Book readers, with good reason, are suspicious of the criteria used in establishing the New York Times best seller lists for fiction and non-fiction. If the readers have lived long enough to possess even the most basic insight into how life works, they must figure that for an author to get their book on those lists requires some sort of human entanglement. The content of the book most likely is not nearly as important as who the author "knows", who the publisher "knows", or maybe even what either of them would agree "not to know". You can bet that out there somewhere languishes many books screaming to be read but their screams are in vain. We readers will never know about them because the authors were all writers and not politicians.
Nevertheless, despite our deeply felt suspicions, we readers cannot escape the craving to take a quick peek at the top ten list. Once the peek is made, of course, we are drawn to one or two of the books. The draw to the book becomes an uncontrollable magnetic force when some "fair-weather" friends begin discussing the books.Being in the company of snobs who have read the book eliminates all resistence; we must have the book.
None of the books can be purchased for less than $20 to $30 so as one last vestige to sanity, readers may turn to book reviews for assistance prior to plunking down their hard-earned cash. A review which identifies a bad book can save you the money and gives you a way out in the future discussions about the book. It is here you discover every book review was either written by the publisher's nephew or by some slob hoping to be designated as an intellect by merely sounding like one. In neither case do you get any insight into what one person really "thinks" about the book. The nephew heralds the book as on par with the Bible and the intellect uses three pages of three syllable words to say nothing. So you close your eyes and spend $25 for the book.
My intent here is to tell you in short, direct sentences what I think of some of the books I have read. You many not agree with my assessment, but you will have my opinion before you spend the $25.
Send me e-mail to let me know if you agree or disagree with my view of a book. Also, suggest a book to me and give me your review. I will add your review to my list and identify you as the author of the review to whatever degree you wish to be identified.
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Click on a title in the table for the book reviews or to see Lonnie at play!