Unaware of my error until today, I posted the continuation of this topic under "Book Talk." Egads...

New thread!! Please repost comments here. Please ignore the new thread posted under BOOK TALK...

Thank you, Clare.

You are most welcome, Irene.

Clare, I feel as though we upset the apple cart.

Mea culpa, I upset the apple cart.

I won four, received two, one is probably never going to arrive, the other's just not here yet (from the August batch).

How's that? :)

I feel almost guilty saying this, but: I've won ten. Well, technically nine, but I got one when a publisher decided to send out more copies after the fact. One of the ones I was awarded will probably never arrive - it's been ten months now with no sign of it, so I'll just write it off as forever missing. This is all since November '07 or so.

>7 Fantastic!!

I've won six, one never arrived and one that I just now found out about from the September batch.

I've won 19 now with the September batch, although like rainbowdarling, one of them I didn't actually 'win' but the publisher decided they had extras, which led to me getting 2 from one batch. I started in February of 2008.

I've won eight, none since June. Of the eight, one was really good (America, America), and one was decent (The Night Watchman).

11>

Wow, 19? That's amazing! I've only snagged ten (counting September's) and I started in October 2007.

I believe, with the one I just snagged from the September batch, my total is 14, and I've received them all (well, except for the September one, obviously.) I got the first in October, 2007. Some people got good genes, I got good logarithms.

>13,
It is amazing, considering that's only 20 months. My library is just a really good match for a lot of the stuff that ER offers, I guess. Plus I'm timely about my reviews. Even luckier, I think, is that they've all showed up in a reasonable amount of time.

It's not so grand as 19, but I've been awarded 12 including September, received 10 so far. Most have been decent and I read and review promptly.

I have won 2 books and received both. I have not been lucky either. I just need to read all the books I own and then worry about winning new ones.

15>

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but it almost sounds like you're implying that people who haven't been as lucky as you aren't timely about their reviews. Being timely is a necessary but not sufficient condition for getting books!

I've been a good match for everything I've requested, it's just that other people are better -- and that about half the time there's nothing interesting on offer at all.

Message edited by its author, Sep 29, 2009, 2:39pm.

>18,
No, definitely not. I know there are a lot of people who are even more timely than I am who haven't been as lucky. I just meant that I had the good luck to have good matches (and whatever else the algorithm looks for) and have been able to keep getting the most out of the algorithm by upholding my end of the bargain.

I'm 2 over the last year including bonus batches. I enter every month. I don't know how I stack up against others, but I can't help but feel like maybe the disapointed. Here's hoping for a hot streak.

I have had 4 total, with the first one in June 2008 and the last in Oct. 2008

Sararush - I'm right there with you. I just got my second book since the start of the program. There is a thread here somewhere from a few months back when I had my existential crisis over the ER program. All I can say is, keep entering, keep picking what interests you, and eventually you'll be the one that matches up best.

I've also followed some of the advice given or implied from other folks, and picked up some of the ones I've missed out on but have been particularly interested in through Book Mooch or similar. That almost certainly had little or nothing to do with the book I got this time, but it does seem logical that publishers are likely to supply the same match criteria for each similar book they offer. And in the end, the point is to read the book, no matter how it gets to you, right?

Sararush, those of us with more books have been at it a lot longer; not only does that mean more chances, but it used to be a lot easier to get books than it is now. While the number of titles offered has increased, the average number of copies per title hasn't, and many people don't restrict themselves to just requesting one or two books (I envy people whose tastes match so well with the program!), so the number of requests per title has totally exploded. (Abby could probably provide interesting data on this if she wanted.)

Only four of my books are from 2009; only five in the last twelve months. I had a seven-month dry spell in there, so don't lose hope!

I've got four so far. The first in April 2008 and the most recent in the September batch.

(The others were in Dec 2008 and June 2009)

I've been awarded 11 since April 2008, but only 8 have arrived. One (from July 2008) is so overdue that I assume that it never will arrive. As far as I know, no-one else ever got it either. The other two missing ones are July 2009 and September 2009 so not technically late yet. Especially September, which I only found out about today :)

In 17 months I've been awarded 12 books. One of them I never received and another one was an e-book which I declined to receive - did not realize that fact when I put in for it. (Tend to get excited at the prospect of new, free books. Made resolution afterward to pay closer attention to book descriptions.)

I've been chosen to receive 16 books; only one never arrived. That's in about two years.

I have been awarded 8 books (including Sept) and have received 7.

I won 12, only nine arrived. But that's probably a good average, considering the fact that I live at an FPO address.

Only one. Don't know if it's anything to do with my library, or having less choice as a UK member :(

I've been requesting since the program began and I've won 10. One of them was an extra when the publisher discovered they had more copies. I haven't won any since January now, but I realized I never reviewed that extra, so we'll see if I start getting books again next month.

I've been requesting for the past year, and this month is the first time I'll be getting a book. Not many are available to me, and of those some are not always a good match, but I've kept trying.

I've been awarded two (including September) and received one.

I've only gotten 4.

eleven tries, zero results.

6 ERs
2 member giveaways

snagged 18 ERs (including Aug & Sept '09 which have not arrived yet)
received 15, so far
1 was never received
1 was a surprise (publisher came up with extra books)
trying since June 2007 with scattered "dry spells" of anywhere from 1 month to 6 months in duration

I've been at this from the beginning and have received twenty two ER books and one member give away. I request a lot of books because my taste is all over the place. I know I've been very lucky and am extremely grateful.

I've snagged 15 books so far (including September), and two have not arrived yet (one from June and September's). I've been requesting since the ER program started.

I joined in May of 2007...but I was a little inactive for a bit. Since coming back more actively, I've received eight total. I've had two streaks of three months in along with two copies sporadically spaced at the beginning of my ER journey.

I've been in the program for 13 months, and I've received I believe 12 books here. Some months I didn't request; other months I only put in my name for one or two. I've been very lucky, though, considering I started receiving books right from the get-go. I'm in a bit of a dry spell right now, but I have one review outstanding right now--I'm having a hard time finishing the book.

I have received 3 books - one each year I have been a member.

Most months I don't request any books - apparently I am not generally interested in the types of books that are generally offered. Occasionally I will request a book that sounds mildly interesting and not get it. The 3 books that I have received were very good matches to my eclectic interests (and probably not of interest to as many others).

I've had a look at the members who've replied and most are US members. US members often get the widest choice so I'm assuming that has a lot to do with how many books they've received. As a UK member, I'm often "competing" for books with members from other countries. The only other UK member to respond so far has a much bigger library than me, with a great many books tagged in a few categories.

So I guess me only getting one book in 18 months is due to

1) being a UK member
2) not having a big library
3) having too great a range of books in my library
4) my more popular categories not being compatible with the books that are put up (eg true crime)

1 & 4 are also limiting in terms of what I can request.

Not that I'm complaining - I think the system, overall, is fair. The only time I've seen anything as iffy was when two VERY similar books from the same publisher went up over two consecutive months. One member got both books, which is great for the member but not so great for the publisher, as the response to the books was very likely to be similar, and therefore not great for other readers, as it denied someone else the chance to review one of the books. I can't say it's unfair, as the algorhythm obviously doesn't take this into account and we all sign up to this knowing it doesn't, but it didn't make sense to me.

Septembers win puts me at 14 ER books and so far I have received and read 13 of them and I am working on the 13th review. I started at the beginning of the program as well.

I've snagged nine books total in the two or so years I've been a member and been "trying" -- although the most recent one I haven't received yet, and I never received the ones from February or March this year, either! (So, really, I've really received six so far...)

I never did post my numbers. Since July 15, 2008 (membership date), I have snagged 10 books. I have two reviews outstanding. One in the wings, the other awaiting wings...

I've received four since I joined ER last winter -- and I'm happy about that. Now I have hopes for the October list!

I snagged 6 books and received all of them, starting in January 2008. I was lucky enough to get the first one I requested.

I've received 0 in 6 months of requesting. There are usually at 2 or 3 that I'm interested in.

My library is still small (under 200), so it's not surprising that I'm always a loser non-winner.

I've won 11 since November 2007. I did not receive one, Firefly Lane, back in December 2007 (I really wanted to read that one, too, bummer). I try to be really selective when requesting; I only won 4 books in all of 2008.

re 43
I'm also from the U.K. and have received 4 books over about a year.

I read a lot of fiction in translation, which is why I think I got 2 of the books, as well as books from / set in / about Asia (which accounts for another one). I most recently got Giles Foden's latest thriller, which I presume was because I had read all his others.

I haven't had anything since May, but this is partially because I haven't been requesting as many. The number of books available over here is quite small, and some months there aren't any that interest me. (I was also wanting to read and review the ones I'd been sent).

7 Early Reviewer books
3 Member Giveaways (1 as yet unreviewed)

All of them arrived, although admittedly I might have been happier if some of them hadn't.

I've been getting far fewer ER books over time (none since January 09), but I like the books I get better.

I've "won" 7 since the start of the program, although only 6 have actually showed up (still waiting on a May'09 book).

I suppose that if I were a "fiction reader", I'd have a much larger total, but I only request non-fiction, and in the past (it's been much better of late) the selection has been pretty thin for that.

 

The term fiction reader needs quotes? Are we a euphemism? Do you not believe in us? Are we your fiction?

Clearly it is because BTRIPP believes that all "fiction" books are actually "nonfiction for an alternate universe," and as such, fiction does not actually exist.

So...we'd be fictitious readers?

I joined the site this year and have received one book and reviewed it. I guess I really don't understand how the system works. It looks like some people must get more than one book in a batch. That doesn't seem quite right, but I didn't make the rules. So, how long has the early reviewers program been in place?

>57 So, how long has the early reviewers program been in place?
IIRC, the first batch was June 2007.

And just to clarify, you can only win one book per batch, but a few months have had two batches (i.e. a bonus batch) so there is the potential to win more than one book in a month if there is a bonus batch.

Message edited by its author, Oct 9, 2009, 7:18pm.

I've won 6, received 5, since April 2008 but I've had a dry spell since March 2009. The ones I've won haven't always seemed like the best matches for me, and most of the ones I thought were perfect I didn't get. However, I'm always happy to get a new book, and even if I get nothing I enjoy reading the lists of new books. Good news that more Canadian titles may be available from Penguin starting in November!

I've been here for a few months and won 1 book from ER. I did get an e-book from member's giveaway and another paperback book from MG also. It's depressing to compare with everyone else. LOL

#60 - it's probably the size of the library to some extent working against you. I didn't start getting ER copies for a while after I joined until I started getting through my books and getting reviews in - and I've at least starred everything I've read.

Anyway, more importantly, did you take that profile pic? It doesn't even look like a real tree with how symmetrical it is!

#60 While what Sean said about library size playing a part is true, it's not the only thing. I "won" The Spirit Of The Place (never showed up, I eventually bought it for myself) in March of 2008 when I had even less books in my library than I do now. What also plays a part is how well your library "matches" a book you request. Since the book I won is about a doctor, I'm figuring I won it because of all the "medical" books I had entered. *G*

Haven't won anything since then, tho I keep trying and my Wish list keeps growing! *G*

Since I started requesting books last year (Ok ok, december of last year, but still =P) I haven't officially won a single book.

Out of about 170-ish member giveaway books requested (I archive the messages) I've only won a single book...until a recently. I've won 2 books in the past week. Definitely a nice surprise! :)

Whereas my library evidently matches ER books quite well, but I haven't had ANY luck with member giveaways, haven't won a single one.

58

Thanks for clarifying only one book per batch unless a bonus. That makes me feel better.

60

I've received one book and it was when I was just starting and had very few books listed so I would think I'd have a better chance now. So I don't think the number of books means a sure thing.

None again for me in October - so disappointed again. I'll keep trying but I'm not holding my breath.

63>

Out of about 170-ish member giveaway books requested

Wow! You must have extremely wide-ranging tastes! I hope your luck improves with both programs.

I've been here since April of this year, and have requested a few ER books each month. So far, nothing. My library is comparatively small, but I expect to add about 60 annually, so maybe eventually I'll look good to the mighty algorithm.

I have received one MG book.

66: Actually, I really don't request very many books. I mostly only request fiction - thrillers/fantasy/historical fictoin etc.

According to the Zeitgeist "7,913" books have been given away. I know some of those ebook posters will give away 50-100 copies, but most of the time it's only 1-5 copies per book...so really I've only entered a small percentage of the contests.

The same is true for Early Reviewers. I probably only put in for 4-5 books per month. I figure if I'm going to win one, I want something I'm going to enjoy.

Message edited by its author, Oct 30, 2009, 4:44pm.

I probably only put in for 4-5 books per month.

Let's just say we have dramatically different definitions of "only" and "few", and leave it at that.

Message edited by its author, Oct 30, 2009, 6:58pm.

I've had 3 books: Aug. 2008, Aug 2008 Bonus batch and March? 2009.

I want more. ;)

I've won nine. I think the first one was the summer of 2008. At first I started requesting several from each batch but then I scaled back to only the ones I was really interested in. I'm frequently surprised by which ones I get versus which ones I don't. But, I have no complaints. Nine free books is nothing to sneeze at IMO.

Nikki

I have still only received 2 books from the ER program. I received more from the member giveaway. Just last month I won 3 books, from Member Giveaway, and was quite pleased with them. They all seem like great books.

I have won a total of 11 books from the MG and only one of them I never received. The book got lost in the mail so if he finds my address he will try to send me another one. I am not counting on it.

I have won 2 from the ER program and the last time I won one was in the December batch of 2008.

Hmm.. I've been on LT since Oct. '07, and since then I've won 13 books. I've received 11 of them, one has yet to show up (from July batch, and no one else who won this book has any hopes of it showing up either), and the other unreceived was from October, so it still has time to come.

I've reviewed all of them of course, and my library's pretty extensive, which is no doubt the only reason I've had such luck. :D

But despite all the luck I've had, I've still managed to miss a lot of really good ones. Oh well. :D

None won from the Member Giveaway, as of yet, though I've requested a lot of them since it was began.

Enjoy!
TBQ

Message edited by its author, Nov 8, 2009, 9:49pm.

Wow, I'm surprised by some of these high numbers. I started requesting some time in 2007, I think (when did ER start?), and I'm in the US. I've requested most but not all months since late 2007. I won something in October 2007 (which didn't arrive until into the new year...), and then something in July 2009. So only 2 in more than 2 years. I thought that was just luck of the draw and relatively normal, but I guess not. Granted, I was pretty late getting my first review in, but my luck hasn't really changed substantially since I got it in, judging by the numbers reported here. Maybe it's something about the kind of books on offer and the nature of my library, but even where there have been things I thought would be good matches I've been mostly unlucky. Oh well.