Thursday, April 16, 2009

Let's all be haters together!! (i.e. I desperately need your help)

You know how I've been having to read through those 212 &a^%$# books? Here's the thing. I realized today that if I added 100 more books to my sample, I might be able to say something entirely fascinating about how successful the publishing industry is at choosing which books to put marketing money behind.

The problem: I only have one month. And I can't read that many books in a month.

The plea: Will y'all help me read them?

The bribery: For every one (randomly assigned by moi) YA novel that you read and then fill out a form about within the next month, I will give you your choice of:

A) a cupcake from the locally famous Mrs. Backers. (if you read 30 books, just think of the sugar high!) I am willing to ship these wherever.
B) One point of extra credit. I realize that this would only benefit current students, but if you could read 20 books in a month, just think of your grade!!

C) A handmade flower barrette. Any color you want. I make these for Lily all the time and I bet I could pump out at least 100 during two nights of catching up on Lost. They look particularly good on two year olds, though I have been known to wear them myself.



D) A personally signed note. That says I heart you. So much.

Any takers?

12 comments:

bff said...

Wait, wai wai wai wai.t. a. minute.

You're down to 14 books; you HATED a goodly share of the ones you have already read, and you want to EXPAND your sample?

This is the crazy statistics-driven scientist-brain taking over, isn't it? Isn't it? I thought so.

If I get two hours a day on my own projects, I'll give you some leftover time. I read fast. But I can't put this any higher on the ol' priorities, esp if the cupcakes are high-carb. And I have a feeling they are not low-.

author said...

Ah, statistical power. I feel your pain, I really do. I was begging for survey respondents for my dissertation. Count me in; I'll do as many as I can.

Audra said...

sign me up

Emily M. said...

Tempting. But if the book I get assigned ends up being about boners and teens getting drunk, can I skip to the end once I discover that fact?

See, that's why I read teen fiction, because when I'm not randomly sampling (I loved your rant, BTW) I can find pretty good stories without a lot of junk.

Karie said...

If I can find it in the local library, I'll read it for you.

Jamie said...

I'm in. I'm especially interested in the really crappy stuff. (I figure it will bolster my confidence as a writer.)

karen said...

I'll do it. I'm a fast reader.

La Yen said...

I will do it--I am a fast reader and always looking for an excuse to read absolute crap.

Anonymous said...

I'm in. I want the love note.
Love, mom.

Elise said...

I will read. Anything you want. Maybe. All thte boners sound scary.

La Yen said...

I am STILL waiting for my book in the mail--apparently the Gossip Girl series in not popular enough to be in the El Paso library system, but TOO popular to be at our bookstore. I will read it the second it comes!

SWILUA said...

total bummer, La Yen! Do you want me to give you a different book? (and it is just me or is it kind of disturbing that Gossip Girl is the least bit popular?!) xok