tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post6670510109148204866..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: The Shadow of a SmileJim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-81175167847236499832009-10-01T18:35:08.565+01:002009-10-01T18:35:08.565+01:00I have mixed feelings about e-books, Jan, although...I have mixed feelings about e-books, <b>Jan</b>, although I have to say I'm surprised you're finding so many sites reviewing them. They have to take off. It's inevitable and necessary. People like me, who were brought up in a world of paper books, will never fully embrace them – intellectually, perhaps, but emotionally never. I certainly intend to make my books available as e-books – that's our next project – because there is a growing demand but mainly because the cost of postage outside the UK is prohibitively expensive. <br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-63128794579144216942009-10-01T12:58:02.050+01:002009-10-01T12:58:02.050+01:00Discovering new writers through book reviews I fin...Discovering new writers through book reviews I find agreeable, too. There's something old world about it, don't you think? A lot of bloggers I stumble into are into reviewing, and yet it's e-books they're talking about. I don't want to seem snobbish, but I really find that amusing.<br /><br />Ah well, perhaps they're just doing a good turn for their buddies who are marketing in the internet.<br /><br />I read The Fixer in college and I enjoyed it. It puzzles me you did not like it. But of course I can't discount the possibility that I was just too wet behind the ears then. Did you find it too dogmatic?jan geronimohttp://writingtoexhale.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-28604278094292146632009-10-01T09:47:49.093+01:002009-10-01T09:47:49.093+01:00I only do online reviews, Mariana. I don't thi...I only do online reviews, <b>Mariana</b>. I don't think I could write one short enough for a newspaper or magazine. <br /><br />Interesting anecdote about Malamud. I tried to read <i>The Fixer</i> many years ago and gave up on it. I'm sure I still have the book but as I recall it was heavy going.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-5961796494490331232009-10-01T07:29:33.522+01:002009-10-01T07:29:33.522+01:00So you are a book critic, how interesting, I did n...So you are a book critic, how interesting, I did not know that about you, for which media do you write? Just a curiosity about that. Interesting what you tell about this (for me unknown) authors, makes me wanna read it, but I am swamp with things to read regarding me science stuff. One funny story I am going to tell you, my uncle s father was called Bernardo Malamud, we add the o here of course, and when I was young I thought that all the Bernard books that where arround the house were written by him, we had a descent collection of jewish writters books when I was young, but my favourite always was philip roth.<br /><br />bye bye<br /><br />Take care and bye bye.Mariana Sofferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13351209522681966230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-34662332890312937812009-10-01T07:28:10.862+01:002009-10-01T07:28:10.862+01:00I have to be honest, John, I did not like this cov...I have to be honest, <b>John</b>, I did not like this cover. I'm not fond of that style of artwork to begin with which doesn't help but it feels too light for the subject matter. <br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-40590414139069868992009-09-30T22:35:21.902+01:002009-09-30T22:35:21.902+01:00I love that cover art, Jim. It really makes you st...I love that cover art, Jim. It really makes you stop and check it out. Or at least it would in a bookstore.John Ettorrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18229971392235689875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-39674454335127488422009-09-30T19:17:39.944+01:002009-09-30T19:17:39.944+01:00Honestly, Jan, the book gets better. It was just t...Honestly, <b>Jan</b>, the book gets better. It was just that first page that got me. I think what was really going through my mind was how our judgements can change based on the amount of information we have presented to us. I got three chapters but what if I'd only had one page?<br /><br />As for the review copies. I really had no intention of writing book reviews on a regular basis when I began this blog and then Canongate asked if any of the members of Goodreads wanted to review a book. Never one to refuse a free book I jumped on the opportunity. One led to two and then three and suddenly it had become a regular thing. And as I got a reputation others jumped on the bandwagon.<br /><br />The good thing about this is that I've been exposed to writers I would never have looked twice at - mainly because of the kind of covers the books get I have to say. Marketing departments have a lot to answer for.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-25237247156575930862009-09-30T14:28:31.664+01:002009-09-30T14:28:31.664+01:00A writer and his adjectives. I'm guilty of thi...A writer and his adjectives. I'm guilty of this myself and I'm just a blogger.<br /><br />The books you review weekly are shipped to you free? That's interesting if that is so. Perhaps doing book reviews myself will help me catch up on my book reading. I've not read a good book for quite sometime now.jan geronimohttp://writingtoexhale.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-81702319708857820202009-09-29T09:02:52.781+01:002009-09-29T09:02:52.781+01:00That should have read "first" - so sorry...That should have read "first" - so sorry :0Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-50707466117109436732009-09-28T10:49:14.616+01:002009-09-28T10:49:14.616+01:00Thanks, Rachel. I actually wrote this three months...Thanks, <b>Rachel</b>. I actually wrote this three months ago and I've just been waiting the publication date arriving. In the interim I was offered a copy of the whole book which I was tempted by but I have too many other books unread and I've committed to another three by the same publisher. I'm trying to keep it to one review a week but it's hard.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-15386553390327244842009-09-28T10:29:46.114+01:002009-09-28T10:29:46.114+01:00I think I am more intrigued by not knowing more th...I think I am more intrigued by not knowing more than the forst three chapters than I might possibly have been otherwise...I think I may have to seek this one out! As ever, a thorough review - even if it was only a thorough fifth, Jim, thanks.Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-18593427440911936462009-09-28T09:43:23.393+01:002009-09-28T09:43:23.393+01:00This was a hard review to do, Dave, because I only...This was a hard review to do, <b>Dave</b>, because I only had access to the first three chapters and so I've hedged my bets a bit. In fact, after doing this review I've decided not to accept advance copies unless I get the whole book because you simply cannot say how things are going to pan out. The best thing I can suggest is to have a look at the three chapters online and see if they grab you.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-1662095350758926242009-09-28T09:19:06.011+01:002009-09-28T09:19:06.011+01:00I'm not sure. I don't think it's for m...I'm not sure. I don't <b>think</b> it's for me, but I'm not sure. I do like Okri, but this isn't grabbing me the way he does. I may have to read your review again.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.com