It's just a few days now until our February book group meeting, and I've chosen the next month's title in good time (though I won't be revealing it until next week!). Do let me know if you're planning on coming along to the Woodbridge meeting on Monday 24 February - scroll down for the details.
I have all sorts of criteria in choosing books for our discussions, but generally when we look for something new in a shop or library, we tend to turn to the information provided for us by the publisher on the cover.
As we've discovered in our book group discussions time and again, we can often feel misled, even cheated, by the descriptions and promises presented to us. 'Hilarious' claimed the quote from a famous author, or the synopsis on the back, yet for us it barely raised a smile.
Now it seems, from recent reports in the press, that one American publisher, at least, is coming to understand our frustration.
The problem they've identified, is one particular issue - authors commenting on each other's work and this glowing commendation being emblazoned on the front or back of the book. (I've always understood these to be called a 'praise quote' but it seems they're now referred to as the 'blurb'?)
Usually a more famous author is asked to review a less established writer's work to give potential readers confidence in trying someone less familiar.
However, the name of the bestselling, award-winning writer can sometimes appear more prominent than that of the actual author of the book!
Whereas in the past a writer singing the praises of their colleague has seemed generous and noteworthy - after all, they had been so moved by the book that they had wanted to give an endorsement, an encouragement to their fellow writer - these days, new writers are actually required to contact other authors to urge them to recommend their book.
As a result, the pressure for writers to contribute blurbs (or quotes) for their friends can create 'an incestuous and unmeritocratic literary ecosystem that often rewards connections over talent,' according to Sean Manning, publisher of Simon & Schuster’s imprint in the US.
But, as readers, we're a discerning band and we are wise to these wily marketeers. The only challenge we should maintain is to keep trying new talent, debut writers and unfamiliar names. We are sure to find some gems, and then we'll spread the word among each other, I'm sure. In fact at book group we often share new books and authors we've discovered, don't we?
And just to be clear, I may sometimes be asked to review books for this newsletter but I only include those titles I have actually read and genuinely enjoy - and I receive no reward, financial or otherwise, for doing so, except your kind words and the knowledge that this newsletter is useful to you.
So my thanks go to all of you for your support, and for attending the book groups and author events I organise, your generous tips through Kofi, and for buying books from my page on bookshop.org. In fact if you buy a book through bookshop.org before midnight tonight, you can enter a draw to receive flowers every month for a year...
Thank you for reading.