Maintenance Monday
Signature Guarantee
Raise your hand if this is familiar: you go somewhere. A reading or a book signing (sometimes, it's two in one!) or you meet the author at a convention and decide, after conversing with said author, you'd like to buy a book from them. Mind you, you've never read the author before, but you get the book and get the book signed. And because you're at a reading/signing/convention/whatever, you get it personalized, right?
Now raise your hand if you end up not caring for the book afterwards?
What do you do with it?
When I was in grad school, I didn't think too much about authors personalizing books to me. That is, until, I discovered I didn't care for said book and that if I wanted to sell or give it away, I'm kind of stuck with it. It's not like my name is Amanda or Mary or something really common either. And I don't know about you, but I don't care to buy books that've been personalized to someone else.
I know a woman whose father was good friends with Isaac Asimov. The woman was telling me, rather proudly, that she's got all these signed first editions (paperbacks or hardbacks, I can't remember) and how those are going to be worth some money some day. I granted her that, but then I threw out the kicker: do you really think they're worth that much if they're personalized?
Some are. Just look up a first edition of Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club and you'll find INSANE prices for signed books, even personalized ones. But most books don't have that kind of cult following, and in my eyes, personalization makes the book worth less that it would be unsigned. But that's me. Maybe personalization to other readers doesn't bother you if you own the book, so long as you have it, and it's signed by the author?
It's not to say I won't EVER have books personalized. I'm friends with certain authors and I'd probably break my own fingers before trying to get rid of one of their books. But therein lies the lesson: I'm not going to request unread authors personalize their books to me anymore. And not just because of the off-chance I might not like the book either: sometimes I might like the book just fine, but maybe I want to use it in a giveaway and pass it along to all of you. Personalized books become much less attractive then, don't they?
Or do they? Let me know your thoughts! Book Club Selections
July: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
August: Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
September: So Long Been Dreaming edited by Nalo Hopkinson
Book Sale: In order to buy new books, I have to sell old ones. Help me out? :) Details are here.
Follow me on Facebook, and find me on Paperback Swap!
FAVOR!! When I review a book you've read and reviewed yourself, would you kindly provide a link to your review in the comments of mine? I love seeing what others think, and sometimes I see those reviews when they're originally posted, but don't read them as I don't want to spoil myself on something I know I'll read in the future. The problem, then, is I often forget to go back and read the reviews I missed! So please, if you've reviewed something I'm reviewing, shoot a link my way. :)
Giveaways & Challenges
@ Jawas Read, Too! the "Summer of Series" reading challenge is almost over. Can you believe it? July is Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War series, which I completed last year. It's a five book series, and there's just one more book left. To read my reviews on the installments, click here and start with Trading in Danger.
For more details on how to sign up, or to see what series are coming your way in the future (like Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War), click here.
Got a giveaway or reading challenge you'd like to promote? Please comment.
Upcoming Reviews: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff (sorry, this one will wait for the end of the month!), Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews, and Maximum Ice by Kay Kenyon
Currently Reading: Fallen by Lauren Kate
2010 Reading Total: 65 out of 75 (once I hit 75, I'll move that number up to 100).
2010 Comics Total: 235 out of 365. #236 will be tonight!
Raise your hand if this is familiar: you go somewhere. A reading or a book signing (sometimes, it's two in one!) or you meet the author at a convention and decide, after conversing with said author, you'd like to buy a book from them. Mind you, you've never read the author before, but you get the book and get the book signed. And because you're at a reading/signing/convention/whatever, you get it personalized, right?
Now raise your hand if you end up not caring for the book afterwards?
What do you do with it?
When I was in grad school, I didn't think too much about authors personalizing books to me. That is, until, I discovered I didn't care for said book and that if I wanted to sell or give it away, I'm kind of stuck with it. It's not like my name is Amanda or Mary or something really common either. And I don't know about you, but I don't care to buy books that've been personalized to someone else.
I know a woman whose father was good friends with Isaac Asimov. The woman was telling me, rather proudly, that she's got all these signed first editions (paperbacks or hardbacks, I can't remember) and how those are going to be worth some money some day. I granted her that, but then I threw out the kicker: do you really think they're worth that much if they're personalized?
Some are. Just look up a first edition of Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club and you'll find INSANE prices for signed books, even personalized ones. But most books don't have that kind of cult following, and in my eyes, personalization makes the book worth less that it would be unsigned. But that's me. Maybe personalization to other readers doesn't bother you if you own the book, so long as you have it, and it's signed by the author?
It's not to say I won't EVER have books personalized. I'm friends with certain authors and I'd probably break my own fingers before trying to get rid of one of their books. But therein lies the lesson: I'm not going to request unread authors personalize their books to me anymore. And not just because of the off-chance I might not like the book either: sometimes I might like the book just fine, but maybe I want to use it in a giveaway and pass it along to all of you. Personalized books become much less attractive then, don't they?
Or do they? Let me know your thoughts! Book Club Selections
July: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
August: Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
September: So Long Been Dreaming edited by Nalo Hopkinson
Book Sale: In order to buy new books, I have to sell old ones. Help me out? :) Details are here.
Follow me on Facebook, and find me on Paperback Swap!
FAVOR!! When I review a book you've read and reviewed yourself, would you kindly provide a link to your review in the comments of mine? I love seeing what others think, and sometimes I see those reviews when they're originally posted, but don't read them as I don't want to spoil myself on something I know I'll read in the future. The problem, then, is I often forget to go back and read the reviews I missed! So please, if you've reviewed something I'm reviewing, shoot a link my way. :)
Giveaways & Challenges
@ Jawas Read, Too! the "Summer of Series" reading challenge is almost over. Can you believe it? July is Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War series, which I completed last year. It's a five book series, and there's just one more book left. To read my reviews on the installments, click here and start with Trading in Danger.
For more details on how to sign up, or to see what series are coming your way in the future (like Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War), click here.
Got a giveaway or reading challenge you'd like to promote? Please comment.
Upcoming Reviews: Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff (sorry, this one will wait for the end of the month!), Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews, and Maximum Ice by Kay Kenyon
Currently Reading: Fallen by Lauren Kate
2010 Reading Total: 65 out of 75 (once I hit 75, I'll move that number up to 100).
2010 Comics Total: 235 out of 365. #236 will be tonight!