A Good Thriller discussion

This thread is where you can chat about all things PIFM, ask questions and once books have been read, review your selected reads. A complete free for all - just one rule:-

ENJOY!!!

Dang, Tracey! Great list! It's going to be hard choosing one for you!

Kirsten wrote: "Dang, Tracey! Great list! It's going to be hard choosing one for you!"

Sorry! Now you can see my monthly dilemma :-) I have too many books to read and too little time!

Luffy - Don't forget to vote on my books!

Kirsten wrote: "Luffy - Don't forget to vote on my books!"

I haven't voted till now because I don't know any of your books.:/

Luffy wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Luffy - Don't forget to vote on my books!"

I haven't voted till now because I don't know any of your books.:/"

Is that a criteria? I usually just read what the books are about and then vote. If that's how we do it, I'll have to go back and delete votes.

Patricia - you haven't voted for me either!

Kirsten wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Luffy - Don't forget to vote on my books!"

I haven't voted till now because I don't know any of your books.:/"

Is that a criteria? I usually just read what the books..."

Wow, sorry about that. I even had yours marked on my handwritten list.

Kirsten, if I don't know the books, I just vote for the one I'd fancy reading myself, based on the blurb.

I don't know all the books either. I just go by, interesting title and/or the blurb/excerpt. If that doesn't help then I do

"eeny meeny minie moe, pick the bookie in this row. If it looks bad, let it go, eeny meeny minie moe!"

LOL :D

I don't know all the books and nor am I going to investigate every one of them deeply. I go by instinct.

Sometimes I vote for a book that I've previously read and know to be good in my opinion. I also read the blurb (which is why it's nice people use links to the titles). For books I don't know, I choose sometimes based on the overall rating and the number of ratings a book has had. If 50,000 people have rated a book and it's overall rating is 4.5, it must be pretty good, right?

Wow, that list went up fast! I need to get to work!

And I thought I was late, Perri!! Over a week into April.

David wrote: "Kirsten, if I don't know the books, I just vote for the one I'd fancy reading myself, based on the blurb."

Me, too. There are quite a few people that just nominate indies. However, some people just vote if they recognize the title. I guess I think that goes against the spirit of this.

For instance, Amber just posted that she only recognized one title so far.

I mean, if I'm willing to vote for everyone, shouldn't everyone be willing to vote for me??

If I only went by titles I recognize, I would only have voted for Mallory Heart, Freda, Tracey, Luffy, Diane S, Gabrielle, Brenda, and Amber.

That would leave out David, Lynn, Patricia, and Christine.

Doesn't seem right somehow! :(

Agreed Kirsten. This is not an exercise in what books we know. Just a fun activity to choose fellow members' reads. So I ask that if a member has taken the time to choose a read for you then please have the courtesy to extend the same courtesy back. Remember that titles on any member's list are books they WANT to read. You're just helping them to choose a read, that's all. No need for really in depth thought processes. Keep it light hearted and fun.

Freda wrote: "I don't know all the books either. I just go by, interesting title and/or the blurb/excerpt. If that doesn't help then I do

"eeny meeny minie moe, pick the bookie in this row. If it looks bad, le..."

Freeeeeda, I love that!

I read most of the blurbs and then look at some of the reviews. It is most interesting to read the one star reviews (expecially if there are only one or two). I discount the particular one star review that states: "too many characters", "the book is too confusing" , "I can't relate to the protagonist", etc.

is used to pick and review Indie books but the quality was all over the place and sometimes the authors got plain nasty. So because I am thin skinned I now only read and review authors whose work I am familiar with.

Kirsten wrote: "Is that a criteria? I usually just read what the books are about and then vote. If that's how we do it, I'll have to go back and delete votes."

My apologies. I'll vote for you and rectify this mistake ASAP.:)

That really reflects badly on those authors, Diane. Thanks for the heads up. Fortunately, that has not happened to me YET.

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date! I'll catch up soon with May lists and votes.

Diane S. wrote: "is used to pick and review Indie books but the quality was all over the place and sometimes the authors got plain nasty. So because I am thin skinned I now only read and review authors whose work ..."


Have authors actually insulted you? That would be totally unacceptable.

@Amber, I noticed your note on the voting page about only recognizing one book so that was all you could vote for. What we do is check out what a person lists and then vote for one of their selections whether we know the books or not. I hope you will check out the books I listed and vote for one. This is what makes it fun. It never fails I always end up adding books from the listings to my TBR list.

Diane S. wrote: "is used to pick and review Indie books but the quality was all over the place and sometimes the authors got plain nasty. So because I am thin skinned I now only read and review authors whose work ..."

I would never insult someone who didn't like my books. Don't understand what they hope to gain by such behaviour.

David wrote: "Diane S. wrote: "is used to pick and review Indie books but the quality was all over the place and sometimes the authors got plain nasty. So because I am thin skinned I now only read and review au..."

I would think even worse reviews.

I have to confess to being lazy about picking people's books. if I don't know any of the books on the list I go by the title's. with so many books / people I don't always have time to check the blurbs so its a bit like chucking a virtual dart at a board - sorry :)

Sharon wrote: "I have to confess to being lazy about picking people's books. if I don't know any of the books on the list I go by the title's. with so many books / people I don't always have time to check the blu..."

That's not a problem at all, Sharon! Like Janet said, our lists are of books we want to read. There is no wrong choice!

Lynn wrote: "This is what makes it fun. It never fails I always end up adding books from the listings to my TBR list. ..."

This is why I read the blurbs of other people's books. I find some really interesting possibilities.

I don't mind the reasoning behind placing votes but to not vote for a book or to not vote at all does bother.

So I reiterate in the interests of fairness if someone has voted for you, please place votes for them too. I cannot stress this enough. I just want all to have fun.

And just bear in mind the clanging of jail keys!!! ;-)

Brenda wrote: "There is no wrong choice! "

I didn't view it like that. Like Sharon I too don't have a perfectionist attitude when voting on the books.

Luffy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "There is no wrong choice! "

I didn't view it like that. Like Sharon I too don't have a perfectionist attitude when voting on the books."

I'm glad you started the discussion, Luffy!

Brenda wrote: "I'm glad you started the discussion, Luffy!"

I'm happy to be part of it. I've been getting lots of recommendations that I never even knew existed.:)

Now that we have been discussing picking books that we have not read, I have taken the time to look closer at some of the selections. By doing this, I am finding books I will probably read in the future. Many of you have picked some real winners.

Exactly, Luffy! I use this as a way to clean up my to-read bookshelf.

Just posted my list and my votes everyone.

Hi

I have voted for everyone, and I have added five for May.

I have picked ALL five books from authors that have sent me their books and are members here.

Could have picked a lot more !!

Sue wrote: "Just posted my list and my votes everyone."

And what a list it is, Sue!! It was a tough choice!

Brenda wrote: "Sue wrote: "Just posted my list and my votes everyone."

And what a list it is, Sue!! It was a tough choice!"

I know Brenda. I have some great books to read.

It's the nature of the pick-it-4-me beast. You are selected one to read, but gain 20 more to add to your shelves.
I find that to be half the fun..no 1/3 the fun.
Partly finding so many new good book choices, partly reading the book, partly the chitty-chat that inevitably ensues.
My list and votes soon.

Well, I've done gone and poked myself in the eye a few days ago and it swelled up like a balloon. Has anyone ever tried reading a book with one eye? Good grief. On antibiotics and doing my best. I'll not do that again. LOL

I went to swipe away something that floated inside my eye glasses. Without bothering to lift my glasses, 'poke'...oww. Can we say 'dummy'???? :D

Freda wrote: "Well, I've done gone and poked myself in the eye a few days ago and it swelled up like a balloon. Has anyone ever tried reading a book with one eye? Good grief. On antibiotics and doing my best. I'..."

That's real tough luck. Hope you get well soon. I myself find even an ache in a finger distracting, so even if I'm in no position to relate, I can empathize.

Sorry to hear that Freda. I have 1 bad eye waiting for cornea transplant surgery, so I understand the 1 eye concept. Not easy. What short story are you reading, that you are having trouble with to explain?

Sue wrote: "Sorry to hear that Freda. I have 1 bad eye waiting for cornea transplant surgery, so I understand the 1 eye concept. Not easy. What short story are you reading, that you are having trouble with to ..."

First Contract by Frank Westworth. It could be a really good book, possibly even another Jack Reacher type but...I just don't know how to word it. It's lacking a couple of things but don't know the words for it.

I can't say Freda as I haven't read the short story. Just say it simple ...remember the KISS concept...Keep It Simple Stupid!

Sue wrote: "I can't say Freda as I haven't read the short story. Just say it simple ...remember the KISS concept...Keep It Simple Stupid!"

LOL, ok. Will do.

Freda and Sue, I love both of your approaches: eerie mean meinie mo and KISS! While it is fun to look up the books that I don't know, it can get to be a lot, especially with some of the longer lists. And it is hard to decide. Maybe a coin toss?
Freda - OUCH! Don't strain your other eye by doing too much reading! Be gentle with yourself, my friend.

Thank Jean.

Jean wrote: "Freda and Sue, I love both of your approaches: eerie mean meinie mo and KISS! While it is fun to look up the books that I don't know, it can get to be a lot, especially with some of the longer list..."

I vote for picking books the same way I would answer some mutiple choice exams in school - Question 1=A, 2=B, 3= C, 4=D and then repeat!!! In this case, first person to post = first book, second person = second book. You get the idea!!!

Pat wrote: "I vote for picking books the same way I would answer some mutiple choice exams in school - Question 1=A, 2=B, 3= C, 4=D and then repeat!!! In this case, first person to post = first book, second person = second book. You get the idea!!! "

Lol!