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Old 09-03-2012, 08:48 PM
 
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
36,499 posts, read 53,894,679 times
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How pathetic. Anybody here a fan of this guy?

Crime Writer RJ Ellory Caught Faking Amazon Reviews - ABC News
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Old 09-04-2012, 05:58 AM
 
Location: Maine
22,871 posts, read 28,144,422 times
Reputation: 31093
Never heard of him. But this is actually not all that uncommon.
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Old 09-04-2012, 09:33 AM
 
Location: The beautiful Rogue Valley, Oregon
7,785 posts, read 18,768,926 times
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I see it all the time in self-published stuff (either the writer or what has to be the writer's writing group buddies/close friends), and I've suspected it a time or two in reviews on books published through a major publishing house. Although I usually notice it only in the glowing review, not the negative review.

I guess it's not too surprising that an author would want to tout their own book, but I don't get the point of slamming other authors.
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Old 09-04-2012, 09:37 AM
 
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
17,330 posts, read 32,928,393 times
Reputation: 28902
It sounds like politicians. Y'know, how it's not enough to say "Listen to the GREAT things that I can do for you." They also feel the need to say "Listen to the TERRIBLE things my opponent will lay on you!" Feh!
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Old 09-04-2012, 03:45 PM
 
995 posts, read 1,111,581 times
Reputation: 1148
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal View Post
I see it all the time in self-published stuff (either the writer or what has to be the writer's writing group buddies/close friends), and I've suspected it a time or two in reviews on books published through a major publishing house. Although I usually notice it only in the glowing review, not the negative review.

I guess it's not too surprising that an author would want to tout their own book, but I don't get the point of slamming other authors.
I was roaming Amazon last week, spotted a genre fiction book that had many 4-5 star ratings. The reviews people wrote were amazing, so I bought it.
Only after I got it and saw the book itself, did I realize it was self-published and the reviews were very off.
What can I say, I'm between releases from my favorite authors...
I think authors pushing their own titles does happen often, but if they have any scruples, there's no need to pan other books.
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Old 09-04-2012, 04:01 PM
 
Location: The beautiful Rogue Valley, Oregon
7,785 posts, read 18,768,926 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnneWest View Post
I was roaming Amazon last week, spotted a genre fiction book that had many 4-5 star ratings. The reviews people wrote were amazing, so I bought it.
Only after I got it and saw the book itself, did I realize it was self-published and the reviews were very off.
What can I say, I'm between releases from my favorite authors...
I think authors pushing their own titles does happen often, but if they have any scruples, there's no need to pan other books.
Most of my reading is done on my Kindle and I always download the sample for any self-published or vanity press author. In one chapter you can get a pretty good idea of how things are going to go. There may be plot problems after that, but at least you can see what the author's grasp of language and characterization is.
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Old 09-04-2012, 05:55 PM
 
995 posts, read 1,111,581 times
Reputation: 1148
sorry, duplicate posting

Last edited by AnneWest; 09-04-2012 at 06:01 PM.. Reason: duplicate
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Old 09-04-2012, 06:00 PM
 
995 posts, read 1,111,581 times
Reputation: 1148
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal View Post
Most of my reading is done on my Kindle and I always download the sample for any self-published or vanity press author. In one chapter you can get a pretty good idea of how things are going to go. There may be plot problems after that, but at least you can see what the author's grasp of language and characterization is.
I don't have a Kindle, or any type of e-reader. I'm a hands-on book person lol.
I should have read the first chapter on-line tho, you're right. Was in a hurry leaving for work and wanted to place the order so I'd get it before the holiday weekend.
I'm probably going to sell it on-line tho, instead of passing it onto my sons or unsuspecting goodwill customers.
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Old 09-04-2012, 11:25 PM
 
Location: Canada
7,259 posts, read 9,255,204 times
Reputation: 9833
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnneWest View Post
I don't have a Kindle, or any type of e-reader. I'm a hands-on book person lol.
I should have read the first chapter on-line tho, you're right. Was in a hurry leaving for work and wanted to place the order so I'd get it before the holiday weekend.
I'm probably going to sell it on-line tho, instead of passing it onto my sons or unsuspecting goodwill customers.
I don't have a Kindle or anything like it either. When I'm browsing on Amazon and come across a writer I've never heard of with many good reviews, I check the publisher - if it is self-published I pass.
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Old 09-05-2012, 01:02 PM
 
Location: The beautiful Rogue Valley, Oregon
7,785 posts, read 18,768,926 times
Reputation: 10783
Quote:
Originally Posted by netwit View Post
I don't have a Kindle or anything like it either. When I'm browsing on Amazon and come across a writer I've never heard of with many good reviews, I check the publisher - if it is self-published I pass.
Most books that are available on Kindle are available for preview on your PC - look over on the right of the page, and there should be a "Try it free" box that will let you read a sample right then in a pop-up window. It's a bit awkward, but there have been a couple self-published authors that were worth the work. I THINK this might be available to anyone, or it may only be available to people who have set up the "Kindle for PC" service (which is also free and available to people who don't have a Kindle).
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