Best seller lists punish e-books - Page 3

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-20-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've asked my wife (who is from Scotland) if she's ever heard of Oprah before moving to the US and she said she has. So take that for what you will.

Okay... so when I ask you to name me the real names of the Spice Girls, you'd say...

JSWolf · 10-20-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Okay... so when I ask you to name me the real names of the Spice Girls, you'd say...

Why would you want to know?

JSWolf · 10-20-2007, 04:07 PM

I have been known to take the opinions of others as far as books go. But if someone says to me "That book is wonderful you will really enjoy it" and then you don't enjoy it, that kind of then says well, I guess that person likes books I don't so I cannot go by that person's opinion. If course, it would have to happen maybe 2 or 3 times. But if someone says a books is really good and I read it and find it is as well, I'd be inclined to then listen to that person again.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-20-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why would you want to know?

Survey says: Blaaat! Oh, sorry, that would be a cop-out, sir!

But anyway... point is, I think it would be a good idea to try to attract the attention of Oprah, or any other critic or celebrity who has the ears of the rest of the public. Remember, the intent is to get the rest of the public to buy e-books, and get the critics to recognize that and address it. Public sales and celebrity comments will force the bestseller lists to acknowledge e-books and list them.

junkml · 10-20-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

So, somebody needs to introduce Oprah to e-books. I'd do it, but I don't think she's into science fiction.

Actually, Oprah knows about ebooks (in theory). I remember reading that she gave away a bunch of the original Rocket Ebooks (made by Nuvomedia) to her audience.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-20-2007, 05:07 PM

Well, that's half the battle, then. Now someone needs to bring her attention to some really good e-books.

JSWolf · 10-20-2007, 06:52 PM

Someone needs to get her to give away a bunch of 505's to her audience next.

MaggieScratch · 10-20-2007, 08:01 PM

I suspect that the majority of the people who buy books on Oprah's recommendation probably wouldn't buy (or read) a book at all otherwise; which is a good thing, and at the same time a very sad thing.

She recommends some very good books but they do tend toward the depressing!

JSWolf · 10-20-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

I suspect that the majority of the people who buy books on Oprah's recommendation probably wouldn't buy (or read) a book at all otherwise; which is a good thing, and at the same time a very sad thing.

But how many buy the book and still not read it?

HarryT · 10-21-2007, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have been known to take the opinions of others as far as books go. But if someone says to me "That book is wonderful you will really enjoy it" and then you don't enjoy it, that kind of then says well, I guess that person likes books I don't so I cannot go by that person's opinion. If course, it would have to happen maybe 2 or 3 times. But if someone says a books is really good and I read it and find it is as well, I'd be inclined to then listen to that person again.

Opinions can obviously differ. In another thread, for example, someone said that they didn't enjoy Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth". To my mind, OTOH, it's an absolutely wonderful book.

jasonkchapman · 10-21-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Opinions can obviously differ. In another thread, for example, someone said that they didn't enjoy Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth". To my mind, OTOH, it's an absolutely wonderful book.

Guilty as charged.

With regards to Oprah's recommendations, she has recommended some decent books. I believe she pipped House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. (I may be misremembering. If she didn't, she should have.)

I don't generally take anyone's book recommendations without some knowledge of their preferences unless it's accompanied by some detail about why they liked it--as in a decent book review.

Obviously I'm in the minority when it comes to Follet's latest. At the ConnectStore, the #1 seller right now is Pillars of the Earth. World Without End is #2.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-21-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But how many buy the book and still not read it?

Well, there's no way of knowing that. But for the express purpose of getting onto the bestseller lists... who cares? If they don't read what they buy, that's their problem.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-21-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Someone needs to get her to give away a bunch of 505's to her audience next.

I'll take a ticket to that show!

jasonkchapman · 10-21-2007, 09:38 AM

Then Sony's next ad could say "Sexier than a Pontiac."

HarryT · 10-21-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But how many buy the book and still not read it?

I have to confess that I buy Baen's "webscriptions" package month after month (basically as a way of giving them $15 for being "good guys") but I am (with a few exceptions) years behind on my reading of them. I've probably read about 20% of the Baen stuff I've bought

.

10-20-2007, 08:01 PM	#38
MaggieScratch Has got to the black veil Posts: 542 Karma: 2144168 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2	I suspect that the majority of the people who buy books on Oprah's recommendation probably wouldn't buy (or read) a book at all otherwise; which is a good thing, and at the same time a very sad thing. She recommends some very good books but they do tend toward the depressing! Last edited by MaggieScratch; 10-20-2007 at 08:07 PM.

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10-20-2007, 04:07 PM	#33
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,727 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I have been known to take the opinions of others as far as books go. But if someone says to me "That book is wonderful you will really enjoy it" and then you don't enjoy it, that kind of then says well, I guess that person likes books I don't so I cannot go by that person's opinion. If course, it would have to happen maybe 2 or 3 times. But if someone says a books is really good and I read it and find it is as well, I'd be inclined to then listen to that person again.

10-20-2007, 05:07 PM	#36
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Well, that's half the battle, then. Now someone needs to bring her attention to some really good e-books.

10-20-2007, 06:52 PM	#37
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,727 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Someone needs to get her to give away a bunch of 505's to her audience next.

10-21-2007, 09:38 AM	#44
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	Then Sony's next ad could say "Sexier than a Pontiac."