Free (nook/Kindle) The Twisted Ones by Vin Packer [Vintage Pulp Crime Thriller]

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Trying to game the system may net short term gains for some people who do it, but the long term result is a loss for almost everyone involved. Except Harriet Klausner, who's apparently Teflon-coated and will survive unscathed like cockroaches after nuclear armageddon. And Cassandra Clare, who's demonstrated what I'd consider an impressive ability to parlay a reputation for plagiarism into book deals were it not for the fact that publishers seem to be rather lax about checking or caring about rip-offs of other authors' works and glorified numbers-incompletely-filed-off fanfics taken straight to press, as long as the original creative parties don't sue and the repackaged books make big enough profits.

When and how did reading book reviews become so complicated?

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by Fbone

When and how did reading book reviews become so complicated?

Probably shortly after people discovered they could MAKE MONEY FA$$$T by seeming to have good ones.

In any case, I actually rather like fake reviews. As long as they're entertainingly fake and don't seriously pretend otherwise. The seemingly-overwhelmingly-negative customer ratings & comments on this product* will probably not put me off trying it, though I'll be very careful where I apply it, just in case.

* WARNING: Generally work safe as long as no one is directly reading over your shoulder, but descriptions of attempted product usage may offend some of our more sensitive viewers, as well as provoke uncontrollable laughter which would be difficult to explain.

It's also educational. Never before have I seen so many euphemisms for such specific anatomic vocabulary, not even in Aristophanes.

[Synamon]

"... if my review seems a little harsh, it's only because I wanted children."

Reviews have been faked, coerced, traded for, paid for, etc. since humans could scribble with a charred stick. Authors are getting in on the action and aren't very good at faking it.

I've never understood why anyone gives the time of day to all those author endorsements on book covers recommending someone else's book. I give those less credence than the review from the Podunk Gazette.

[Wald07]

Originally Posted by Synamon

Podunk Gazette.

I think I receive this publication weekly in my little farming town....

On another note, I am please to belong to a forum where so many intelligent, and well written people reside.
Thank-you for increasing my IQ, and not debilitating it...

[koland]

Originally Posted by Fbone

This was the book. I noticed there is one 1-star review added today.

http://www.amazon.com/Damages-ebook/...7551247&sr=1-5

Dude can't even use the same author name - http://www.amazon.com/Damages-Bazhe-.../dp/1588515060 (same title by Bazhe DeKargo, 2001; two of three 5-star reviews are his, referring to a newer edition)

Apparently has published this and a poetry volume.

Favorite "fake" reviews - someone claiming to have met him at a book signing (for his self-published poetry? or what?). Another from a "15 year old birth mom", hoping her relationship with child will be as good as author's with his own (close runner up - one that managed to fit in "bifurcated", but couldn't figure out where to place punctuation).