Hey Bob get the coffee, I agree. I think people are forgetting another source for looking up books and that is www.fantasticfiction.com and most of the time they use the back jacket information. I have compared this fact from books I've brought or get from booksfree. ----- Original Message ----- From: solsticesinger To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:58 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: What a synopsis shouldn't be I have complained a few times about synopses, but it hasn't yielded much, in the way of results. (Sigh) Are you a fan of women's music? If so, check out the Eclectic Collection: A Celebration of Women In Music, each Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 eastern. www.radio360.us ----- Original Message ----- From: Kim Friedman To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:29 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: What a synopsis shouldn't be Hi, Bob, Kim here. I would say that what you read is what the press call a puff piece or publicity piece about a book. It is not by any stretch of the imagination a synopsis. I wouldn't know anything about the book except that other people liked it which tells me nothing. Would I read it? I think I'd do an author search and see if I could find out something about his work. This bit of publicity spiel would at least peak my curiosity about the author. I think your complaint is legit. Maybe you can forward your message to Pavi or write her a personal email in polite terms telling her that as far as you're concerned the book by Rosenfelt has a publicity spiel but not a synopsis. Will that help you? Regards, Kim aka Ellinder. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:56 AM To: bookshare volunteer discussion Subject: [bksvol-discuss] What a synopsis shouldn't be Here is a description of a book just placed in the collection. "Sudden Death, by David Rosenfelt Brief Synopsis: - David Rosenfelt's previous novel. "Bury the Lead, was published in Mysterious Press hardcover in 6/04, and was a "Today show Book Club Pick chosen by Janet Evanovich. Long Synopsis: - David Rosenfelt's previous novel. "Bury the Lead, was published in Mysterious Press hardcover in 6/04, and was a "Today show Book Club Pick chosen by Janet Evanovich.- "First Degree (Mysterious Press, 5/03) won raves from national publications, including "Entertainment Weekly, and starred reviews from both "Kirkus Reviews and "Publishers Weekly.- The author's debut novel. "Open and Shut (Mysterious Press, 2002), was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was praised in the "New York Times.- David Rosenfelt's previous three books were Featured Alternates of The Mystery Guild," with foreign rights sold in Bulgaria, France, Germany, and Japan." There are no categories listed for this book, and it was submitted by bookshare staff. I'm sure Mr. Rosenfelt is a good writer--in fact these synopses verify that fact. I further assume that he writes mysteries from the awards he has won. But, in my opinion, these are exactly what a synopsis should not be. We learn nothing about the book itself, and have no clue as to why we would want to read it Now, perhaps I'm just being grumpy, but this really gets to me. I know I could download the book, read it and write a synopsis, or I could probably look on Amazon.com or google books and find a summary I could put into my own words. But, I don't feel it's right to do someone else's job for them. Ok, rant over. Am I right to complain? or should I just ignore what I see as a non synopsis? Bob (probably needs more coffee) "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."--Margaret Mead __________ NOD32 4072 (20090513) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com