n+1
I was reminded by Nitro’s Lit Mag as accessory post that I’ve been meaning to write about the n+1 vs. lit-blog dust up. The good thing about being late to the party is that there are nice summary posts on other blogs to point to. So here we go.
The Millions blog has a very nice (and even-keeled) summary of a brief essay that the lit mag n+1 ran, unattributed, in its latest issue. The n+1 essay explains why lit blogs are highly suspect. The gist is that lit-bloggers (and I count us in that group) are whores for advance copies, are only writing for the recognition/legitimacy of the publishing houses, and are essentially an unpaid army of publicists writing what is expected of them. Or something.
Wet Asphalt takes up the issue with a little more umbrage, pointing out the hypocrisy of n+1′s position.
The Elegant Variation reproduces Exhibit A – n+1 may think that bloggers are free publicists for the publishing house, because that was the expectation that they had when they provided free issues to bloggers.
The timing of this couldn’t be worse. After writing night and day for over two years, we’ve just to begun to receive a trickling of complimentary books. (To date this blog has received a grand total of five (5) free books from publishers.) We have been “recognized” by one publisher who used a blurb from a review that I wrote about a self-purchased book. We’ve clearly sold out for all this bling and respect – only to now be called on the carpet by n+1. I’m so ashamed.
Actually, no I’m not. It is nice to be recognized, but I suspect that we’d be doing this without the molehill of schwag that we’ve received to date. Don’t get us wrong, we love free stuff. And nothing is cooler than an advance copy. In fact, we’d be just fine if we never had to pay for a book again. That would be swell. (Please keep sending us stuff!)
Among the free copies that we’ve received, there has been no indication that the sender has an expectation of a positive review or even of a commitment to mention the book. Certainly nothing as blatant as Elegant Variation’s note from n+1. Maye a publisher would stop sending us stuff if we hated everything they sent us. But that would be a good thing, right?
Here’s some math – we’ve posted reviews of 199 books to date. One of those posts was based upon a free copy of the book. 0.5%.
So where does that leave us? Should we point out generally that some of the books that we write about may have been given to us by the publisher? Should we point out that a specific book was free? I’ve never seen either scenario anywhere. Ever. Does Michiko Kakutani buy her own books? (We’re certainly not Machiko, and we don’t mean to compare what we do here to what she does.) Help us chart our ethical path forward in our comments.
I still think that n+1 should have been the name of a statistics blog/journal.
Books, Moral Outrage | Tim | 
March 21, 2007 7:00 am
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By Beth (The Toronto One), March 21, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I review books from a publisher (although there’s been some changes there and it might end.) I was contacted after it was noted that I was reviewing books on my blog. I agreed to do the reviews with the proviso that if I hated a book I would say so. So far, I’ve been lucky – I’ve enjoyed them all. But I won’t hesitate to give my true “take” if I dislike one.
I don’t feel like I’m pimping for the publisher. I request the number of books I’d like from a list and I keep my requests to a minimum. And then I give away the books to friends, etc.
I’ve wondered if I should point out that I’ve received some of the books I review for free. But, like you, I haven’t noticed this being done elsewhere. I think it’s sufficient that I am honest in the review.
I hope others comment on this issue. I’d like to read what they have to say.
By ragdoll, March 21, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Well, I find all that to be bollocks. Pure bollocks. I’m of two minds:
1. I actually work for a publisher, and have been known on occasion, to send books to bloggers, and I still think it’s an important way to get the books into hands of people who love to read and who are always looking for a good book to dive into. Yes, it’s nice to have the books reviewed, and yes, in some cases I might be considered a kind of a publicist but in no uncertain terms would I ever, ever in my life a) expect a positive review and/or b) expect every book we send to be reviewed.
2. I am also a blogger (ahem). And would never ‘flog’ a book just because I got it for free (and I get ALL of my books for the most part, for free; see above). Every single review I write is an honest critique of the book itself, and it’s an opinion that I’ve formed and not related to work at all.
But seriously? Who cares. It’s like the hoopla over Oprah’s book club — isn’t it just important that people are READING? And that the work that an author has SLAVED over sometimes for years has been read, appreciated or not appreciated, and then passed on for more love?
Mainly, I want to say, shut up n+1.
By ragdoll, March 21, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Oh, and maybe I wasn’t finished: if you’re not down with the lit-blog community, then don’t READ them.
Sigh.
Okay, I’m now finished. Sorry for the long comment.
By Herman Glimscher, March 21, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Professional reviewers get free books all the time, and it hasn’t stopped any of them from panning a book. And none of them see fit to disclose it. Publishers know that they are taking a risk when they send out a book that it will get a bad review. That’s part of the game. They also know that a bad review is better than no review at all.
The book I am currently reading (lunchtime-by-lunchtime) is one of the freebies we’ve gotten here, and I can tell you right now that my review will be mixed. And I’ve got the note the publisher sent with it. It in no way implies that there should be a quid pro quo, although he does offer the possibility of arranging an interview with the author.
So, my thought is that of course sending out freebies is a PR ploy by publishers. However, it is not done as a bribe. If the Lit Blogs seem to go easy on the books they review, it is most probably because, unlike professional reviewers, they are not required to write reviews of books they did not enjoy and because they tend to choose books they are going to be sympathetic toward in the first place. As people who read for pleasure rather than for a living, they tend to avoid or quickly abandon books that they do not enjoy. It’s that simple.
By Herman Glimscher, March 21, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Ragdoll:
You go, girl.
By flavawheel, March 21, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Oh boy, here we go. This is the thing. The good folks at n + 1 do the exact same thing bloggers do, with one key difference — they get paid.
And since they’d like to continue getting paid, they feel they must scream to the world (i.e. publishers) that bloggers are greedy amateurish shills while they are saintly hypereducated professionals and therefore the only people who could possibly offer a truly objective and valid critique of a book. (That was sent to them for free — keep ‘em coming.)
Which is ridiculous. Look guys, if you provide a service that people deem worthwhile, your paycheck is safe. If not, it’s not. And it sounds to me like the good folks at n + 1 are less certain that bloggers are ruining the world than they are doubting the value of their own work.
By DJ Cayenne, March 21, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Ragdoll: Exactly
Herm: You said it.
Flava: aw, hell yeah
By DJ Cayenne, March 21, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Beth: Sounds like we’re good
By Beth (The Toronto One), March 21, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Glad this topic came up.
Love the support.
I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing – and loving it.
By DJ Cayenne, March 21, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
You know, quite honestly, when this whole blog thing started for us, the idea that anyone would want to send us free anything never even entered my mind…