Book Giveaways and Book Reviews
@abitosunshine (765)
United States
September 8, 2010 4:56pm CST
Do you like to read? Do you sign up for book giveaways online? If you win a book in a giveaway or contest, do you read it and then write a book review on the book?
I love to read, although it's something I have to make myself make time for in a busy day. Most of the time I read in bed for an hour or so before going to sleep.
Of course, I love to enter book giveaways on blogs and websites in hopes of getting free books to read. And then I feel compelled to write a book review in return for the book. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get to the book and review, but since it's something I enJOY, I do eventually get it done. I know the authors usually appreciate the book review, even though it isn't required.
I've already entered a dozen book giveaways this month and I'm sure I'll enter more before September's over, so hopefully I'll win another good book or two. How about you?
I have 10 books on a shelf waiting to be read that I've won in blog book giveaways. Have you won any good books lately?
4 people like this
12 responses
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
8 Sep 10
I did actually win a book, but I thought it would be mailed to me. I didn't have a way to go pick it up. It was even signed by the author! It was a local tv station though. I haven't heard of winning books on blogs, care to share more information?
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
8 Sep 10
Oh, that's a shame the TV station wouldn't send it to you, gheesh! Do a web search for 'blog book giveaways' and you're sure to find many. Also, you could add me as a friend and I'll message you some links to some that are going on right now..:-)
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
8 Sep 10
yeah, I wouldn't have participated in the contest if I'd known they weren't sending it to me! lol.... I'll add you and look for some links!!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
9 Sep 10
I didn't even know there were any book giveaways online. Seems like a really neat thing.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
Oh yes, the book giveaways are all over the net. And if you like to read and write book reviews, there are many websites looking for reviewers!
@bloggeroo (2167)
• Philippines
9 Sep 10
Well, if you are qualified, there are book giveaways at LibraryThing.com either in some of the book reading groups/clubs or directly given by the author.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 10
I love reading and have done since the time I first started reading
I get my Books second hand either of Ebay or in a Charity Shop once I have read them I will pass them to my Neighbour and once she has read them her Husband takes them to the Hospital where they get sold again for Charity
I also read at Night in bed I always have
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
22 Sep 10
Gabby, I love hearing of books getting passed along from one reader to another. I, however, cannot seem to part with most of mine.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
15 Sep 12
Are you still getting free books and writing book reviews? Do you ever end up with too many books? How/where do you do you share/publish the reviews?
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Yes! I still receive free books online, from giveaways and from a book review website for authors. If I receive the book via the Reviews4Reviews site, then I post my book reviews on site. For all other books, I post them in articles on Squidoo or on my Ruthi Reads book blog.
Too many books? Well, I can never have to many books, but... I seem to be running behind in the writing of my book review todo's!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Sep 10
I do love to read and I will admit that I am an avid reader and have been one since I was just a small girl. However, I didn't know that there were a lot of blog book giveaways and such that I could find to enter. I really appreciate having this new knowledge because that means that I will be able to try to enter the contests so that I will be able to have more different kinds of books to read. Sometimes the budget just doesn't allow me to have new reading material.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
22 Sep 10
I'm so glad I was able to enlighten you on blog book giveaways! I wish you a lot of good luck in winning yourself a few new books to read. I just received another in the mail yesterday..:-)
Curious, do you blog? If so, message me your blog link..:-)
@jcordova888 (156)
• Philippines
9 Jun 12
I love reading, though I haven't tried signing up for book giveaways online. I stumble into good books occasionally and read them online. Otherwise, good friend give me nice book gifts. If I do win a book in a giveaway or contest, I'll make it a point to read it and write a review about it, for as long as it's not too lengthy nor too historical and academic.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Jun 12
Like you, I try to write a book review for the books I win and read. Unfortunately, I am way behind in reading and writing of reviews. And I just won another book last week!
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
9 Sep 10
It's been a while since I last won any books. I do make a point of reviewing books that I win. I do at least one review (for whichever site gave me the book); sometimes, I will do multiple reviews and share them on several different sites... paid reviews generally, of course.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
Good for you on the paid reviews! I don't get paid for my reviews, other than the fact that I post a book review in about 10 different places online and some of those are networks where I get paid for participation, views and comments, on the posts.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
9 Sep 10
I have always loved to read. I have signed for a few book giveaways by mail over the years. Some were worth it while others were not as satisfying to me. I have never paid much attention to book reviews. i like to decide for myself whether i like a book or not. i don;t like someone to tell me what is the best thing to read.1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
I understand where you're coming from about the book reviews. I like them, if they're presented well, as it gives me an idea whether I've an interest in the book or not. I am a registered reviewer for Reviews4Reviews.com, so I get to pick and choose the books I want to read there, which helps to ensure I'll at least enJOY the book, most of the time!
@bloggeroo (2167)
• Philippines
9 Sep 10
I first became aware of book giveaways at LibraryThing.com, but if I remember right, it's only available to U.S. residents so I won't qualify.
Although I like to read, I have a lot of books in my personal library. It's probably 700+ volumes by now so I'm not too motivated to acquire more. And I also downloaded thousands of ebooks which occupied too much hard disk space that I had to burn them in several DVD's.
But then again, free books are still nice to have especially pristine copies with shiny dust covers.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
Yes, The Library Thing Blog is a good sampling of giveaways and book reviews! And it depends on the publishers there, some do ship books to other countries. That's a very nice collection you have. I used to have about that many but left them behind a few years ago. But I am slowly building up a nice collection once again. My favorite to collect now are signed copies from authors I am meeting online. No, they may not be on the best-seller lists, but I'm reading a lot of wonderful writers and some should be bestsellers.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
9 Sep 10
I like to read books but I have not taught of applying for free book online. Indonesia has a strange rule on getting things into the country. If I won, the book will be held in custom until I pay such a dear importing fee (yes, it is consider importing), at the end it will not be a free book anymore.
I hope publishers in my country give books freely before launching.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
I never thought of that for out of this country, gheesh! Mostly here it is the authors themselves or promoters or just people who have arrangements with publishing houses that do the giveaways. May you can heck to see if any of your local authors have blogs and websites where they do same.
@Catana (735)
• United States
8 Sep 10
I read a lot, but I've never signed up for a giveaway. Most of the books being offered aren't anything I'd want to read, and the chances of winning are so small that it's not worth my time to bother. If the author is popular or well-known, too many people sign up for the chance of winning to be very good.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
8 Sep 10
Since I'm an eclectic reader, I'm pretty lucky with whatever books I win. And I guess I'm lucky at winning books, as I've won lots of them this past year. And then, too, I consider the blogging fun and know the giveaways are for promotional purposes and love supporting other bloggers and authors. Try it, you might be surprised!
@chhetp1 (467)
• India
9 Sep 10
Well I too like to read the books a plenty. The only trouble is that I havn't received any books in a giveaway or contest online. I remember when I was in grade 8 I was the champion in Quiz contest in the School and my principal gave me an encyclopaedia, That was the best gift ever given to me by someone. Unfortunately some one took it away from my room in the hostel. However, I am not angry on that someone. As Books should be read and understood, no matter how and where it comes from. But it would be really nice to read the books online and review them for the sake of authors. It is always good to accept criticism in positive manner to succeed.
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
9 Sep 10
Oh, that is terrible that someone stole your encyclopedia! You're correct, a constructive critique or review of a book helps the author immensely.
