Here's one of their most recent picks:
Here's another that was chosen with me in mind:
Alibris add insult, describing this classic as a book I thought I'd never find:
And finally, there's this "book", which is actually a DVD:
Now, to be fair, the folks at Alibris have very little to go on. Our only contact took place back in 2008 when I purchased The Authentic Confessions of Harriet Marwood, an English Governess through their site. Faux-Victorian erotica penned by Montreal poet John Glassco, it says a great deal about Alibris that not a single Canadian title has figured in their four years of lovingly hand-selected recommendations. No poetry or porn, either.
Photo by Mary Elam
These are just four of the many books owner Adrian King-Edwards has put in my hands over the years:
John Glassco
Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1970
Inscribed and annotated by the author. Ex-libris Frank and Marian Scott.
Honoré de Balzac
Paris: Michel Lévy Frères, 1867
Ex-libris John Glassco
F. Scott Fitzgerald
London: Grey Walls, 1950
Pamela Fry
London: Davies, 1960
Inscribed by the author.
Every one purchased. The only times I've ever passed on a recommendation – a rare event – was when I already owned a copy of the book in question.
The good souls at the Word know me; they don't insult, they don't waste my time... and they're very generous with bookmarks.
Sort of glad I never used Alibris-I did think about it over the years. Of course, all of those books would be my first choices.
ReplyDeleteI think those automated "if you like this, you'll love this" robots are utterly worthless. It's all based on simplistic word seaches using subject heading, authors and title words from previous purchases. They were an iditoic invention started by the evil amazon empire (I think) and everyone else in the online bookselling world decided to follow suit. You should see the "recommendations" I get when I log on to Better World Books. Laughable.
ReplyDeleteAlibris always cunningly recommends to me the same 4 books I already bought from them years ago.
ReplyDeletePatti, it would be easy enough for me to exit their mailing lists. Really, I'm just curious to see how long it will take before they recommend something I want. That or I'm a sucker for punishment.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I have a feeling that I'm receiving default suggestions of some sort. If you like The Authentic Confessions of Harriet Marwood, an English Governess you'll like Lady and the Tramp. Hmm.
JRSM, that is cunning. Substituting one - but only one - of the titles with something you didn't buy would be even more so.
Hi there, I work at Alibris and I came across your post. Just wanted to say, point well-taken! Since there is only one purchase in your customer history, it does look like you're receiving default selections, and not particularly enticing ones at that.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, we're all for everyone shopping at their local independent bookstore! But anytime you want to shop a store in, say, London or Berlin, give Alibris a try.
If you have any other comments or questions, feel free to email me at info@alibris.com. Put “Attn: Amy” in the subject line so your message will come to me. Happy reading!
years of searching for canadian poetry and french art house films, and no real effect on the recomendations, but ONE seach for "Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill!" and I can never let visitors use my internet again.
ReplyDeleteYou don't discuss the most troubling problem with small independent bookstores, though. Going in, realizing you have lots of books at home you haven't read, and then realizing you're the only customer in the store, and then having to wait until someone else comes in before you can slip out. A riddle for the ages. That's why I watch TV.
ReplyDelete