Giving My Opinion

When I retired from library work after 30 years, I looked forward to luxuriating in reading. While working, I would often came home too drained to focus on a good book. My days as a library director involved hiring and firing, budgeting and boards, handling complaints, planning service expansions, resolving problems, writing and managing grants, and dealing with staff issues. I'd just grit my teeth when someone said "it must be nice to have a job where you can read all day."
Now the days and weeks were mine to do as I wished. Besides reading, maybe I'd volunteer at the local library to keep in touch with the world that I still loved. That idea proved impractical, as we played golf three days a week and took trips that interfered with a regular schedule of volunteering. Despite that, I wanted to somehow contribute and be active in the world of readers. I guess I'm just a do-gooder at heart and my library career previously filled that need.
Then I discovered book reviewing on Amazon.com. As a librarian, I'd counted on the reader reviews to help me select books for my library collection. Now as a reader, I found them important to clue me in to books that I'd read next. Then it struck me... I could do that. I could write those reviews to help other readers.
I registered as a reviewer and started entering my opinions on every book as I read it. My family tendency is to never do something halfway. We become obsessed with perfecting whatever interests us. Employers love this type of person. In my retirement, Amazon became the recipient of my drive.
In two and a half years, I posted over 900 reviews on Amazon. Now I'm a fast reader, but not that fast. Besides reviewing what I currently read, I started entering reviews on books read in the past. Then I threw in some reviews of household items as well, since Amazon carries a wide range of products.
Fueling my obsession with posting reviews was Amazon's point system. Reviews received votes from readers on the helpfulness of the review. The more "Yes" votes received, the higher your ranking as a reviewer. "No" votes counted against the reviewer. I set a goal for myself to reach the Top 1000 Reviewer ranking.
I rejoiced when I reached that level, but couldn't stop. Now I craved the Top 500 Reviewer rank. Earlier this year, I reached that magic number. Now each of my reviews carried my name and the words Top 500 Reviewer. I had almost 3,000 helpful votes boosting me to that level. The levels fluctuate daily as other reviewers increase their levels, so reviewers can't rest on their laurels. Others are working to climb ahead of you.
I found a bonus from reaching this status when offers of review books started arriving in my email inbox. Wow, authors wanted me to read and review their books. They would send it to me for free. Often they selected me after seeing that I reviewed the type of book they had written. Several were travel books, another was a book of Kansas history and one was a children's book. I was flattered, but quickly found there could be too much of a good thing. Now the stack of review books stood between me and the pile of books I'd been craving to read next. I felt an obligation to the authors to read and post a review, favorable or not, as soon as possible. This aspect of receiving free books is one I'll have to learn to manage.
Overall, I've enjoyed my reviewing and the opportunity to lead others to books. My opinions are out there for anyone to read. I'm hoping my input gets new readers for my favorite books.

(you can see my book reviews at http://tinyurl.com/lfg6k)

Story ID:	2405
Written by:	Virginia Allain (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	none
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Poinciana Florida USA
Year:	2007
Person:	Book Reviewing