• July 23, 2010

Got Books? New Release vs. Back Catalog

Welcome to Musings of an All Purpose Monkey! Chances are if you’re here on July 23rd or 24th you’re a book lover who got here via the Got Books? event. I’m proud to be one of the over 100 bloggers participating in this inaugural Got Books? celebration of books and book blogs. Thank you to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and There’s A Book for bringing us all together.

I thought I’d take this opportunity to ask a question about what you review and what you want to see when you visit other book blogs: new releases, back catalog titles or both?

Though I try to keep up with and review as many new releases as possible, I also enjoy sharing old favorites and books / authors that are new to me, even if they’ve been around forever. After all, I figure if I only just discovered someone there are undoubtedly other readers out there who’d also like an introduction as well.

What do you think? Do only new release reviews matter to you, or is it important to review old favorites and back catalog titles with an eye toward exposing them to readers who may not have encountered them before? Leave a comment with your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win the following prize pack (<= photo):

  • An ARC of The Sky Is Everywhere by debut author Jandy Nelson (trade paperback)
  • The Suspect, first in the Karl Alberg series by L.R. Wright (trade paperback)
  • Dust to Dust, second in Tami Hoag’s Kovac & Liska series (paperback)
  • Fang, sixth and most recent book in the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson (hardcover)
  • An ivory/brown striped canvas tote bag (new, just took it out of the wrapper for the photo)

As you can see, in the spirit of the new release vs. back catalog conversation I’ve included a little bit of everything on the spectrum, as well as a tote bag for you to carry your beach books in! Please be sure to include your email address or website link with your comment so I have a way to contact the winner. Contest is open to US/Canada.

***The contest is now closed.***

Thanks for stopping by. Please have a look around Musings of an All Purpose Monkey, and then be sure to go visit another Got Books? event participating blog site!

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93 Comments

  • Angela Z

    July 24, 2010 - 1:29 AM

    Definitely both! Most blogs that I have visited only review recent books, but I think it is equally important to review the older books too.

    thanks for the giveaway!
    angela z
    freadom31 at gmail dot com

  • Ash L

    July 24, 2010 - 12:20 AM

    I read everything! There are a lot of series books that I found that were several years old. So, any review to me is a god one! Thanks for the contest.

  • Vidisha

    July 23, 2010 - 11:51 PM

    Great Giveaway!!!
    Enter me

    vidishamun@gmail.com

  • Jules@OneBookShy

    July 23, 2010 - 11:31 PM

    This is a great question! I went over that when I started my blog earlier this month. I have a lot of old favorites that I love to share with others so I think I’d have a hard time sticking to just the new releases. Now that I’m really starting to see what’s out there, I’m trying to get my hands on some of the newer books and authors too. I just flat out love books!

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Jules
    onebookshy (at) yahoo dot com

  • Tara

    July 23, 2010 - 11:28 PM

    I love older books! There are so many great authors to be discovered! I like a 50/50 mix!

  • Caitlin (ScarrletReader)

    July 23, 2010 - 11:05 PM

    Getting the word out about older books is just as important as getting the word for new ones. There are plenty of books i wouldn’t have read if it wasn’t for people spread the word for both old and new releases. I think it’s great that you let the word for both out!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    vanillamusic15@aol.com

  • Nicole

    July 23, 2010 - 10:35 PM

    I think both are important. I love when people suggest older books to me, because it gives me a chance to read whole series, see if I like the authors voice, etc. I’m a huge fan of my local library, so I “try out” a lot of new authors there, then when I’m hooked, their new releases go on my auto buy list.

  • Sophia

    July 23, 2010 - 10:21 PM

    I like reading reviews of newly released books, but it’s always great to read a review of an old book, because then I might read a book I wouldn’t have before.

    sophiayunjin@gmail.com

  • Mystee

    July 23, 2010 - 9:57 PM

    Thanks for a great giveaway.

    majik.of.mystee (at) gmail.com

    http://amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com/

  • Shishito

    July 23, 2010 - 9:41 PM

    What a nice prize pack!
    shishito85 at gmail dot com

  • Bethie

    July 23, 2010 - 9:35 PM

    I think a nice mix of new and old books is the way to go. I enjoy reading about new books. But there are times when I read a review and find an older book that I have never read and know I would enjoy.

  • Nicole Langan

    July 23, 2010 - 9:20 PM

    I’m a fan of the back catalog – I usually go by genre – historical fiction, etc. when deciding to review a book – it doesn’t matter if it is new or not.

    Thanks,
    Nicole
    info@tribute-books.com

  • Crystal F

    July 23, 2010 - 9:16 PM

    I think both are very important – I find a lot of great books I’ve missed when bloggers review older books, so I think if you want to read older books, read them and review them. I may just find something new to read from you 🙂

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

  • Cameo Leisle

    July 23, 2010 - 9:11 PM

    Absolutely reading and reveiwing older books as well is very important! But It comes down to what ever you like and enjoy is Best! Thanks for hosting this contest. Cjleisle(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Lydia

    July 23, 2010 - 8:33 PM

    I read and review everything – from old classics to new books. And I love reading reviews of anything and everything. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean we should forget the old!

  • Courtney

    July 23, 2010 - 8:09 PM

    I read old and new reviews and do both on my blog. Besides I am a classics lover at heart! Great giveaway!

    Courtney
    stilettostorytime(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Reading Angel

    July 23, 2010 - 8:01 PM

    I think both are important, new releases will get the most readers, but old nuggests help spread the word for other great books!
    Thanks
    dukesangel002(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Rebecca

    July 23, 2010 - 8:00 PM

    Backlist, obviously! There are a ton of great books that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve… The whole story, however, is that you should review the books you’re interested in, whether they’re new or not.

  • Jenny B

    July 23, 2010 - 6:59 PM

    I think it’s important to have some of each. Can’t forget about the older stuff!!

  • Gwen

    July 23, 2010 - 6:53 PM

    The back catalog always has the best nuggets out there and I enjoy reading books once the hype has died down.

  • Cinnamon

    July 23, 2010 - 6:48 PM

    I like to see reviews of old stuff too. There are plenty of non new releases that I want to see.

  • suzie

    July 23, 2010 - 6:46 PM

    I like a mix, its always exciting when you find a new to you author that has other books out there

  • Ashley H.

    July 23, 2010 - 6:45 PM

    I think it would be great to review old favorites. Maybe something people have overlooked.

  • Chantel

    July 23, 2010 - 6:44 PM

    I personally like to read reviews of new releases, but I can understand the need to give older books a little recognition.

  • Tammy Shelnut

    July 23, 2010 - 6:32 PM

    I like a good mixture of both. The older books are cheaper, and I’ve found some that have became my favorites. 🙂

  • Jessica @ Confessions of a Bookaholic

    July 23, 2010 - 6:28 PM

    I think it’s important to review both. I like to focus on a lot of new releases and debut authors on my blog but I still love the older books so I make sure to include those when I read them.

    totalbookaholic[at]hotmail[dot]com

  • Angelia

    July 23, 2010 - 5:39 PM

    Thanks for participating! This is fantastic!

  • Kaitlyn in Bookland

    July 23, 2010 - 5:34 PM

    I think it is so important to review both new releases and older ones. I have found older book reviews on blogs for books I have never heard of. It is always fun to revisit old favorites as well 🙂

    Thanks so much!

  • Got Books? Event

    July 23, 2010 - 4:58 PM

    Great job on the post! We love to see a mix of books too….the old and the new, I mean you never really know where your next great read will come from. Thanks for helping to spread the bookish love…happy reading!

  • Naomi Johnson

    July 23, 2010 - 4:54 PM

    I like there to be a mix of old and new items reviewed. Not every new book is that wonderful and not every old book is too dated to enjoy. If it were not for bloggers insisting on reading classic crime fic (Chandler, Hammett, et al), I might never have tried them. And that would be a shame because those books are wonderful. But I also love checking out recommendations for new books, because finding a wonderful new author at the very beginning is a private joy to me.

  • Kathy Martin

    July 23, 2010 - 4:46 PM

    I like to see a mix of older and newer titles. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have anything new to say after reading 10+ reviews of the same hot title. I also like to show off books that aren’t as popular.

  • Amanda W

    July 23, 2010 - 4:45 PM

    There are some older books that stand the test of time, but new books are always exciting. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    amandarwest at gmaildotcom

  • Marie

    July 23, 2010 - 4:42 PM

    I read pretty widely so I enjoy hearing about and reading reviews of both new releases as well as older books. There is so much to choose from that I often come across books that have been out for a while but that I missed or didn’t otherwise hear about. There are so many books 🙂

  • Nancy T

    July 23, 2010 - 3:06 PM

    I like reading reviews of any kind so I know whether I’ll like the book or not.

  • xxsquigglesxx

    July 23, 2010 - 2:30 PM

    I like reviews of all books, old or new. If it’s a good book, I want to know about it so I can read it!

  • Lisa Gibson

    July 23, 2010 - 2:28 PM

    I tend to read everything but reviews help me decide which order I may read books in. I’ll read them all eventually, I just may push them down the line a bit.
    lisadgibson (at) live (dot) com

  • Amy S.

    July 23, 2010 - 2:16 PM

    I tend to like whatever book is in front of me, unless it sucks. Then I throw it aside and put a new book in front of me…love the new releases because I feel hip and modern, but the classics are, well, classic!

    Amy S.
    artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

  • Ladytink_534

    July 23, 2010 - 2:07 PM

    I actually prefer older reviews because everyone reviews new ones. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  • Stephanie N

    July 23, 2010 - 12:53 PM

    I think it’s important to expose all sorts of literature to the world. One of my favourite books was written 50 years ago this year, To Kill a Mockingbird, and I would never say it is less important because it is older. And Clan of the Cave Bear still ranks up there as one of my ultimate faves as well A Wrinkle in Time. Do I cast them aside because they are older? There is a place for all books to be in a discussion, not just new ones.

    Thanks for a great giveaway!

  • Carole Spring

    July 23, 2010 - 12:45 PM

    I do more reading of reviews, rather than writing them. I love reading reviews of the new releases and also those of older books. I have purchased old and new books based on reviews that I have read on book blog sites and also reviews from Amazon readers. I find the reviews to be extremely helpful in selecting books to read.

    Thank you for participating in the Got Books Event and for offering this great giveaway.

  • Katie

    July 23, 2010 - 12:43 PM

    I think doing reviews of old books are just as important as the new ones! Thanks for this great giveaway (esp. the bag).

    atomicxrawr@Yahoo.com

  • Colleen

    July 23, 2010 - 12:36 PM

    Interesting question! For the most part I only review newish books (last year or so) simply because there are so, so many great books out there. I do like the idea of reviewing older releases though, and may have to start doing that.

  • Raelena

    July 23, 2010 - 12:29 PM

    I think it is just as important to review older books as it is new books.
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

  • Laura

    July 23, 2010 - 12:06 PM

    I have been reading historical fiction lately.
    I have a blog and read all genres and put reviews on the blog.

  • debp

    July 23, 2010 - 11:06 AM

    I read everything. I think reviews are always a good thing.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  • Kailia Sage

    July 23, 2010 - 10:22 AM

    I read anything, really. But lately, with all the awesome 2010 debut books out there, I read them.

    twilightforever.edward(at)gmail(dot)com

  • sue brandes

    July 23, 2010 - 9:55 AM

    First off I love your blog name! Very catchy. I think it’s important to review both older books and newer books. For one there are a lot of books or authors I have not heard of yet. There are a lot of great books or authors out I have yet to discover and how sad it would be to miss out on finding them by only knowing about new books. Thanks for the giveaway.
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Cass

    July 23, 2010 - 8:10 AM

    Well, lately I’ve been reading 2010 debuts, but I read any books. I’ve got books up to the 90s, though I haven’t reviewed them. 😛 However, I just reviewed Stargirl which is a 2000 review, which isn’t all that recent.

    I say read and review whatever you feel comfortable with. I personally believe if you enjoy the book, even if it’s old, maybe you can get others to be interested in it and go out and read it. Mission accomplished.

  • Ashley Benson

    July 23, 2010 - 5:57 AM

    I read everything. Getting/reviewing new releases is great, but I thinks it’s important to remember that there are a lot of other books out there too!

  • Jasindo

    July 23, 2010 - 4:46 AM

    I have recently been asking myself the same question as I am now starting my own book blog. I came to the conclusion that if I find myself interested in older books, chances are that some people, if not the majority, will be interested as well. Also, I don’t necessarily have a choice in the matter as I am currently strapped for cash.

    Thanks for this great giveaway!