Luke's made a great new feature for Early Reviewers—books you've won.

The page shows you all the books you've won from Early Reviewers, and whether or not you've reviewed them. It also lets you mark whether or not you've received a book yet—great news for my inbox, which is always flooded by people who haven't gotten their book in the mail yet and are worried that their lack of review on a book that never showed up will count against them!

It's blogged here.

The next step is to add a similar page for Member Giveaways, which will also let you know whether, for a given LTMG book, a review was requested or not.

Message edited by its author, Jul 7, 2009, 9:56pm.

How much of a lag time will there be from when you're notified you're getting a book from the monthly batch and it shows up on your page?? I ask because it doesn't show the book I'm getting from the June batch.

I put this feature request on the blog, but this is obviously the better place for it. Clicking on the cover does indeed get me to the review, so part one of my feature request is taken care of.

I've always wanted a way to track the books I've requested but didn't get. Some of them I've requested because they sounded interesting, but only because they were free. Other books, however, I thought sounded really interesting, but after the list was closed and the books were given out, I didn't always make the time to go back and read all the descriptions of the books and put the good ones on my Powell's wish list. Now that collections are here, and I've got a populated wish list collection, I would like to be able to, in addition to requesting a book, put it in my wish list directly from the Early Reviewer page. Beyond being helpful to me, it would be a boon to authors and publishers, because the people who requested it but didn't get it would be more likely to purchase it (or receive it as a gift) off of their wish list later on down the road.

I'm envisioning something along the lines of a 'add this book to your library' button that defaults to the wish list, but would be user configurable, maybe from the Early Reviewers user information page.

Genius! Thanks Luke/Abby (which kind of makes you sound like some kind of crazy hybrid ...). This is really, really useful. I just found out I've got an unreviewed book I didn't realise I had - there was nowhere to check before. Love it!

An excellent addition! I'm looking forward to the Member Giveaway version as well.

Great idea! I always tag those books "er" in my library, but it's still good to have another place where they're all listed.

Big request, though: add a link to the "books I've won" page to our profiles, or LT Home Page! Because otherwise, there's no way to access that page, other than going through the ER page itself, lots of clicks. (obviously you can bookmark it too, but I think it should be easier to relocate)

#2 What book title? We're having to hand check some of the data.

>2 Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper

Added, thanks.

Will there be any follow-up for titles missing in action? I won a book from the February batch that's never arrived. I'm pleased that I can indicate that, now, but I'd really rather have the book.

10 - agreed - I'm still missing one from July 2008.

Yeah. We back-stamped older batches as received, so anything that gets checked as not-recieved we'll be presenting to publishers for followup. We're going to hold off a little bit on showing it to them so you folks all get a chance to double check your lists and shelves.

>10, 12
To clarify - we're going to let publishers see the data on which books of theirs were never received. But we don't guarantee that they'll then send another copy...

Just an FYI. The emails/profile message about the new batch of ER books (July) seems to be AWOL.

I know, I'm working on it. I needed to modify my standard comment to include something about the books you've won.

Cool idea, Abby! I was just wondering whether I'd reviewed my last one.

Thanks Abby, I got the message, though it doesn't mention the books you've won feature.

I know, I decided to do a separate second message :) Clearly, I just can't make up my mind!

re 16 Hmmm - just went to check that and guess what I found? Although I've reviewed the book (The Harrowing) the review doesn't appear in my list, nor does it appear when I click on the cover pic to read all reviews. It does appear, though, when I go in to my own copy via my library. I've clicked 'save' several times now, just to be sure. What should I try next?

>19, Your book is listed with author robertdinsdale and the others seem to be listed with dinsdalerobert, they need to be combined.

Hi there... Great new feature folks... I seem to be missing one of my ER books from the very beginning of the program. http://www.librarything.com/work/419475/... (Boy A)

Good feature, but waht if you removed a book from your library? Then it looks like you never reviewed a book when you in fact did. That is true for three of mine. Any way to rectify this situation?

I second the request for a link to this page from our profile page or home page; I'm wondering now how to get there other than the link in the message from Abby. I could just keep it forever, of course . . .

I agree about the profile page link... It is going to be hard to remember to look at the one sub page that is just these by digging through my comments from Abby. (Perhaps a link at reviews, or even a little link button on the review itself. Hey this guy got the book for free because he is one of the early reviewers. You too could get a book for free. See what other books he has gotten for free and that he reviews....)

>21
Added Boy A to your list!

>22
If you remove the book, the review is gone, and you no longer get credit for it. You need to keep the book in your library somewhere (in a separate Early Reviewers collection, now that we've got collections, maybe?) in order for it, and the review to count.

>23
There's a link on the main Early Reviewers page - a little sub-navigation link that says "Books you've won." I'll add a link on this group page too, and we'll see about where else. I think in the Early Reviewers module on the homepage is a good idea...

Great idea!! I have a few different slush piles going, and I actually had reviewed more of my Library Thing books than I thought!! :)

I have a question/concern.
As of yet I've won one book from the early reviewers program. I received it, added it, reviewed it. Later on, having not particularly liked it, I gave it away on bookmooch. No longer owning it I deleted it from my library which also deleted my review of it. At least one other of books I've reviewed I've given away in a similar manner and likewise lost my reviews of.
This isn't a big deal to me, I don't consider myself any master critic whose opinions must be preserved for the ages, but it would be cool if there was a way of saving reviews, even if it was just for the early reviewer books, after the book is no longer in your library. I know I could just keep the book listed in my library even if I've given it away, but I personally like to use librarything as a literal representation of what's on my bookshelf.
In any case if preference is going to go to people who actually review early reviewer copies (which is only right and just) it seems a shame for me to lose credit for a review just because I decided to give the book to someone who could get more joy from it than I.

I received The Good Doctors from the May list, but it is not on my page. I am still reading, and will review within the next week.

I also just learned I won a book from the June batch (the first book I've won) but it's not showing up on the "books I've won" page. It is Evermore by Alyson Noel.

Great feature...I'm glad to have this handy reference.

I'm also missing a book from my list---A Dog Among Diplomats by J. F. Englert, which I reviewed on May 29, 2008.

Message edited by its author, Jul 8, 2009, 10:18pm.

27: But that's why it's been said over and over that you need to keep ER books in your library to preserve your review. I'm sure it's already "counted" and that won't change if you delete it, but publishers aren't going to get anything out of a review that's no longer there.

Well good. That's a step towards a way to "remind" all those free book recipients to pony up on their end of the bargain. It's just plain wrong and just plain bad manners that people abuse goodwill by taking goods offered in exchange for a review then flat out ignoring their part of the trade. Where are their mommas?
/djw

#12 - Regarding one of my two "missing in action" books, I did not truly not receive it, but rather I turned it down as it was an e-book and I don't do e-books (or rather ye olde ancient computers don't do them). I guess in my monthly excitement for the whole picking out a free book thing, I failed to notice that little bit of important info. I would hate for that particular publisher to be chastised on my behalf when the fault is all mine.

Hey Abby, got the second notice. Very Cool. :-)

#27
It looks like this has happened to me too, I knew I had reviewed one book which I didn't like and gave it away to someone who read my review but since I deleted it and gave it away the review has gone as well.
I suppose the only way to rectify it is to add it to my read books and review it again?

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 4:34am.

#31 Heather19 - are you sure that it's been "counted"? I have 2 ER books that I read, reviewed, and physically gave away. I have, with great irritation, kept them in my library to keep the ER gods happy. I'd infinitely prefer to delete them completely but like getting ER books and have thought they had to be there so my reviews would be counted.

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 6:34am.

This is a great new feature. But one of the ER books I received and reviewed doesn't show up in my list. I snagged The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society from the June 2008 batch, and posted my review on July 18, 2008. Can I get that one added to my list?

Hmm, I see there's a book missing that I "snagged" but never received - should that one be on the list as well? (It's The Agency by Ally O'Brien.)

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 7:51am.

Standing issues with my books:

Wrong information:
1. I did receive and review Cool Jew. Rec'd 7/2/08. Reviewed 7/18/08.

Missing information
1. I did receive and review The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti - Rec'd 7/30/08; Reviewed 9/1/08.

2 I did receive and review Secret So by Laila Lalami. Rec'd 5/12/09; Reviewed 5/23/09.

I won and recieved the Good Doctors from the May batch and it is not showing up.

Wrong information:

I did receive Richard Bangs Adventures with Purpose and I did write a review (here) around August 28, 2008.

The review date for Peter Wicked is off by half a year. It was reviewed at the end of August 2008, not the middle of February 2009. The review date of In Hazard is wrong by a couple of weeks, but I guess that's no big deal.

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 8:39am.

I won a book but couldn't read past 30 pages (bad book or not to my liking). Instead of posting a negative review I opted to put it in member giveaway and I have mailed it to the winner (I paid postage).
So, I don't want to be penalized for not reviewing or thought of as a slacker. But there's no option on the page to indicate that I moved the book on to another reviewer.

Thanks to everyone for all the hard work!!

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 8:57am.

42: You still have to review it, even if you don't say much.

I also read and reviewed A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.

This is a great feature! I just realized that reviews for two books were posted on Amazon in February and December, but for some reason did not get posted to Library Thing. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
Cheryl

42: You have almost done a review, right on this thread.

This thread does raise some interesting issues, but it also reminds me of the book I received, read, but didn't review. It isn't shown with this new feature. Does this mean I am off the hook, or not?

28/LisaCurcio: The Good Doctors looks to be a Member Giveaway book, and not Early Reviewers. We'll have a separate page for these in the near future.

29/Crowinator: I added that for you.

30/laytonwoman3rd: hang on, something funny on that one. I'm running through the easy ones.

37/jlshall: added

38/rainbowdarling Added

39/squeakychu: Send me a link to your review of Cool Jew (CoolChu?). I don't see it, but I haven't had enough coffee yet.

Good thief, Secret So, fixed.

40/TLCrawford: Good Doctor added

41/tadAD: If you ever edited a review, or opened it and hit Save, it might update that date stamp. We are more concerned with the existence of a review then when it was done, so it won't hurt your ER standings. I'm updating reviews to try and catch your missing one.

44/brenzi: Added.

Another great and helpful idea! Thank you!!

>27 I am in the same boat although I didn't realize that my review had disappeared. (Doh)
>31 Unfortunately, I have never seen once, anywhere the admonition to keep ER books in my library. I guess I know now.

This is a great feature :-)

Just wanted you to know that one of my ARCs is missing though:

The Sonnets by Warwick Collins, reviewed February 28, 2009

Thanks Luke and Abby.

This is a fabulous feature! Great work, Luke!

I want to second/third/whatever the request for a link from my profile. That would be extremely handy.

I am also missing a book - the very first early reviewer book I got, in fact. A Dog Among Diplomats does not appear on my list.

And maybe something needs to be added in the email or on the Early Reviewer pages about keeping the book in your library to keep the review. Obviously, from the comments here, people are just not getting it, even though it has been discussed over and over and over.

Love this addition!!

Definitely second the idea of a link directly from our home or profile page, though.

Thanks guys!

27 and others

if the review isn't in your library you don't get credit for it. However, with the advent of collections you can make a collection 'gave away' or some such and put books there you have given away and if the book is only in that collection you don't have to see it in 'Your Library'.

Sonnets added. Dog Among Diplomats is one I'm looking into.

LT Luke:

Thanks very much! Now my list is complete.

Like #22 I got rid of a book that I reviewed and now of course the review has vanished. I thoroughly trashed Seven Days to Sex Appeal, as it was one of the most atrociously bad books I've ever put my hands on, but even if it costs me future review opportunities I'm not going to put it back in. I just wish there was some alternative to a review going off into the ether just because a member no longer owns it.

47 Luke--I just checked the e-mail notifying me that I snagged the book, and it was an Early Reviewer. Also, if you look at your post you will see that you added it for TLCrawford ;-)

ET change salutation to Luke

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 12:23pm.

Hah! Good catch. I had a big list of books and notes in front of me and grabbed the wrong one for you, sorry. I think its on your list now too.
Sorry about that.

55: I can imagine some scenarios where the edition of the book is relevant to the review (revisions, foreign language, etc), so we maintain a link between your personal edition/copy of the book and the review.

I think other people's idea of a separate collection is as good a solution as we'll get for now. You could label it "books that I hate" or "dustbin" or "books that I have lit on fire", if it helps. We can certainly discuss it, but I don't anticipate any immediate action on that front.

Great addition. But one of my books is missing - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

Thanks for adding this.

27>

Um, that's nothing new. It's been that way from the beginning, and is clearly explained any number of places (it seems obvious to me, but is explained nonetheless).

If you delete a book, you delete the review, and next time the algorithm runs it's (presumably) going to think you never reviewed it, and dock you accordingly.

I have never not reviewed a book I have received and yet they are marked as not reviewed. Is there anyway to fix that?

61: Are they still in your library? If so, provide a list. If not, you will need to add them to your library and review them.

I really like this new feature!!

I am proud I am at 100% for books received and reviewed. I did have a problem once where I received the book very very late. I don't see where on the page that would be marked (but maybe that is because I have nothing outstanding right now). Please let me know.

I would appreciate a link to the list other than the one in Abby's note. Seems like you will do this - let us know in "comments" where we will find the link.

I also agree it would be nice to have a list of books we did not "snag." I try to keep track, but don't always remember.

Thanks again for this great program of Early Reviewers!!

Abby,
I have a book listed that I didn't win, or I didn't know I won, but then never received anyway. I've marked it as never received, but is there a way remove it from my list? The book is The Baby Thief by L.J. Sellers.

Thanks!

I think it's been noted elsewhere, but I want to reiterate that one of the lovely things about the new collections feature is that you can easily keep a separate list of books you have read that you don't own, so you can certainly give away an ER copy but keep the book listed in the "read but not owned" collection (and thus keep the review alive). I've been using this particular collection for library books so I could review them, but the idea is the same.

I love this new page, I just wish we had a way to get to it from our home pages.
Abby - I am only showing two ER books and I think it should be four.
I am missing The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel by Steve Berry
Unbreak Your Health:The Complete Guide to Complimentary and Alternative Therapies by Alan E. Smith
Thanks!

I love this new feature and thank you guys for all the hard work.

#52 readafew and #65 ejj1955 - I just don't like collections and don't want to use them. At all.

I'm with #55 varielle - I just wish there was some alternative to a review going off into the ether just because a member no longer owns it.

However, #58 LibraryThingLuke has quashed that for the time being.

Hence 3 books I don't own. I've got them tagged "don't own anymore but have to keep in my library to keep the ER gods happy". Childish but satisfying.

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 3:13pm.

67 > the site provides a reasonable way to deal with the problem, it's your decision not to use it. (BTW by using the site you ARE using collections, tee-hee)

Yup my decision.

And I don't pay any attention to collections. Tell you what. You can like them enough for both of us.

Honestly, out of curiosity, Why?

I'll give you a fake dollar if you talk about "why" on a separate thread. Thanks!

59/NWGirl: That one looks to be Member Giveaway only?

64: I'll have Abby check this one against her other records and sort it out. Stay tuned.

66/WillowOne: Got those 2

My page shows that I did not review A Final Arc of Sky by Jennifer Culkin. I read and posted a review quite promptly. I have no trouble seeing the review either through the book's main page or through my own page.

There were a few different works that needed combining - may not be this but I just did the needed combining there.

Actually, now it says I reviewed it today, which isn't true... it was in April! I just want to make sure that this isn't counting against me (anymore, at least) for snagging books.

Luke > the Page just keeps looking better and better.

Thanks.

The date of the review wont hurt you. Did you edit it or hit Save on the review? That will update the datestamp on it.

We had some problems with reviews from 1969, that didn't have a date on it. Sometimes that keeps them from showing up. I'll be working on a better solution for this shortly.

The Winners Page is nifty, but it looks like I've slacked on my reviews.

I'm just trying to get this straight:

I have given away roughly half of the books I have gotten through Early Readers and removed them from my LT here. That removes the reviews as well? Because the only book I haven't reviewed is the one I never received. Should I try to review the books again or...? What is the best course of action on this?

Sorry to sound freaked out, because I think the site is great and y'all are doing a good job.

78 > your best bet is to readd the books (maybe only in the 'Read but unowned' collection) and add your reviews back in.

Abbey,
I went over my list I have received to review and
two books that I have read and reviewed were
on the list butnot shown as reviewed.
They are A Final Arc of Sky by Jennifer Culkin
and Acts of Faith by Eboo Patel. Why are they
shown as not reviewed?
Let me know
Thanks,
Louise Russell
e-mail:GramLouise2@att.net

55> I have a tag called Hated It. I thought about calling them "Books to be thrown with great force", but it was too much typing.

78> Sorry, jas, you've got to put them back in your library and post the reviews again. No way around it.

This is a great idea!

I don't know if this is considered a problem - but I had received "Houston We Have a Problema" by Gwendolyn Zepeda for some reason it's not showing on my review book though I did review it. But what is even more odd, is that a few weeks (I think) after reviewing this book they sen me another with an apology. I believe I contacted someone here and asked if I should send it back and was told it wasn't necessary. then a couple of months ago I got another in the mail.

My review shows but like I said not on my list of books that I've snagged.

Also---I'm not sure if I made a mistake or not-- I DO have a book I forgot to review, I clicked on the part that said I did get the book. Was that what I was supposed to do? (guiltily and sheepishly writing forgotten review now)

I found another that I think I got through you all, again the review is there but not on my snagged list. Should I be concerned about the books I've gotten and whether or not they show on the list?

Any Given Doomsday" by Lori Handeland (Release Date Nov 4th)

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 7:21pm.

I posted a review for 16% Solution but this page doesn't seem to know the book is in my library. I added it again and pasted in the review but it still doesn't know.

I love this new page and I hate the fact that given away books lose their reviews. Why can't reviews become part of common knowledge instead? I have read all the stuff about collections and I still feel that if the book isn't in my library I'd rather not have to keep it in my librarything just so the review stays available.

--> 47

Here's my review of Cool Jew.

http://www.librarything.com/work/7469599...

luke, abby, any chance one of you could add something along the lines of "Yes, any Early Reviewer books you receive and review have to stay cataloged for the reviews to count." to the blurb on the Books You Won page?

85: Reviews are on a per person basis, so that no one else can edit or delete them. If they're put in Common Knowledge, someone else will edit or delete them.

Message edited by its author, Jul 9, 2009, 10:42pm.

85>

This is just baffling that so many people don't get this. My review is mine. It's not Common Knowledge, which is a wiki editable by all, it's my own review. It pertains to my record of the book -- the fact that you get there from the "Edit book" page is a big clue in that regard. I would no more expect my review to magically survive, zombie-like, after deleting my copy of a book than I would expect my tags or my comments to persist.

Really, though, why is this coming up now? Deleted books have always had their entire record, including their review, deleted. It's hardly new.

Because some members thought that if they reviewed a book once, it stayed reviewed. And now the particularly argumentative people/purists want it changed somehow.

I submit! It's not exactly how I would prefer it to be, but for a site I 99% love I'm willing to compromise. I have re-added the book I received/reviewed/gave/deleted to my library and re-reviewed it. I just feel lucky that I only had 1 that I had to do this with and that it wasn't so long ago I couldn't remember my feelings on it. My sympathy goes out to those with a slew of books to re-add and re-review that they may not even remember fully.

88: I don't understand it either. I mean, I guess it's obviously not common sense for some people, but to *me*, it's kinda common sense that if you edit the book in your catalogue in whatever way, that gets deleted if you delete the book. Reviews are simply edits, so....

I definitely think there needs to be a notice, preferably on the actual ER page, saying that deleted books equal deleted review.

I agree. It is utterly baffling to me, but there are enough other people who don't see it that way that there should be some sort of notice. Probably several, to make sure people actually see them.

Just a thought for those who have deleted reviews: You might be able to copy them back in, if you also posted the review to other sites, like Amazon.

#71 LibraryThingLuke - I've put a new thread on Site Talk - it didn't seem appropriate to put it in New Features - to earn my fake dollar.

Here it is: Collections - Why I Don't Use Them

#20 Have been away from LT for a few days so I've only just read your solution to my problem. All seem to be well now, so many thanks for that!

Great! Love the new page.

I'm not a member of the ER program, but just curious. How do ER people who continually delete their books / reviews (apparently interpreted by the system as "not reviewed") continue to receive a "slew" of more ER books? Somewhere along the way, I got the impression that winners were chosen on criteria partly predicated on past completed reviews. No animosity here, no vested interest; just like to know how things work. :-)

If you've deleted a book with a review it's probably worth checking to see if Tim can undelete it. He has stated that deleted items are just marked in the database as deleted until some garbage collection process is run. So if not too much time has passed they may still be retrievable.

86/squeakychu: Looks like a combiners issue. If you clicked on the book cover from your winnings page you'd see a work with your review not listed. I did the combination, may take a while for the review to come over, I'm looking into making sure those transitions happen gracefully.

Thanks, Luke!

Trying to catch up.

On books you reviewed then deleted from your library
As I said in message 25, if you delete the book from your library, the review is deleted too. And you no longer get credit for it. Period. To remain in the good graces of the LTER algorithm, the review has to remain in your library. Period. Add another collection for them, tag them, whatever your heart desires. But if you delete them from LT, the review goes too. Trust me, we'd have members up in arms if *their* data remained on a book after they had removed it from their library.

>87
Good idea. I'll add something to that effect to the blurb at the top of the page.

>33
Then shouldn't you, in all honesty, say that you did receive the book, just not review it?

>42
Sorry, there's no way to count that. You still have to review it yourself, even if it's not a positive review

Baby Thief
Should be gone from everyone's page now.

#42>

So, you didn't hold up your end of the bargain, but don't want to be penalized for it? I don't think you'll get much sympathy.

>80
It was a combination issue - you should be set now. (You enter all your books manually?)

>83
Houston We Have a Problema and Any Given Doomsday should be on your list now.

And yes, if you received the book, mark it received :)

Thank you. I saw them today. Wow fast work; and I did my final review like I should have in the first place.

This is a great feature! Thanks Abby!

I've got a couple of problems with my books. Two of my books are each part of a series, and the wrong edition of each is showing up on my Books I've Won page.

Here's what's listed . . .
http://www.librarything.com/work/5662680 and http://www.librarything.com/work/6518809

The correct editions (what actually arrived from the publisher) are, respectively, . . .
http://www.librarything.com/work/4315327 and http://www.librarything.com/work/4921634

I tried combining the works, but it says no combinations are recommended. I don't know if there's a way to do it anyway, or even if combining them would really be a good thing to do.

Interestingly, this issue hasn't affected my ability to win new books, despite the fact that my reviews are for the "correct" editions listed above, not the ones ER has in its database.

Very nice.

One odd thing though (or perhaps not odd). I received Any Given Doomsday and reviewed it. I hated the book so much that I removed it from my library and gave it to a friend. Sadly, my review disappeared after that.

Is there a way to review a book w/o adding to one's library??

Hi, soubrette - read the thread above, especially Abby's post at #101. It is explained repeatedly.

If you see some books that need combining and you can't do it yourself, the folks in Combiners! (http://www.librarything.com/groups/combi...) are glad to help.

>105

The problem stated in 105 is that ER is listing the wrong volume of the series - not really a combining issue - different volumes of a set/series should not be combined with each other (or with the complete set).

(but if you do find books that need to be combined that aren't offered as potential combinations feel free post over in Combiners as per >108)

>109 That is correct. ER is listing the complete set, when only one of the volumes was actually sent to us for review. So, this isn't really a combining issue, it appears to be an inconsistency in the ER database.

Great idea and another fine reason for being a LTer. Thanks for this handy enhancement and, of course, for the ER books. Earlier this week I read a somewhat disturbing article about declining book readership in the US (how can this be?) so seeing all these LT members signing up for new books is comforting.

--> 99

Re: 86
How long until the combiners takes effect?

I have a book that I read and reviewed; my review shows up (it's the second one), but it doesn't show up on my ER page. It was Beat by Amy Boaz.

Thank you for this new feature!

>114

I'm seeing your review on the work page, Squeaky - is that what you were asking about?

Edited to delete extraneous word - can't even type ONE FARKING LINE without a typo - Jeesh!

Re-edited to correct typo in my edit **PortiaLong hands head in shame...

Message edited by its author, Jul 11, 2009, 1:52pm.

--> 116

Luke is working to try to fix the problem with Cool Jew which is showing up as having been received but not reviewed. He knows that it has been reviewed and said that it was a combiner problem which should resolve in time. I was just asking how long it will take for that to happen lest that does not resolve the problem.

What do you do if it list book as unreviewed that have been?

This is a wonderful site! I just found it after losing it once:( Go figure. Anyway, I have two books for July, neither of which I have yet received. How long do we wait to notify Abby of this?

Thanks.

The July books have just been posted. The recipients aren't being chosen until July 24th. Also you can only win one book per batch.

Do you mean Member Give Away perhaps (its a different program). If you have been selected for a book the usual wait to report it missing is 2-3 months I think, to allow for slow shipping.

I won Tehran in June, but have not recieved it and it's not on my list

One of the books I got was a PDF. I will review it, but I won't add it to my library. I may create a special collection just for such. I really don't think of PDF's as books just yet. Without proper electronic care and handling, you could lose the file pfff and then where will you be...

114: Well its like this....
We have these magic gnomes that are supposed to handle these issues in the dead of night. But, as everyone knows, gnomes are notoriously unreliable, drink on the job, etc. So... I'm looking at a fix. There is a problem combiner books not always getting accurate reviews data.

115: Got it, thanks.

121: Can you be more specific on that title? I see listings in my ER lists for Honeymoon in Tehran, The Tehran Conviction, Rooftops of Tehran... was it one of those?

--> 123

At first I was going to suggest that you have Tim fire those gnomes, but I see they fixed the problem!! Luke, please thank those gnomes for me. :)

I review books for our blog. I request my books through one LT (bookclub4evr) but I post my reviews on our blog LT(living2read) (e.g. "Beat" by Amy Boaz), because one of my fellow bloggers is already the designated Early Reviewer on living2read. Any way I can get 'credit'?

125>

No.

You need to post reviews to the same account you request them from. This really isn't hard.

I also didn't get credit for reviewing Sarah's Key.

>127
Fixed!

I really appreciate this feature, which got me to review my neglected book right away. The task was not a major one, but had been nagging at me for months, and I could never justify doing it instead of something else. Somehow the link to this page did the trick. And the info on the page was 100% accurate.

I won a book from the last batch and I STILL have not received it. Where are these books being shipped from so I know when to expect them to arrive?

130 > 4-8 weeks are not uncommon, some books can take as many as 12 (with a few extreme outliers)

>130

The books are shipped from the publisher, so the time frame will vary depending on the book.

You might want to keep an eye on the June Books Received thread and see if anyone has reported receiving the same book that you are getting.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/68734

.

Message edited by its author, Jul 14, 2009, 2:43pm.

Gosh, another one missed -- I reviewed The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss, which I got through the Early Reviewers program. And that's it, I promise.

I got the the new David Liss, and it shows up in my list, but as it is the third of the Benjamin Weavers I went and got the other two to read so I could be in the right place at the right time. It is taking me a little while to get to it. So is there a time limit on completing your gig as an early reviewer?

It would be kinda nice if the link to the "what you've won" page were at the top of the ER list, or the top of the early reviewers group, or somewhere easily accessible, and not just in a topic thread. So far, this is the only place I can find the link.

>133
Should be on there now.

>135
It's in a blue bar on the main ER list page. And we're adding a link to the homepage module.

Re: 134
I'm pretty sure there's no time limit.

134: Something like a month or two after most people have their copies?

It's expected that you will do the review fairly soon after you receive the book, especially if you want to get more books in the future, but I get the feeling there is no such thing as too late if you have forgotten one or just procrastinated (ahem, who, me?) beyond the bounds of reason.

So yesterday began to feel fluish and that enabled me to sit down and just read the entire day. Finished Liss/Weaver one and now onto two. Who knows maybe into The Devils Company for early reviewing by the weekend.

Does that work? Feeling "fluish"? I may have a touch of the ague...

Feeling Flu-ish made me stop and do nothing that I would normally do, so I got a chance to read all day... This being unemployed I would have thought would have given me all sorts of time, but strangely that is not the case. (The job hunt alone can be up to two hours of resume submittal every day.)

The page looks great but I have a book on my list (dated June 2009) which I neither requested nor won. I've checked my PMs again and as far as I can see, there's no notification of having snagged anything all year.

The book is called Dedications.

The other book on my page, Hero of Ages, is correct and the review is listed so that's all fine.

144/sylviawrigley: I looked at your profile comments and I do see the book. You got the message on Jul 24, 2008.

This is a great feature, thank you so much!

There is one missing ER book that I did review in October 2008, but it's not showing up on my list: The Charlemagne Pursuit.

http://www.librarything.com/profile_revi...

146/vetters Added, thanks.

Thank YOU! Look at that speedy service! :)

Since the early reviewer program started in 2007 abby has told me (us) "Don't worry about whether you review a book or not; it won't have any effect on your selection for another book."

Now I am seeing that in fact whether you review a book or not does have a bearing on whether you are selected for another book.

Personally, I think it should have been that way all alog. As an author, I submitted more than three score books (70+-) and sent them to winnerts asking for a review. So far I have counted less than 10 reviews sumbitted and I, for one, will not be using the early review forum again without a guarantee of a review.

Yep. I said GAURANTEE. After all, between the postage an d materials (book itself, envelope)I've spent about $920, and I could have bought an advertisement in a literary magazine for less than that. The return is not worth it for the small publisher unless LT puts some teeth into the review requirement.

>149
Since the early reviewer program started in 2007 abby has told me (us) "Don't worry about whether you review a book or not; it won't have any effect on your selection for another book."

?? - It has been my understanding all along (since I joined the ER program - also in 2007) that whether you reviewed the books you were sent DID affect your chances of getting another book via the program. Where are you finding conflicting information?

I thought that exceptions were made only for books that were known to have been lost/never sent (i.e. reported to Abby).

(Furthermore, it was my understanding that the "snapshot" of your library was taken before the books were put up for the next batch, so you couldn't game the system after seeing a book you particularly wanted by adding books that matched to your library.)

>149
andyray, unless my memory is worse than I thought, your books were offered through the Member Giveaway Program, not the Early Reviewer Program. Different program and different rules.

>150
Portia, my understanding was the same as yours, and I've been around from the beginning too.

But the Member Giveaway Program was only started recently, not in 2007.

So let me get this straight, some people have won multiple ER books, thus needing a method to track them; whereas I have yet to win ANY! Hmm...

149: You are definitely mistaken. The *Member* Giveaway Program might work that way (I don't know, I don't look at that one), but the ER doesn't and never has. I've been a part of it for awhile now, and the warning has *always* been that whether or not you review the book will affect your later chances. Always.

>153 - My understanding is that books that you have currently entered on LT also factor into the algorithm. They want to match books to the people that are most likely to appreciate them. With only 78 books entered you might not be giving a full view of the scale of your interests.

Curious question -

I have heard (although I'm not sure whether this is true or just member-musing) that how many of your books are reviewed (not ER books, just books in general) also has an affect on your ER chances.

If this is true, does it now take into account the addition of the wishlist collection? I certainly haven't reviewed any of those yet!

#156 Aerrin99 - I've gotten quite a few ER books, so I don't think it works that way. It only takes into account if you've reviewed the ER books you've received. There are lots of other factors, but not non-ER book reviews to the best of my knowledge.

Otherwise I'd be in serious trouble - I've reviewed only 79 of the 3095 books in my library!

The FAQ says:

" * Expressed interest
* Random chance
* How many books the reviewer has received from LTER
* The reviewer's reviewing history
* The contents and organization of the reviewer's LibraryThing account
* Other factors not revealed or not yet determined
* Lecanomancy "

It doesn't specifically say how reviews factor in, but I doubt it's "% books reviewed of your total books". It's probably more like how many reviews you've done in general.

As far as I know, reviews in general don't matter. It's the reviews you've done of the books you won. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten any books, just like 157.

As I have said above, I really like this feature. I'm happy to have a place to go and check whether I've reviewed what I have received. Helps me be a responsible adult LT citizen. That being the case, I think the profile reminders I received today about two books I have yet to review are totally unnecessary, and a little off-putting.

I look at it as helping you to win as many books as possible (by having a complete set of reviews) while providing the publishers with the thing that encourages them to give more books away.

Fair enough, but it put me off as well. I know that it was a general message, but the book I had outstanding was from the March batch; it arrived one day before the reminder did and I was already rushing to read and review it before today.

Imagine if they had held your lack of review against you and never said anything ? It seems they are trying to make sure people aren't penalized. I would be thankful to get a reminder. You can tell them about your special circumstances.

For those who have forgotten or are putting it off, its a reminder before the boom falls. After all a review is a requirement of the program,

I'm hearing from a bunch of people who are irritated by the reminder message. I've also had a ton of replies thanking me, for books they had forgotten they had won. And I'm hearing from people angry about the reminder for a book that they "just haven't gotten to yet"—that they won in 2007. Extenuating circumstances aside, those people I have little sympathy for.

Right now the feature's still new, and many people hadn't even seen the page yet. We want them to look. The data isn't perfect yet either—we're finding, occasionally, that reviews aren't being counted because a book isn't combined properly, or it's listed under a different author, etc. Sending out the reminder helps everyone because then members notice if their data is wrong, we can fix it.

And it is also about accountability. No, you aren't required to review Early Reviewer books. But if you don't review, it does/should affect your chances for getting future books. We've been a little lax about making sure reviews get written, and that people are properly penalized for not reviewing books. Review rates are slipping, and that's not fair to the publishers who are giving out books. If we want the program to continue, then we need to be able to prove to publishers that it's working.

Hence, the books you've won page. It helps you because it exposes our data to you. You're seeing what we see—what books we're counting for you, whether you've reviewed them or not, etc. We'll also be able to have a better picture of which books never show up (as much as I love scanning the books received / never received threads...). That data we can report back to publishers, in a less anecdotal fashion.

So on that note, know that we are going to start sending the reminder comments on a regular basis. I think it'll go out 60 days after you've won a book, if it isn't reviewed yet. I know this first round included books from long ago, some which were long lost in the mail and never showed up. Once you've marked them unreceived on the Books you've won page, you won't get reminders about them again. It'll clear your slate (don't cheat and mark books you don't want to read as unreceived please. I added this to the Early Reviewers FAQ the other day...)

Message edited by its author, Jul 24, 2009, 10:13am.

Sounds reasonable to me.

No, you aren't required to review Early Reviewer books.

Huh? I thought that *was* a requirement of requesting an ER book!

I really like this new feature as it hold members to accountable for reviews and also works as a reminder for those who have many other pressing issues at home which has caused them to not complete their reviews. Twenty-five words of review is not asking toomuch.

Maybe for those who have extenuating circumstances for not providing a review, they can be put on a "hold" or on a "vacation" status so that they do not continue to receive reminders about review obligations they don't have the time or inclination to fulfill. Obviously, they also woul dnot be receiving new ER books.

Huh? I thought that *was* a requirement of requesting an ER book!

it is a requirement if you wish to continue receiving books from ER, it is not legally binding...

I have no objection to being "held accountable"---I've always known that missing reviews is a black mark against receiving more books. I'm not making any excuses for myself for the two I haven't reviewed or read. I fully intend to do both, with both. Wouldn't have requested them if I didn't. If Abby and the rest of the crew thinks the reminders will help the program, I'll just pack my grump in a box and put it away.

I think that part of the issue is that the reviews do need to be "early". Publishers use this program as a marketing device for books about to be released in an effort to promote pre-release "buzz". A late review is simply not the same. Even a negative early review can stir up interest in a book by making it controversial.

In order to give the most power to the punch, a ER book does have to be reviewed in a timely fashion. People who apply for these books should consider, in all honesty, if they are willing to give a book the time it needs to be read when they receive it (barring any unforeseen adverse home situations, of course).

Message edited by its author, Jul 24, 2009, 11:06am.

I took a look at the data. Since we released the Winnings page we've seen a great improvement in the number of reviews posted per day, around double. Yesterday saw our daily number of ER reviews submitted go up by about 500% again, or 5 times the normal amount per day.

If you like numbers:

We were getting 20 to 30 reviews a day for ER a month ago.
The days right after the new page went up? 152, 269, 109.
After that bump we tapered off to 40-60 a day. Still double the previous numbers.

Yesterday? 268 again. Good work! That's a lot of value to publishers, and hopefully sends a message that they should give away a lot more books to LibraryThing people.

The other thing I notice is that when you get a book from the publisher, they will often include a note or card and ask that the review be posted on Amazon. I have seen books on Amazon that have 1 review and I know more than 1 person received the book.

171: Asking is not the same as requiring. All that's required is a review on LT.

171>

They can request that I post a review on Amazon until they're blue in the face, but they can't require it -- the terms of the program require only that a review be posted to LT -- and I will never post a review on Amazon, since I haven't had an account there for ten years and will not create one.

I've only gotten 2 books so far (Apr 09 & Jun 09), one reviewed, one I'm working on -- I like the new page. I was *afraid* once I marked the Jun one received, I'd have to rush to get it done, but I think 60 days is a reasonable amount of time to get one done before getting a note from Abby-- after all we all love to read, don't we?

172/ 173

You are right you can ignore the request, but if they make it, they may be checking to see if there are LT reviews there. It may factor into whether they think LT is worthwhile for their ARCs in the future.

I know GR now has an early review program too, and I have seen their reviews on Amazon.

Message edited by its author, Jul 24, 2009, 1:58pm.

175>

If they do, then it's a case of poor expectation management -- LT shouldn't be promising anything other than what they're requiring. (Not that I think they are!)

It seems like you're trying to blackmail me into opening an Amazon account -- ooh, ooh, if you don't post your LT reviews on Amazon then there won't be any more Early Review books! -- which I don't really appreciate.

> 176 you seem to be a professional victim.

177>

Excuse me?

You said, basically "People who don't post reviews on Amazon are going to make publishers less likely to want to use the ER program." How is that not trying to make me post a review on Amazon, and how is anything I've said related to being a victim?

Its the pattern of your behavior - all over LT. You engage in a discussion and invariably decide the other person has done something rude, evil or insulting, making you the victim.

Whatever. Clearly your standards for what constitutes rude and evil differ from mine. (I don't think you were being evil or insulting, just manipulative. Which I stand by.)

No I was posting an opinion. When you called me a blackmailer - that was manipulative.

Ho hum...another FicusFan/Lorax duke out.....ahh good...one more star I can remove....one less thread to follow.

Hey kids. I'm re-hijacking. Any issues with the "books you've won" page, including missing/incorrect books can go here. All others meet in the sandlot after school.

145/LibraryThingLuke

I got the year wrong, sorry about that.

There was one book that never arrived that I remember reporting. It must have been that one.

Thanks and sorry for the confusion.

155: "My understanding is that books that you have currently entered on LT also factor into the algorithm. They want to match books to the people that are most likely to appreciate them..."

So my requesting a book isn't enough indication that I would appreciate receiving one? Hmm. :{ Seems like they're trying to match the books with people who will like them and are more likely to give a positive review...it's a bit sketchy.

What if I promise to do a review, would that increase my chances? What about begging? Pretty please, LT, send me an ER book.

Message edited by its author, Jul 29, 2009, 12:06am.

185>

Sure, requesting a book is an indication that you'd appreciate it. But that's obviously not sufficient -- there might be a thousand requests for fifteen copies of a book. So they look at the books in your library. If there's a biography of George Washington on offer, someone who has dozens of books on the early history of the US, other biographies of Washington, biographies of other US founding figures, is going to be more likely to be able to evaluate the quality of the book than someone whose library consists entirely of science fiction novels and programming manuals. So they'll give the book to the good match. ("Appreciate" is the wrong word here. "Evaluate" is a better one.)

What if I promise to do a review, would that increase my chances?

No. By requesting a book, you are already promising to do a review if you succeed in snagging a book. Failing to uphold your end of the deal will hurt your chances in future rounds, of course.

149> Since the early reviewer program started in 2007 abby has told me (us) "Don't worry about whether you review a book or not; it won't have any effect on your selection for another book."

Actually, what I've seen said repeatedly was that you didn't have to do a positive review - that the content of your review had no effect on whether you got another book. Doing a review is expected. I've been very bad about that - I've reviewed some of what I've gotten but I've missed more. I'm working on it. For one thing, I need to be more selective about what I request - I keep getting books that don't interest me a lot, which is really stupid of me.

#187 jjmcgaffey - I need to be more selective about what I request - I keep getting books that don't interest me a lot I learned that lesson with the first couple of books I got. Don't even ask for a book you won't be absolutely thrilled to get and review. In a timely manner, of course.

186> I understand that not reviewing received ER books could hurt my future chances, but it's hard to demonstrate that I will if I never get sent one the the first place!

As for matching books with people who can better evaluate a book, I think that is bollocks. For one, LT libraries are not necessarily comprehensive of a users real library or books they have read. I for one don't add every book I read, but use LT to track books I need to remember to recommend (or not) to friends or students.

Secondly, I think that if books are reviewed only by people who tend to read - and like - that specific type of book, the reviews will be skewed. Using your George Washington example: as a non-history buff myself, I would be more interested in reading a review from someone who hasn't read other GW bios than someone who has read many. Maybe that specific biography is written with a style that appeals to a broader audience, which a biography geek may not appreciate.

P.S. Don't be hatin' on my library of sci fi novels and programming manuals.

So what you're really saying is your mad that LT can't read your mind to see that you would match, because you choose not to bother cataloging more than a few important (to you) works. Members give-a-way is random, maybe that would be a better place to spend your time?

There has never been any secret, that users are selected for books based on your library, this is the information LT has on you, this is what is promised to the publishers to encourage participation, it's not going to change.

189>


As for matching books with people who can better evaluate a book, I think that is bollocks. For one, LT libraries are not necessarily comprehensive of a users real library or books they have read.



So enter the rest of your library. Put it in a separate Collection if you want, but don't whine because LT can't read your mind and won't give you a free book instead of giving it to someone else who wants it just as much but has already demonstrated an interest in the subject or genre.

P.S. Don't be hatin' on my library of sci fi novels and programming manuals.

You haven't ever looked at my library, have you? ;)

Certainly the ER system skews are interest level. But is that a negative thing? Hopefully ER is not populated by fanboys who will't call a spade a spade and won't call gold dross. I have reviewed three now from ER, each with good and bad points. I hopefully pointed those out in my reviews. Whether anyone reads them here, or Amazon where I cross post them is an interesting question. I hope someone benefits from my posting a review.

I do like being given the opportunity to receive a book for free, and reviewing it. I would not say one is simply great because I got a book for free. But I also won't request a book that I have no desire to read.

191> I'm not saying LT should read my mind, but that they should instead trust that if a reader requests a book, they have a genuine interest in reading it. If one receives ER books and doesn't review them or hates every book they receive, then maybe stop considering them for ER books.

Nice library, BTW. I've added you to my watch list. :)

193: Look at Member Giveaway, which does pick randomly among the people who requested it.

While your argument is beneficial for you getting free books, what the publisher wants is people who have read similar books. People who don't review their Early Reviewer books will stop getting any... at some point.

#194 infiniteletters - People who don't review their Early Reviewer books will stop getting any... at some point.

Probably sooner than later now that things are actually quantified so nicely. I'm sure they're making up rules or have made up rules now for how many books you've received and not reviewed in a reasonable time (don't ask me what reasonable is - but I'm sure Tim & Co have an opinion!) and will start factoring it in.

195: Exactly. "Reasonable" is the part to-be-determined. :)

#193 "they should ...trust that if a reader requests a book, they have a genuine interest in reading it." Well, yes. But as has been pointed out, there are often hundreds more requesters for a given title than there are copies available. So there has to be something more to the process of selection than just "Oh, he wants it."

I checked that page a while back and noticed that even though I had added a book to my library and reviewed it, it wasn't listed as such on my page. I went and re-added it from another source and copied the review over. Now it's showing up on the page. Are you pulling data only from certain sources and ignoring others listed with the work, or was that just a fluke? Either way, it's rather frustrating to think that I missed out on other opportunities due to an error with the system.

198 eclecticlibrarian

It may not have been combined properly. That has happened before, and can be fixed without re-adding the book.

What happens when you receive a book that doesn't appear on your page? I just got a book (Sworn to Silence) but my page says I haven't been awarded any titles.

200: Was that a Member Giveaway?

201 > nope, it was an ER in June.

200> Sometimes extra copies become available and are sent out, if this was the case you might not have been added to the db, which would cause this.

Message edited by its author, Aug 7, 2009, 9:36am.

I added it to your list, thanks.

Is this feature still working? I won three new books and none of them are showing up.

The three books are:

Your Legacy of Love: Realize the Gift in Goodbye

EyeLeash: A Blog Novel

The Ultimate Alternative: When One Chooses Lust Over Love

This book showed up in July and worked flawlessly:

The Legend of Vinny Whiskers

Are those ER books, or Member Giveaway books?

Were those three Member Giveaway books? The Books You've Won only lists the Early Reviewer books.

My understanding is that they plan to set up a similar page for Member Giveaway books (I think perhaps only the ones that have asked for reviews) but it hasn't been done yet.

>204
Indeed, those three are all Member Giveaway books. The "Books you've won" page shows only Early Reviewer books.

Hi Abby,
I'm missing Away by Amy Bloom from my list of ER books, I think it was the first one I ever received. Thanks, Mel

>208
Added it for you!

I received and reviewed Best Creative Nonfiction Vol. 3 but that's not yet indicated on the Books You've Won page. This may be because the links for that book direct me to the main page for volume 2 in the series.

>210

Good catch, fixing it now.

I did not receive my January book but cannot mark it received. As per an email on Jan 28, the publisher could not send it to my country.

>212
Fixed, I removed the book from your list.

Stones of Time -Book Two of the Damewood Trilogy by Erin Durante

I am still waiting on this book - even went out and bought the first one in preparation for this coming in the mail. Unfortunately, not to be as that was a July book. I am really dissappointed. Did others complain about this particular book not showing up? Or, is it just me?

Message edited by its author, Oct 20, 2009, 3:00pm.

Did others complain about this particular book not showing up? Or, is it just me?

You might want to check out the Early Reviewers Group. That's usually the best place to find discussion/reports about books that haven't shown up.