Unpopular Opinions on ARCs
I know the point of ARCs. It's to help shine some publicity on upcoming releases and all that. But for the books 99% of us are already buzzed about...do those really need ARCs? Let's take Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I was scrolling through the BooksforTrade hashtag, as one does when she needs to torment herself over all the pretties. I saw what another person spotted on eBay. Minutes after the signing, someone was already selling their ARC of Ninth House. Really?! I mean it's aggravating enough that people go to those things to get ARCs they have no intention of reading, but to sell it before the event is even over? Really?! I don't know why I'm still surprise by the audacity of others.
And there's all this commotion over a book everyone is already buzzed about! I mean, why do we even need ARCs of this one? Maybe a few ARCs to give out to other authors for quoting and whatnot, because yeah, they're usually pretty friendly with one another and all. I feel like that there are certain books we just don't need ARCs of. When it's that highly coveted ARC of a highly beloved series, why do we even need an ARC for it? There's already enough buzz over it.
I am positive that there is some underlying reason as to why it's necessary other than promo. I just can't see it at the moment. Because sometimes it really sucks. I've been blogging for 10 years and I still rarely ever get ARCs. 95% of the ARC reviews on my blog are from eARCs, and I'm fine with that. There are a few I would LOOOOOVE to have for collecting purposes but since I don't have one of Mose's original tablets with 5 of the 10 commandments on it, I can't really participate in the actually trading. I've made some good trades though for a few books I was curious about but wasn't ready to take the plunge and buy a copy. Still need to read some of those too...
I honestly feel like I could go on more about this topic, but I don't want to hurt feelings or touch on nerves. It's a touchy topic I feel like. As I said, my opinion here might be kind of "unpopular" but it is something that has been nagging at me lately, and I feel like even just hashing it out here might be somewhat therapeutic. But what about you? What are you opinions on ARCs? Particularly, ARCs of already buzzed about books months before there were even ARCs?
I am surprised when a highly anticipated book does ARCs. I know they send them to book sellers and libraries, but I am surprised such a hyped title went out at a convention.
ReplyDeleteIt's really shameful that people are selling these things. Especially when 99% of the people that get ARCs know how the authors feel about selling them. Why do they have to be so disrespectful?
ReplyDeleteThere's a Rebel sampler someone's trying to sell on eBay for $45. You can download it for free on Fierce Reads.
You know, it is illegal to sell physical ARCs. I've reported people on eBay for doing so, and they've either taken down the item or have been blocked by eBay from selling altogether. It is also illegal to distribute electronic ARCs, and I've reported Pinterest boards that do this as well.
ReplyDeleteIt’s true that you’re not supposed to sell ARCs. And yes, it’s wrong. I think the reason is to get them out to reviewers so there will be reviews as soon as the book is published. Also, there are blog tours, and you really do have to organise those in advance - every day of the tour a different blog, and that means the author has to write all those answers. But there’s no such thing as too much publicity! Even the Harry Potter books, which reviewers had to pick up on the day they were published, when everyone could buy them, were considered reviewable.
ReplyDeleteTBH, I prefer the finished product. There are often changes between ARC and finished book, and you feel embarrassed when you have commented on something that wasn’t there in the final book - or that was missing from the ARC but there in the book. (I recently got one of the latter. I asked the author, whom I was interviewing, before preparing the questions)
I imagine that publishers who catch anyone selling ARCs on line won’t give them any more.
Most of the physical ARCs I get sent are MG books or they're from Blink publishing---the only company that consistently sends me ARCs all the time. I almost never request physical ARCs from anyone, but when I did, I didn't hear back all that often. So, I just don't worry about them, honestly. I used to stress about it, but now if I want a book, I request an e-ARC (I usually get approved for those---though not always).
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right that some books don't actually NEED ARCs, though. And I also think that there are some where the publisher only makes a very limited number of physical ARCs and a lot of them probably get sent to people who are talented at taking gorgeous pictures on Bookstagram. That platform gets books in front of the eyes of LOTS of people quickly. I'm not talented in that way, so I know I'm never going to be the blogger they send all their physical ARCs to.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I have been blogging for nine years and have only gotten a few as in a handful of physical ARCs. Almost all of mine are e-ARCs. I agree that selling them is completely 100% wrong and I hope they all get banned from receiving ARCs of any type. I can't help but be a little jealous of those that do get a physical ARC.
ReplyDelete