Tag: NetGalley month

NetGalley Review-a-Thon

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | book reviews> NetGalley> NetGalley Review-a-Thon

What an utterly cool idea!

Lisa at Adventures of 2.0 is hosting a NetGalley Review-a-Thon event as the post-NetGalley Month “debriefing” this weekend. The thought being that since we read all those lovely NetGalley books last month, we need to catch up on our reviewing.

Because reading the books is fun. Writing up what we read can be, well, not so much.

Since we have to commit to how many reviews we’re going to write (but not necessarily post) this weekend, I’m going to say three. I have one book finished that I have to write up, and I should get two more read this weekend and written. I read a lot when I’m stressed (see this morning’s post), and if I’m going to be up half the night I might as well write the reviews while the books are still fresh in my mind.

Every time I see the hash tag for the read-a-thon I have to smile. It’s just perfect. Because the hash tag for the review-a-thon–wait for it–it’s #netgalleyrat.

I think the NetGalley books are the cheese.

December is NetGalley Month Too!

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | book reviews> NetGalley

Unofficially, every month is NetGalley month at Reading Reality. Seriously, I’ve read five NetGalley books so far this month, and the month isn’t half over yet.

Officially, Vicky @ Books, Biscuits and Tea has declared December to be NetGalley Month. Fine by me. Emily @ Red House Books hosted NetGalley Month in April, July and October this year. It’s terrific to see another blogger show more NetGalley love.

Me, I’m still trying to figure out whether NetGalley is my supplier or my enabler, but that’s a whole other story. I just added four more books to my NetGalley queue this afternoon, and I only took one off. This is not good.

But it does mean I’ll have plenty left for the next NetGalley month, which is coming up in January 2012 at Red House Books. So no matter how many I read this month, I’m good to go for next month!

So many egalleys, so little time.

NetGalley Month Recap

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blogging> book reviews> NetGalley

October was NetGalley month., hosted by WilowRaven at Red House Books.

As I look back, I’m not sure which is more astonishing, that I knocked 14 NetGalley books out of my review queue, or that there are 34 more in that queue? And is that more, or again? I can never tell.

Also, and I am probably insane to admit this, but if I say I’m going to review something, I review it. Even if it gets archived and I have to either buy it or get it out of the library.

The other truly amazing thing to me is that I wrote something about all 14 books. And that I read another 14 books from other sources and blogged about most of them, too. Book blogging is a full-time job. And this would be why I read in the middle of the night.

Of all the NetGalley books I read in October, my favorite is still Dearly, Departed, by Lia Habel. While I adored The Iron Knight, as the conclusion of the Iron Fey, Julie Kagawa’s book was expected to be excellent. It would have been a surprise, not to mention an extreme disappointment, if it weren’t.

On the other hand, Dearly, Departed was not only original and delightful, it was also a first novel. I love those kind of surprises!

But here’s the entire rogue’s gallery, my month according to NetGalley:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October is NetGalley month

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blogging> NetGalley

Net Galley should be labeled an addictive substance for readers. I’m totally serious. A friend used to say that McDonald’s put something into their fries to make them so totally addictive that you can’t even get out of the drive-thru before you start eating them. Net Galley is like that. But with books.

I’ve been using Net Galley since June. See, it even sounds like an addiction!

And now I’m just a little scared. I’ve reviewed 43 books since June. 43! And I have 27 lined up. Except I’ve finished just finished two books and need to get the reviews written.

What is Net Galley? Really? It’s a service where publishers post the electronic galleys of their books for reviewers to pick up for reviewing. It has got to be saving some trees. It’s possibly also contributing to the US Postal Service’s deficit, but that’s a different post. It is easy to “shop” Net Galley for new books I might want to read, then send a request to the publisher. Anywhere from a minute to a month later, I get a response that the galley is available. After a quick download to my iPad, I have a new book to read. All I have to do in return is “sing for my supper”, so to speak. In exchange for the free book, I post my honest review of what I’ve read.

So far, 43 times.

And for those librarians out there, Net Galley publishers love librarians. Posting the review on your library’s website absolutely counts as posting the review.

I’m not just a big Net Galley fan, I’m also a fan of those Booklist and Library Journal webinars on what’s upcoming in this or that. This summer, I went through the Booklist archive of YA webinars, all at once. A whole year’s worth. And do you know what I found? You guessed it. Net Galley! A year ago, all the publishers had print galleys. Six months ago, half had print galleys, and half were on Net Galley. By the time I got to the new webinars, all the publishers were on Net Galley. Net Galley is clearly where it’s at.

So this post is my official declaration that I am participating in Net Galley Month. As far as I am concerned, every month is Net Galley Month. They’re the book blogger’s best friend.