First there was the Harper Collins First Look program. Then there was/is the occasional offer of a review copy from authors or publicists. The newest place to (possibly) snag an advance reader's edition (or as they are calling them-Early Reviewer Copies) is at Library Thing. In case you aren't familiar with Library Thing, you can use it to create an online catalog of your books.
I think I get myself into trouble with these opportunities, but I can't resist some of them. Although I only accept or put my name in for a possible review copy for books I am really interested it, there is still the tiny bit of added pressure that these books really do need to be read in a timely manner, if I am going to accept them. I have two of these books sitting on my night stand at the moment; Mademoiselle Victorine by Debra Finerman and The Chess Machine by Robert Lohr. I have both started and was enjoying the stories when I was interrupted by Harry Potter (will be finishing book 6 tonight). So much for reading plans. I'm feeling a tad bit guilty seeing them sit there, but as soon as I find out what happens to Harry, I will get back to them!
On a whim I decided to try for one of the review copies available through Library Thing from Random House. Last month they offered copies of several titles to LT members. I was too late try for any copies, but this month I caught the list just in time. I threw my name in for one, decided I already had too many books going, took out my name, then changed my mind thinking I would never have a chance anyway. There were a mere 70 review copies available and 543 interested members! Somehow I have managed to nab a copy, which coming in the mail. I thought Gifted by Nikita Lalwani sounded interesting and am looking forward to reading it:
"In this penetrating coming-of-age debut from London-based Lalwani, 14-year-old Rumika Vasi struggles to fulfill her mathematical gifts and her family's demands on them, while also finding friendship and romance. Rumi, labeled gifted in kindergarten, becomes subject to the grim home teaching of her father, Mahesh, a professor of mathematics at the University of Swansea in Wales. The goal: to be accepted to Oxford by age 14. Shreene, Rumi's mother, resentfully accepts the household dominance of Rumi's studies while worrying about how to raise her to be a proper young Indian woman. Rumi longs to be in India, where lots of girls are good at math and where she feels at home among her extended family. The pull of romance is also soon part of Rumi's equation." (Publishers Weekly)
Another one to add to the queue. I'm not sure anymore that I could ever be an editor or a professional book reviewer. Too much pressure (I wonder if I would lose the pleasure of the act of reading when there was always a deadline involved), and I would always be thinking about the TBR piles languishing at home. Still, an occasional review copy can be fun to get and read, and I have come across some very good books I might not otherwise have found on my own.