. Many thanks to … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: September Retrospective: Covers and Snark!

10 Years of Bitchery: June Retrospective - More of Your Favorite Reviews

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During our 9th anniversary giveaway, Kitty commented:  Is it too premature to suggest a monthly nod/countdown toward the tenth anniversary? Not suggesting a year of giveaways, but perhaps a retrospective? Once a month look at highlights from a specific year? Just a thought. Each month on the 30th, I'll be highlighting some of the most popular content, including reviews, commentary, rants, kerfuffles, and desperate moments involving o-face and waxed manchest. Thanks to Morgan Doremus from … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: June Retrospective - More of Your Favorite Reviews

10 Years of Bitchery: May Retrospective - Your Most Favorite Reviews, Continued

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During our 9th anniversary giveaway, Kitty commented:  Is it too premature to suggest a monthly nod/countdown toward the tenth anniversary? Not suggesting a year of giveaways, but perhaps a retrospective? Once a month look at highlights from a specific year? Just a thought. Each month on the 30th, I'll be highlighting some of the most popular content, including reviews, commentary, rants, kerfuffles, and random acts of camel toe and man titty. Thanks to Morgan Doremus … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: May Retrospective - Your Most Favorite Reviews, Continued

10 Years of Bitchery: April Retrospective - Your Top Five Most Favorite Reviews

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During our 9th anniversary giveaway, Kitty commented:  Is it too premature to suggest a monthly nod/countdown toward the tenth anniversary? Not suggesting a year of giveaways, but perhaps a retrospective? Once a month look at highlights from a specific year? Just a thought. Hell, yeah!  Today's the 30th of April, and our 10th anniversary will be the 30th of January 2015. So on the 30th, I'll be highlighting some of the most popular content, including … Continue reading 10 Years of Bitchery: April Retrospective - Your Top Five Most Favorite Reviews

Remixing Anne Rice: Gangster Boogie, Gangster Bully – Let’s Rub Some Funk on It

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Anne Rice’s disdain for readers who leave negative reviews has grown to epic proportions lately, culminating in this terrific exchange (that’s sarcasm) with author Jenny Trout, wherein Rice called her a “gangster bully” after Trout tried to explain that defending a site that has been known to expose the real names, home addresses, and other identifying data of online reviewers is not a terrific idea. Rice has a somewhat narrow view of book reviewing, to say … Continue reading Remixing Anne Rice: Gangster Boogie, Gangster Bully – Let’s Rub Some Funk on It

Commentary on Reviews: I Like When The Averages Are Flipping Me Off

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I do a good amount of shopping for books, and looking at reviews, and reading about books, and I've noticed something. I really, and I mean REALLY like when the review averages are flipping me off. No, really.  Here's what I mean.  Suppose you see a book review average graph at GoodReads that looks like this:  EXHIBIT A:   Compare that to a ratings review that looks like this:  EXHIBIT B:   Now THAT is a … Continue reading Commentary on Reviews: I Like When The Averages Are Flipping Me Off

Commentary on Reviews: Negative Reviews and Readers

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There's been considerable discussion online lately about reviews, about authors reviewing other authors' books, and about how reviews work for book readers. With Goodreads deleting reviews, then apologizing for deleting reviews, and people migrating to other book review communities, there's been a good amount of discussion about what reviews specifically do.  You might imagine I have a lot to say about the topic of reviews, and how they work. I've written about the fact that … Continue reading Commentary on Reviews: Negative Reviews and Readers

It’s Not about the Benjamins in Blogland

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Did you miss the blog and Tweet-splosion about the Avon AAR interview? I have to say, Avon, that was not your finest PR moment. But moreover: what a missed opportunity. This part in particular was a massive wiff: May Chen: In my opinion, the online world still doesn’t have much impact on sales as, anecdotally, I’ve seen books get horrible online reviews but have done well. As far as I know, we still don’t include … Continue reading It’s Not about the Benjamins in Blogland

On the Validity of Reader Discussion

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From my Twitter a few days ago: Review blogs are valid because we host discussion of readers, not because we know best what books are good/not good. Book review blogs aren’t effective b/c of the review. They are effective because of the discussion among readers who aren’t being talked down to by review who writes with presumption that s/he knows best. Reviews=discussions on blogs, not monologues Since I wrote the above, I’ve been thinking about … Continue reading On the Validity of Reader Discussion

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