Just For Thought...(15)

I didn't get the Just For Thought post up last week. Sorry.


We have the poll in for "Do you read the free books you get?".
There was 19 who answered in the poll on the side bar.  The answers fell as so:

• 2, or 10% - Always
• 6, or 31% - Mostly
• 3, or 15% - Never
• 8, or 40% - I'm stocking up for a rainy day

Thank you everyone that voted.  This was interesting to see.  I'm just like everyone else with Mostly and I'm stocking up for a rainy day. :)


Now onto a thought for today...


With all the free books, are the authors making the "best seller" list on Amazon this way?


I'm confused.  And I really don't know how it works with making the list.  How can someone be a "best seller" when they give their book away free? The next question is, are people reading it them?  We kind of see that answer above.


Okay, so Amazon has become the major big thing with all the lists of who's the top selling authors; Today, this Week, this Month, and Year.  So, are all the books that are free considered "top sellers" since people are downloading them?


And maybe it depends on if the book is free for only a few days to draw people in or if it is free for ever. Maybe that is the piece I'm missing.


If the free books are making the "best seller" list, it kind of sounds lopsided to me.  Free...Best Seller.... Um, I'm confused.  I can't seem to mix the words 'Free' and 'Seller' together in my head.


Then, if the books are free, does that mean people are reading them?  I know.  Like I should talk.  I spend money on amazing books, and I haven't read them yet.  But, I don't feel like I took advantage of a "free" thing to just say I have the book.  I paid for it, to help the money game keep going round.


Now I think I'm sounding mean.  I don't want to come across that way.  I'm just not sure.  If a book is free, downloaded because it's no charge, but not really being read, should it qualify to be a best seller?  Any ideas?


I know there are books free for only a few short days, and maybe those aren't considered here because that is a tactic to get you to look at the book, but should those days of free download be considered as "sales"?


I'm curious as to what you think.  I don't know much about the way these lists are figured.  I kind of have mixed thoughts about the free books and best sellers lists.  


Just a thought... ;)

Just for Thought (14)

Do you read the free books you get?

Amazon always has tons of books going on and off free.  Authors have books out there, everywhere, for free.  There are even novella's in series that are free.

I didn't know if you take advantage of the free book options when they are available.  And if you do pick up the free books, or novellas, do you actually read them?  I know we are all weighed down with books to series we have going and review books, so I didn't know if you got to the free books you've picked up. (if you even pick them up.)

I've picked up several free books, amazing sounding books.  And read a few of them, but many are still on my Nook to get to.  I do hope to get there very soon.  But I pass on several free books as well.  The reason, I feel like I'm taking advantage of the author and I won't get a chance to read the book to review it for them.

I know, there's no strings attached when the books are made free, but I know they are hoping you'll read it, love it, then review it.  I feel like I can't live up to that with all I have here on the shelves now.  And since I have a Nook, I don't pick up the free Amazon books.  I know I sit at the computer at work all day, I sit at the computer for about two hours at night with blog visiting, but I like to sit on a comfortable chair, curl up and read.  So I don't get the Amazon free books much as I don't like to read on my computer.

Then, with these free books... Do you pick books in genres other than you normally read in?  This is a chance to try something out you would never try otherwise.  It's a neat idea to experiment with new authors and books, even genre.

With trying a new genre or something out of your norm, do you then review it?  I'm always afraid to read different books for the fear I will not like it, and then lead to a bad review because it's not my normal loved style read.  Do you think that would influence your review because it's not you candy of reads?

Sorry to throw so many questions out at you.  I started thinking as I went and the mind got away from me.  I guess the first question is where I was starting... Do you read the free books you get?  Then review them?

Please let me know your thoughts.  And I've added a poll for those of you who don't feel like commenting. :) Thank you!