If I get a review copy of a book that sounded interesting from a publicist, but it turns out I kind of hate the book, am I still obliged to read it and write it up for the blog? I’m not talking about the totally unsolicited review copies that turn up unannounced in my mail– I feel no obligation to read those at all– but a book where I replied to an email to specifically request a copy.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, they did send me something free, expecting some publicity in return. On the other, I suspect they’d be just as happy having me not<\/em> post a review saying “The first three pages of this made me want to scoop my eyes out with a grapefruit spoon, so as to avoid having to read the rest of it.”<\/p>\n On the additional appendage of your choice, though, do I owe it to my readers to warn them off a book that I found kind of awful? Even if it’s mostly just that the overlap between their intended audience and me is zero, and I suspect the book might appeal to the people they want it to appeal to?<\/p>\n Let’s make this (social) scientific-like:<\/p>\n