Update on BookSwim. LAMBASTE!!! EN GARDE!
I know I just posted the other one, but I decided to take the plunge for BookSwim.
However.
Some complaints ANYONE would have:
--slow shipping times unless you upgrade
--poorly organized site
--difficult to search
--You have to send back 2 books before they will send out more--unlike Netflix
Some complaints that I have:
--New books mostly
--Don't count on series (i.e. more than the most recent book) being available
--If it's not terribly popular, it's not on here
--The "Science" category had LOTS of fiction in it. WTF?
--No Lovecraft, 1 DWJ book, none of Robin Mckinley's older work (Beauty, Rose Daughter, The Hero and the Crown, the Blue Sword), only 5 Tamora Pierce books, including Bloodhound but not Terrier, 3 of 4 Protector of the Small books, and The Will of the Empress.
--DON'T OVER-ADVERTISE TWILIGHT!!!!!!!
--Inability to "dislike" books so you won't see them again
--No older books to re-read
--Representative of other authors: Mercedes Lackey's immensely popular Valdemar series has a grand total of 4 books in BookSwim's catalog. 1 is a standalone, 1 is a short-story collection, and the other 2 are part of a trilogy.
I could go on, but I won't.
Okay, one more thing: weird Neil Gaiman selections. 2 versions of Marvel 1602, 2 different Sandman volumes (#1 and #7), American Gods (but not Anansi Boys), Neverwhere, Stardust and Coraline.
I won't be renewing my subscription after this month.
This is a book subscription service for people who read bestsellers and join Oprah's Book Club.
This is not for the bibliobibuli:
"There are people who read too much: bibliobibuli. I know some who are constantly drunk on books, as other men are drunk on whiskey or religion. They wander through this most diverting and stimulating of worlds in a haze, seeing nothing and hearing nothing". --HL Mencken
AMAZON or BN or BORDERS or POWELLS or some other large book company needs to do this. It bills itself as Netflix for books, but has none of Netflix's selection--there's only one movie I can think of (The Doctor Who made-for-tv movie) that I couldn't find on Netflix.
So, friends, if you enjoy esoteric books, or even books that are a few years old (GASP!), stay away.