Upcoming Review: "The Lost Blogs"
Category: Books & Writing...
Posted Friday, April 07, 2006 at 11:29 AM [GMT-6]

I don't usually publicize in advance the books I'm going to review. For one thing, I can't handle the self-imposed pressure to, you know, actually read the book. But I have to make an exception in this case because the title and subject matter sound so great.

The book is The Lost Blogs : From Jesus to Jim Morrison--The Historically Inaccurate and Totally Fictitious Cyber Diaries of Everyone Worth Knowing by Paul Davidson, and it purports to provide a comical look at what historical figures might have included in their blogs. I expect it to be silly, irreverent, and scattered...in other words, just like the Gazette!

The book won't be released for publication until May, but my review copy should arrive soon (courtesy of Time Warner Book Group) and I'll try to have my impressions online in time for you to decide whether or not to put it on your wish list.

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Comments

Looking forward to that one...sounds wonderful! :-)

Posted by: Gwynne at April 7, 2006 12:16 PM

Just curious...how did you happen to become a reviewer? It sounds somewhat official, since you get advance copies...yet you seem to indicate that it is optional.

Posted by: Mark at April 7, 2006 03:42 PM

That's me: Somewhat Official Sounding. SOS, if you will.

Actually, I'm not sure how the Time Warner Book Group's Online Marketing group found the Gazette, nor why they had the dubious judgment to ask me to participate as a reviewer, but they did. And it is strictly voluntary. They may suggest books to review, but I can request anything on their publication list. It's implied that if they send me a book, I'll read and post a review of it...but it's not a firm obligation. In fact, I once received an unsolicited book, found it completely unengaging, and discarded it after about 20 pages. And one other time a book so confounded me that I simply didn't know how to review it. Otherwise, I've kept up my end of the bargain.

I also don't request books that I or my wife would be likely to buy anyway, which tend to fall into the category of well-established authors. I don't think that's fair to Time Warner, plus nobody needs yet another review of a novel by James Patterson, or Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child. So I tend to request (or agree to recommendations of) more obscure titles or authors. After all, the whole point is to create a buzz -- if the book warrants it.

Does that make sense?

Posted by: Eric at April 7, 2006 03:55 PM

Perfect sense...the books they send you are well worth the advertising hit they get (if it gets a favorable review from you)...a good deal for you guys as well.

Posted by: Mark at April 7, 2006 07:49 PM

Woohoo! I'm so glad you'll be reading this. Paul Davidson is one of my blogging buddies. I love it when the world gets just a wee bit smaller and cozier like that.

Happy Easter. Welcome home. Did you bring me any fish? :)

Posted by: Bakerina at April 16, 2006 02:06 PM

Paul Davidson is one of my blogging buddies.

Put some pressure on me, why don't you? ;-)

But, that is pretty cool. Maybe he wrote a fictional post from the perspective of a certain New York lass with a penchant for the history of eggs.

Oh, and about the fish...we encountered plenty of worms (see latest post) but the fish were MIA. Sorry. Would you settle for a double chocolate mud dauber cookie?

Posted by: Eric at April 16, 2006 07:24 PM
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