It's true. I've seen several books with no long synopsis at all. It will
say
either n/a or none. Sometimes, it just repeats the short synopsis, which
isn't very helpful.
It's very hard to decide whether or not to read a book, when there is a
lack
of description.
Solstice Singer
Are you a fan of Women's music? If so, join me each Wednesday evening from
7
until 10 eastern for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In
Music.
http://mojoradio.us:9090
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Martin" <nancyam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:30 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] e: book synopses and volunteer poll
Hi all,
Yes, I've noticed some synopses aren't very informative. If
members don't know what a book is about, they won't want to read
them. I think I'd need to read the entire book to write a good
synopsis. Spot reading goes against my "be thorough" mentality.
But that's just me.
I filled out the survey and made whatever suggestions I thought
would help.
be blessed,
Nancy Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:42:55 -0400
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] book synopses and volunteer poll
Dear Jill and Booksharian Friends,
Jill, I agree with your observation that synopses are sadly
neglected,
underwritten and uninformative. In the survey I suggested that
another task
volunteers could take on to assist Bookshare is to replace
inadequate
synopses with thoughtfully written ones. This includes short
synopses which
consist of the first 50 words of the dust jacket information
which often
don't give an overall summation of the book and even cut off in
midsentence.
The volunteer might not need to read the entire book, but should
spot read
and do enough research to write from knowledge, not copying
Amazon or other
reviews which isn't allowed anyway.
I made several other suggestions and raved about the many things
I love
about Bookshare, too.
It was disappointing to hear that fewer than ten per cent of
volunteers on
this list filled out the survey. The problems I had with it,
which were just
like those Lori Castner noticed, have been corrected. With
Windows XP and
JAWS 10, the survey was easy to read and fill out.
A few months ago I missed a survey because I procrastinated. I've
been
kicking myself ever since. Now there's a new survey and I hopped
to it to
make my experiences and ideas known. I hope more of you will take
this
opportunity to communicate your impressions of what works and
isn't working
so well from your perspective as volunteers. This is our chance
to talk to
the staff. I'm so glad they are asking and are listening. Let's
not waste
this chance.
Always with love,
Lissi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jill O'Connell" <jillocon@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 1:48 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Currently scanning
Has anyone seen Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons in the
collection? I entered this in the search box the other day and
it took me
to other books by this author but not the one I had sought. I
read this
book in braille a few years ago but may have obtained it from
Web Braille.
While I am on this subject, I think most of the comments that
are showing
up about the books are abysmal. They are obviously pieced from
original
synopses or something, often including an advertising about the
book or
author, marginally helpful in my opinion.
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