The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Even better is when you do recognize the author and there actually isn't any similarity at all.

Yeah. That's common, unfortunately. Like, "for fans of J. K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin" when it's a fantasy book. I mean, what's the common denominator here besides the fact that both authors write fantasy?

[Apache]

How horrible Amazon is at sending me unasked for reading recommendations based on my reading history.
Apache

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yeah. That's common, unfortunately. Like, "for fans of J. K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin" when it's a fantasy book. I mean, what's the common denominator here besides the fact that both authors write fantasy?

Has anyone asked the authors how they like being compared to these people?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

Assuming it’s accurate, isn’t that good intel?

Not really if the book(s) or author isn't like the this author/book.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Apache

How horrible Amazon is at sending me unasked for reading recommendations based on my reading history.
Apache

I get Alexa sometimes recommending a book for me that I don't want. Never has she recommended a book I actually want.

[ownedbycats]

Thanks to the way that the Kobo store handles updated editions, I occasionally get recommended books I already own.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Thanks to the way that the Kobo store handles updated editions, I occasionally get recommended books I already own.

I think Kobo may have changed how they handle new editions. I've looked at my library and I know for sure that some of the covers have changed. Also, back when my Sony books moved to Kobo, eventually, some stopped being linked to listings because of being different versions. Now some of those eBooks do link to the current listing. So I do think Kobo has stopped their games of whatever version you buy is the version you have unless you ask to have them updated.

[ownedbycats]

Hm, I don't think I've seen that myself. The books I've seen pop up in the recommends, if I click them in My Books they just go to a 404 page.

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yeah. That's common, unfortunately. Like, "for fans of J. K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin" when it's a fantasy book. I mean, what's the common denominator here besides the fact that both authors write fantasy?

My youngest was complaining about fantasy books for twelve-year-olds being described as being like both _Alice in Wonderland_ and _Harry Potter_.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Hm, I don't think I've seen that myself. The books I've seen pop up in the recommends, if I click them in My Books they just go to a 404 page.

When was the last time you did this? I noticed this sometime earlier this year so I don't know when it changed,

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When was the last time you did this? I noticed this sometime earlier this year so I don't know when it changed,

I last noticed an already-purchased book last October - I know this because I mentioned it to a friend on Discord. Specifically it was this one and I have the option to purchase it when logged in. I checked the book URL for the edition I have just prior to posting that, is just valor-s-choice withoout a number.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Not really if the book(s) or author isn't like the this author/book.

Which is why I said, “assuming it’s accurate.”

[Witty Username]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Thanks to the way that the Kobo store handles updated editions, I occasionally get recommended books I already own.

I may have mentioned this before but Kobo also likes to recommend omnibus editions of books I've already bought individually, as they were published.

But I've recently given up browsing the Kobo site because if I have the audacity to look at a title but not buy, I get emails saying 'take another look! ' or 'did you forget something?' One time I'd actually bought the book and still got an email suggesting I should look again.

[ownedbycats]

I usually browse the store in Incognito mode just to avoid that, lol.

[Quoth]

I didn't subscribe to Kobo advertising. Never had any email from them other than order receipts etc.