tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post8412757504368115475..comments2023-08-20T01:07:14.633-07:00Comments on Linda S. Prather--New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author/Paranormal Investigator: Fake Book ReviewsLinda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-63699580841748189852010-11-29T11:57:51.883-08:002010-11-29T11:57:51.883-08:00Excellent advice, Middlekens. I don't purchas...Excellent advice, Middlekens. I don't purchase books based on reviews or tags either, and blantant self-promotion usually gets the promoter deleted or hidden.Linda S. Pratherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-57710305582869577072010-11-29T11:41:18.510-08:002010-11-29T11:41:18.510-08:00As a reader, I have seldom let reviews influence m...As a reader, I have seldom let reviews influence my purchase or reading (or not) of a book, as I have always assumed the good reviews are overrating the book, and the bad reviews are underrating the book. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, and mostly likely theirs will be different than my likes and dislikes, so I'd rather make my own assessment of a book.<br /><br />Ditto for tags on Amazon. I don't let them influence my purchase of a book. What I may see (after reading the book) as juvenile fiction, may be seen as simply an uncomplicated plot by someone else.<br /><br />Readers and authors both need to be aware of fake reviews and blatant self-promotion practices. Fake reviews harm everyone by making the publishing world appear to be populated with prevaricators. Self-promotion is necessary to any business enterprise, but when it becomes obnoxious, most people will tune it out and avoid (consciously or unconsciously) the product.<br /><br />This policy of fake reviews, etc., is probably not going to change anytime soon, but hopefully readers will think the next time they read a review that it might not be as accurate as it seems.Middlekenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07550604847575907348noreply@blogger.com