Where Do My Books Come From?
There’s a meme going around the YABB circuit, but started with The Boston Bibliophile, where you list the last twenty books you reviewed and list where they came from. Since I have yet to reach the twenty review mark (you might be able to figure out why it’s less than twenty once you have a look) I am listing all my reviews. I’ve divided them into three groups, with additional details as necessary.
Purchased
- Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr
- The Tricksters, by Margaret Mahy
- Terrier, by Tamora Pierce
- The Tower Room, by Adele Geras
- A Certain Slant of Light, by Laura Whitcomb
- The Secret Circle, by LJ Smith
- Bloodhound, by Tamora Pierce
- The Demon’s Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan
Copies For Review
- Burial, by Neil Cross – via Simon and Schuster UK
- The Medusa Project: The Set Up, by Sophie McKenzie – Simon and Schuster UK
- Fortune’s Folly, by Deva Fagan – won in a contest held by the author
- Eyes Like Stars, by Lisa Mantchev – from the author
- Prophecy of the Sisters, by Michelle Zink – from the author
Other Places
- Need, by Carrie Jones – ARC handed on by Robbie
- Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld – borrowed from the library
- The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman – borrowed from the library
As you can see, the short answer to the title question is “mostly out of my pocket” – aka The Book Depository. I stopped borrowing books from the library when the hassle and cost – yes, cost – became too great. I could either spend two hours on a bus (not including wait times) and $7NZ in fares per trip (so $14NZ in total, to get and then return), or I could just spend $15NZ, order it from The Book Depository and get to keep the book. So pretty much 95% of the books featured in my in my mailbox entries… yeah. And I wouldn’t have a good chunk of those if it weren’t for one massive birthday present giftcard from a seriously awesome friend.
And, as I have lamented with other non-US bloggers, the rest of the ways to get ARCs/review copies are pretty much shut to me. I can’t go to things like ALA and BEA. Apart from Simon and Schuster UK‘s monthly review giveaway (of two or three titles to choose from, and about ten copies per book – if it’s something I’d review, and then if I get lucky), or an author takes pity on me (♥ to Michelle and Lisa here – you guys rock), I have to go out and get the books myself. Out of the next three books on my review list (Dreamhunter, Midnight Never Come and The Song Is You) only one is copy given to me for a review.
I know I sound like a green-eyed monster here – and yeah, I do get a heck of a lot jealous when I hear about bloggers getting to go to things like BEA and book signings etc. – but I still love what I do. Even if my wallet doesn’t. I love books. Love reading, love owning, love writing them. And that’s why I do this.
Upside is, my “to read and review” pile is tiny… unlike some people I know. 
=P
@Robbie: I’d offer to help reduce the size of people’s piles by taking on ARCs etc. that people would be getting in the future. That way they can focus on what they have.
You know, a burdened shared is half the burden.
I’m in Germany, so I can sympathize. Fortunately, I can have review copies sent to my father in the states and then pick them up when I go for a visit. This is way more complicated than most reviewers have it!