It’s too bad Amy Hertz doesn’t understand that is NOT why book reviews are being dropped by newspapers.  They are being dropped because newspapers are cutting every bit of spending they can because they are dying. It is all moving on-line (for instance, places like her employer).

People who are trying to decide which book to read couldn’t care less about what the publicist says about a book.  Why?  Because no publicist is going to come out and say “yep, that book I’m being paid to promote isn’t really all that good.”  A reviewer is trusted because they are supposed to be a non-conflicted third-party, not a paid shrill for the book.  Those unbiased opinions are not going anywhere no matter what she may think.

I’m so glad Amy let us know that her column won’t have any book reviews.  I won’t have to waste any of my time bothering to read it.  I’ll bet the wiser publicists aren’t going to like her letter either.

    – Chad Sayban (10/15  at  15-Oct 17:54 -05:00)

I agree with Chad and Jane who unfortunately needed to state the obvious.  Unfortunately I don’t think Amy Hertz actually thought through what she wrote before posting it.
  I would like to add that book reviews can easily be conversation starters.  They have been for my friends and I in many conversations.

    – Laura Weakley (10/18  at  18-Oct 17:50 -05:00)