The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for A Second, Less Capable Head: And Other Rogue Stories
Because A Second, Less Capable Head was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Mercelle
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the author narrates a series of bizarre stories with equally weird characters. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the doctor refused to cut off Mr. Ploughright's second head because it would be murder. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.
First Ten review added on March 14, 2019, at 2:32 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sahani Nimandra
A Second, Less Capable Head by James Hanna is a collection of short reads based on dark humor. The official review did entice my interest, but I rather hold my enthusiasm till I engage myself toward this read. I have noticed this book before, but never gave a thought to read it. As I started to read the first story it really didn't capture my interest as the review did. The story goes as a man struggles with his growing lump in his neck which turns out to be another head. Interestingly, how he cannot cut that part of the body because it's considered to be murder. To his annoyance, his wife fancies Alf, the little head. Ironic as it sounds, it gave away my interest toward this read. I didn't encounter any grammatical or typo errors while reading.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 11:08 pm by Sahani Nimandra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Fu Zaila
The cover looks great. The writing seemed to be professionally edited. I liked how the book was contrasted with works of great authors in the Introduction section. However, I kind of felt a little grossed out by the first story and the absurdity of it. Growing a head, and even doubting it to be an Arab plot, is absurd. I get really creeped out by such stories so I won't be reading further.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 10:00 pm by Fu Zaila.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
unamilagra
Before learning what this book was actually about, I admit that I would not have picked it up because the title reminds me of a reference to male genitalia. Also, the cover art makes me uncomfortable, and I don't tend to gravitate toward short stories. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. I feel like there are enough politics on the TV these days without me choosing to read books about them as well. Even though I personally lean liberal, I don't really appreciate when people are caricatured in books, even Tea Party activists. I will not be finishing this book. I did not notice any errors.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 5:08 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
I wouldn't have read this book on my own as I usually don't read a compilation of short stories. After sampling it, I've changed my mind and have decided to read it. I liked the flavor of dark humor infused in the story I read. The dialogues between the characters are engaging. I noticed one extra double quotation mark in the portion I read; this error should be rectified. I read an official review for the book, and that also helped me in my decision to read the whole book. I consider this book to have an unconventional theme, and that excites me to read the rest of it.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 10:46 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sonya Nicolaidis
I was very excited to see this as BOTD and jumped at the chance of giving my opinion of the first ten. Short stories have always interested me enormously, especially unpredictable ones with a twist. The cover is weird and interesting, so is the title, and I would definitely have grabbed this book off a bookshelf for a closer look. The reviews made my mind up, even before I read the sample, that I was going to love this one! In fact the introduction to the collection was interesting in itself, but it was the first story that charmed me and convinced me that this book was a winner. I predicted the outcome differently to what it it was, nevertheless it was still shocking and had a 'wow!" effect. There is no criticism I can offer- for me this book is a perfect read. No mistakes were to be found and I would read it easily in one sitting. A big "yes" from me for this book!
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 8:02 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
I would not have chosen to read and sample the book based on the genre, and I did not change my mind after reading the first ten pages and the official OBC review. Also, both the title and the cover did not catch my attention. "A Second, Less Capable Head: And Other Rogue Stories" by James Hanna is a collection of nineteen dark, humorous stories that follow the lives of degraded people such as criminals, prisoners, or stalkers. The first story of the book, "A Second, Less Capable Head," which names this anthology, follows the story of a plumber who desperately wants to cut off the second head that keeps growing next to his own. I must admit that it was an enjoyable story. The writing style was descriptive and pleasant. Both the characters and the dialogues were engaging and hilarious; in fact, I found myself smiling while reading this short story. The ending was humorous even though it was predictable. However, I am not sure the book was professionally edited as I found some missing commas. For example, "His stomach was churning and he felt a huge belch coming on" instead of "His stomach was churning, and he felt a huge belch coming on." As I am not interested in reading political satire, I will not read the book. Readers who enjoy reading about short stories filled with dark humor will enjoy this well-written work of fiction.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 6:22 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gravy
This isn't my typical fare, so I would not have looked at this, and the sample both did, and did not change my opinion.
I did notice a few errors: a doubled word ("...so many cases that that the government..."), and a case of a missing possessive ("Virgil" where it should have been "Virgil's"), overall, however, it seems very well edited.
The author's cleverness is quite something. I specifically got a kick out of Virgil's last name. I very much enjoyed the first story, and would likely have been tempted into reading more, if not for the hefty price of the physical copy (I prefer to always read a physical copy, for various reasons).
At this time, due mostly to enjoying it, but not enjoying it quite *that* much, I have to give this a pass. I may come back to it at a later date.
There was a review for this book, but that does not affect my opinion.
First Ten review added on March 13, 2019, at 5:04 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
revna01
The OBC reviewer noted this odd collection of shorts as having open interpretations. I think the cover is atrocious but I think the title is hilarious, given the first story. The first ten pages were about Virgil Ploughright, a staunch Republican who is wanting to have the secondary head sprouting from his neck removed. His doctor informs him he can't because that would be murder. Virgil calls it a monkey's head, but his girlfriend Trixie thinks it's cute and named it Alf. I love the sheer absurdity and humor, and liked the political comparisons being drawn. I can offer no advice for improvement. The editing was professional as well. Bizarre shorts aren't appealing to me currently (although I did like Goosebumps as a kid). I think I'll pass on this for now, but I'm glad I have it downloaded in case I change my mind.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 11:17 pm by revna01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
The cover art is interesting and would cause me to take a second look at this book. This is a collection of crazy, creative and satirical short stories. The twist at the end of the first story, A Second, Less Capable Head, reminded me of the twists that made the television show, The Twilight Zone, famous. The main characters, Virgil and Trixie, were very funny and well-developed. The official review rated this book highly. I liked the first story but don't think I would give it a perfect score. I found several grammatical errors in the Introduction, by John Gist, but found no errors in the first short story. I believe that the short stories have been professionally edited. Although I found the first story clever, I do not usually read short stories. I prefer a longer novel. I will not be finishing the book at this time.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 11:07 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
NuelUkah
The cover and title summarizes the book. I can't imagine growing a second head. Therefore, I'd buy and read a copy to know how this interesting tale ends for Virgil. I like how Virgil reacts, especially when he talks with his girlfriend, Trixie.
It seems to be professionally edited. I didn't find any error. The Official OnlineBookClub review shows that this book was well written and is quite interesting.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 8:03 pm by NuelUkah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CinWin
The first short story in "A Second, Less Capable Head" by James Hanna, involves Virgil's problem of the extra head he is growing out of the side of his neck. His doctor won't cut it off. His girlfriend thinks it is cute. Even the President of the USA says we are to live amiably with these extra heads that are popping up on a small minority of citizens. Poor Virgil is out of his mind with distress. Thus ends the first 10 pages of this somewhat bizarre story. I would not have picked this book to read by its cover, because it is comprised of short stories and I prefer long books, so I won't be finishing it. I did enjoy the sample that I read. It is a very whimsical tale and quite funny. There were no typos, and there was an onlinebookclub review. I wouldn't have changed anything, except for the length. Were this a full length book, I would read it.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 6:32 pm by CinWin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
sarahmarlowe randomeducator
This cover is not attractive to me, and I would not have picked this book up. After reading the sample, I will be passing on it. I'm not a big reader of short stories, and the author's humor is not along the lines of what I like to read. Additionally, I predicted what was going to happen to Virgil in surgery, so this is just not a good fit for me. The book is well-edited. I didn't find any errors. I have not read an OBC review of this book.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 6:22 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sweet Psamy
If I had not sampled the first ten pages of this book, I would have chosen to read it because of its editorial and customer reviews. This is because most of them talked about the book's humorous appeal. I love having a good laugh. I would not buy and read the whole book because the humor in it didn't appeal to me the way I had thought it would. It was more mysterious than humorous.
Reading the first ten pages changed my mind about buying the book. This is because I had high expectations from the book based on the editorial and customer reviews, but was disappointed when the first ten pages didn't have enough of the humor as I'd wantedThe book appears not to have been professionally edited. I found this error: "- so many cases that that the government could not keep the story under wraps." (page 8). What I like most in the bit I read was Virgil's insistence to have the second head cut off. I was also of the same opinion.
I think the absence of horror in this book would purify its humorous side. It would make it more funny. Horror doesn't go well with humor. The book did not have an official OnlineBookClub review that I saw. The lack of an official OnlineBookClub review did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 5:55 pm by Sweet Psamy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kristy Khem
This book’s cover design and title are creepy and off-putting. After reading the blurb, I decided that this one is not something I would enjoy, despite the positive reviews on Amazon. I only read the sample for the First Ten programme. The first story is horrifying. It is about a man named Virgil who someone manages to grow a new head. He wants it removed urgently, but his girlfriend doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, she likes it, perhaps more than him. She nicknames the new head Alf. In the end, Virgil finds someone willing to remove the extra head. When his girlfriend visits him after the surgery, she finds that the doctor has removed Virgil’s head instead of Alf’s. This was an unpredictable and frightening ending. I didn’t like this story at all. I will not be buying of reading this book although the OBC review praised it. I did not come across any errors in the sample. The book seems to have been edited fully.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 3:55 pm by Kristy Khem.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'A Second, Less Capable Head' is a book written by James Hanna. The title, blurb, the OBC review, and the customer reviews in Amazon did a good job of convincing me to give the book a try.
The first ten pages of the book leads me to believe that it is a collection of blizzard short stories. The first story revolves around Virgil. Virgil has grown a second head, and he is desperate to get rid of it. I find the concept to be bizarrely interesting. I found some errors. For example, the author had written, “It don’t look intelligent to me.” instead of “It doesn’t look intelligent to me”. Hence, I do not consider it to be professionally edited. I will give this book a skip as I am not in the mind-frame to read a book of this genre.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 3:09 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Camille Turner
I would have sampled this even without the program because from the title, cover, and Amazon blurb, it seems to be a collection of interesting stories full of dynamic characters. After reading the first ten pages, I believe the book to be professionally edited as I didn't see any grammatical errors or typos. I liked the irony in the story. For example, Virgil pickets abortion clinics but then wants to cut off the head growing on his shoulder and can't because it would be considered murder. I thought the characters were funny, as Virgil is a sort of caricature of certain Americans (part of the Tea Party, loves Sarah Palin, fear of Muslims, etc.). However, my impression did change as I no longer think it's a book for me, and I won't be reading the rest of it. I wouldn't improve anything as I think other readers will like it, but for me, the descriptions of the growing second head were just a little gross, and I hated the main character so much (even though I think he's hilariously like so many people in real life) that I didn't feel the need to keep reading about him.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 12:38 pm by Camille Turner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
OloladeO
Based on the cover and title, I would not have read the sample because its genre is not my cup of tea. From the sample, Virgil woke up with a lump on his neck. He panicked and arranged to see his doctor. After examining him, the doctor told him that he was growing another head. Virgil asked the doctor to cut it off, but the doctor refused, saying that it would be murder and that he need's a court's permission to remove it. Virgil then threatened to write to Sarah Palin, which he did, but soon found out that he had written to a porn site instead. Virgil has a girlfriend named Trixie and they both have no idea why they are still together. Trixie named the growing head Alf. The book seems edited. The OBC reviewer gave it a perfect rating, which means that those that favor its genre would find it entertaining. As for me, I would have to pass for the reason I stated earlier.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 11:39 am by OloladeO.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
HRichards
I normally wouldn't pick up this kind of book as the subject matter doesn't appeal to me. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book, as the stories were rather odd and unappealing. The sample deals with a short story where the main character grows another head. The doctor refuses to remove the second head and admits there are people with this problem popping up everywhere. The man discusses the new head with his girlfriend and worries that she will leave him. The writing is pretty good and I didn't notice any grammar errors. The subject matter is rather weird and not to my tastes. Those who like Kafka and bizarre stories might like this book. I have not read any other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 9:43 am by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LV2R
The book cover and title did not interest me. The Amazon Blurb mentioned that the book contained 19 tales that included some strange dark themes. This did not interest me too much. I read the first ten pages that described some of the characters: a two-headed man, a demonic farmer, and a six-inch female. I best like that the introduction was written by a college philosophy professor, who teaches literature and creative writing and has experience with the theory of interpretation. He compares Hanna with several different authors and describes Hanna’s writings as “the strange world of James Hanna.” I like his description because I think he warns us of the horror, absurdity, and violence found in this book. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC review described the 19 tales as hilarious, absurd, bizarre, and frightening with vulgarity. I choose not to read this book at this time because it does not interest me in the strangeness of it all.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 9:13 am by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
This is a collection of short stories. The first ten pages are part of the short story “A Second Less Capable Head”. I have not read a review of this book prior to reading the first ten pages. I wasn’t drawn to the cover of the book, I don’t think I would have chosen the book based on the cover. The story involves Virgil and the growth of a second head. There are interactions with his doctor and his girlfriend, Trixie. I didn’t enjoy this story. It was well-written and looks to be professionally edited because I didn’t see any errors. However, I didn’t like the storyline. Parts of the book that were intended to be humorous, I didn’t find funny. Judging by the first ten pages, this is not the type of book I would enjoy reading. I won’t be reading the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on March 12, 2019, at 8:22 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shelle
I read this book when I saw it was BOTD at least a year ago and found the stories to be funny and intelligent. The stories themselves are a bit outlandish, but that's what makes them so endearing. I hope I still have this book saved on my Kindle and need to go back and re-read it. The OBC review is positive and that should encourage others to give it a go. This book appeared to be professionally edited and error-free.
First Ten review added on May 10, 2018, at 7:08 pm by Shelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
rs1977
The cover depicts the plot of the first story in the book, and so is the title. I would not have selected the book for reading if not for the First Ten program because I am not a fan of short stories. After sampling the book, it's reaffirmed that I am not going to read this book in full, as I only like full-fledged novels, and not short stories. The book seems to be professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked about the first story is the underlying humor. I could not find anything that can be improved in the book. I found an OBC review for the book, but my decision to skip the book is because of my sampling.
First Ten review added on May 10, 2018, at 12:22 pm by rs1977.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ccrews0408
Based on the review, had I not read the first 10 pages, I would have read this book. It looks at real life issues such as addiction and adds satire. Now that I have read the first 10 pages, I plan to read this book. So far, it's witty, humorous and well-written. I didn't notice any typos or grammatical errors and there was an official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on May 10, 2018, at 11:03 am by ccrews0408.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cristina Chifane
Without the first ten program, I would never have read James Hanna's collection. Even if I had accidentaly come across the book, I would not have picked it up because of the rather weird title and cover. Perhaps not even the Amazon blurb or the fact that the author was given the Independent Press Award would have convinced me. What really impressed me and got the book out of anonymity were the editorial and customer reviews. They are all highly praising the author's humor and irony as well as his talent to give birth to such unique and cryptic stories. The introduction signed by John M. Gist prepares the readers for a Freudian descent. He definitely managed to spark my interest with the parallels he draws between Hanna and other writers. The descriptions of the absurdity of contemporary living reminded him of Kafka and the dark magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I loved the beginning of the first short story in the collection. The dialogue between Virgil and the doctor about removing his second head is both hilarious and sad. The author's satire against the absurdity of people's actions is merciless. The irony and satire accompany one scene after another. Virgil writes to Sarah Palin, but his mail ends up on a porn site. He gets more work as a plumber because a lot of housewives in Oakland want to pat the little head called Alf. Even the President wishes to protect the additional heads. Demonstrations follow and severed heads are thrown onto the White House lawn. The author's imagination and quirky sense of humor do not disappoint up to Frixie's reaction at the end. There were no typos or grammar mistakes that I could find in the sample. The OnlineBookClub reviewer promises more twisted stories enhancing the author's versatility. All things considered, I will place Hanna's book somewhere at the top of my reading list.
First Ten review added on May 10, 2018, at 2:43 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kat Berg
I am generally not a fan of short stories, and this one would not have grabbed my attention, primarily for that reason. Although I appreciate the ironic ending to the title story, the story is more aggressive and exaggerated, politically, characters, etc. than I normally choose to read. I can see, however, that this would be appealing to people who like dark humor, political satire, and short stories. I did not notice any errors in my reading and the book seems professionally edited. I am not a fan of racial epithets used in books, even though I can see why the author chose to utilize them. I would enjoy the book more without them.
For all of the above reasons, I will not be choosing to finish or buy the book.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 11:33 pm by Kat Berg.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
KRay93
The cover has a quasi-childish tone, but the blurb mentions heavy and somewhat peculiar themes. The official review highlights this apparent contradiction as part of the bizarre and extravagant nature of this book. The first ten pages introduce the reader to one of the brief stories told in this book, the not-so-ordinary events that occur going hand in hand with a particular style of humor that may not be so easy to grasp for some people. The prose is quite simple and I did not notice any typos or other kinds of errors associated with the editing work. The beginning of this book has perplexed me. I'm not sure I've captured its essence, but I'm still not convinced by its strange nature. Maybe it's just not my thing. Nonetheless, I will not read the rest of this text.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 9:50 pm by KRay93.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Tbunde5
I enjoy short stories, and the title had me curious enough to sample this book. The OBC review gave an interesting synopsis but, after reading the first two stories, I felt it didn’t do them justice. The author shows his twisted mind in each story. There is a dark humor woven through them that reminded me somewhat of Poe. I found no editing errors. It was refreshing to read stories that were smart and fresh. I would definitely like to read more of them.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 9:32 pm by Tbunde5.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lbhatters
Had I not read the first ten pages, I still would maybe have picked this book off the bookshelf in the store. I would maybe read the back cover and first few pages or story.
After reading the first ten pages, I would buy this book. I already have! The first story, about a second head growing on someone, is very unappealing at first, but you overlook the storyline when covered with so much humor.
The book appears to have been professionally proofread and edited. I see no grammar or spelling errors. The book is witty and dark at the same time, and the writing is done with a lot of natural skill. I feel it is a book I would have such a fun time reading.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 5:06 pm by lbhatters.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
kfwilson6
Upon initial inspection of this book I would definitely have not wanted to read this book. The cover and title are creepy and somewhat appalling. I am not a fan of short stories or satires. I also didn't care to read about the various topics and characters that are highlighted in this collection. With that said, after reading the sample I am a little torn. The first story in the sample was "laugh out loud" funny. I was kind of disgusted when the second head started growing but the dialogue was really entertaining. I enjoyed the comments about how removing the head would be murder and the heads enjoyed cheese. I don't really think I will finish this book because I still don't care to delve into the topics discussed, but I do think I would probably enjoy the stories to a certain extent if I did. The first story was well written with no typos or grammatical errors giving me the impression this is a professionally edited collection.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 3:46 pm by kfwilson6.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Libs_Books
Committing to a collection of short stories on the basis of the first story is, in some ways, a bigger gamble than committing to a whole novel on the basis of the first ten pages. Is this one typical, or is it just the one the writer thought this was his best? Or his funniest? Balanced against that, you do know the writer can deliver a good ending. Well, anyway, the first story, with its dark wit and acerbic social comment was certainly enjoyable, and the OBC review suggests that it is a good fit with the rest of the collection. The tributes at the start are also impressive. Clearly, Hanna is a skilled craftsman. The characterisation is good – strong and swiftly established. But these characters are caricatures; I feel they lack warmth and depth. Even so, I am almost persuaded and may put this on my 'Want to Read' list, but I'm not ready to commit yet as I feel that I don't need any more darkness in my life right now.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 3:18 pm by Libs_Books.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bianka Walter
The cover of this book actually made me avoid it a bit. I had no inclination to read it or see what it was about. After reading the sample and the reviews, I understand why the book art is as such. The short stories in the book are quirky and a bit dark. The cover depicts that quite nicely. I am not a fan of reading short story collections, so this is not something I would have usually picked up to read. The OBC review was full of praise for the tales in this book, and I'm sure they would appeal to people that like this type of bizarre story. The first ten pages were very well written, and well edited - I just picked up one small spelling mistake. The story that I was reading was well rounded and intriguing, but it didn't make me desperate to read on. Because of this, and because I generally don't read short stories, I will not be buying this book today.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 3:08 pm by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Poppy Drear
I certainly wouldn't have sampled this book without this program, as I prefer escapist literature, rather than works that address socially relevant issues, and I also usually prefer long-form stories to anthologies. This impression was supported by the first ten pages; while the book was much more well-executed than I expected, I simply wouldn't enjoy reading more about the subject matter. The official review justified this decision, as it states that the rest of the book is clearly just as dark as its beginning. While I couldn't find a single typo, and I liked how imaginative and well-written the stories are, I still will not read the rest of this book due to personal preference.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 2:33 pm by Poppy Drear.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jackie Holycross
I probably would not have picked this book up on my own. The picture is a little disturbing. The OBC review made is sound interesting especially since the author worked as a probation officer he would know about criminals. The first story flowed well and I was drawn to see how it was going to end. However, the negative politics don't appeal to me. I thought it would be funny if the wife applied for a head and got the same one the man got cut off. The story was well edited and it probably has a wide appeal. However, I won't be finishing it because I didn't care for the characters or the subject.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 12:40 pm by Jackie Holycross.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
cpru68
I found the cover a little off putting, but now after reading the entire sample which was the introduction and the first full story which is the title of the book, I would say all is well. The cover perfectly matches the content of the book. The author's writing style is superior, and I actually laughed out loud when his main character Virgil is pleading with the doctor to remove the head and he says, "I have insurance!"
Apart from the humorous situation, many of the political and societal quandaries that this first story presented were spot on. The irony of how we believe one thing and then it doesn't carry through to another issue struck this reader as deep. So, how does an author seriously write about a person growing a second head, make it funny and then manage to have a reader thinking deeply about heavy issues? Mr. Hanna has managed to do that quite proficiently.
The writing is excellent in this first story. I did not see any incorrect grammar or punctuation issues. I generally do not read darker humor, but this one has me wanting to move on to the next story.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 12:26 pm by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
melissy370
This book does not appeal to me at all with the description, cover, and title. Dark humor is not something I am interested in. I would pass on it and the sample did not change my mind. The author's writing style is engaging with no errors and the story moves along nicely. But, again, the humor is not to my taste and I found it juvenile. Also, I did not like the profanity that was used.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 12:11 pm by melissy370.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kendra M Parker
I’m not generally a fan of short stories. While I can appreciate literary fiction, I generally do not choose to read it because I want escape, not thought-provoking literature. As a result, I would not have looked twice at this book without this program. The cover looks rather childish, and the fact that it’s a collection of short stories puts me off. Reading the official review helped me see how the book fits together, and it does help to know more about the author and his basis for the stories. As I read the first ten pages, I found myself falling in love with the author's style. The story was quirky enough to really enjoy, and yet short enough to be easy to finish. Even though I had the end figured out from about the first page of the story, I had to read it all to see how it played out. That makes me want to read the other tales in this book. I think that this one will have to go into my queue to read.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 11:38 am by Kendra M Parker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Elizabeth Pass
This book sounds fantastic! I enjoy short stories, especially ones with a fantastical theme. I was interested before and after reading the first few pages. Growing a second-head sounds ridiculous, but what if you weren't the only one? Would you be able to get rid of it? Would it be ethical to do so? Looking forward to diving into this one! I didn't see any errors in the section I read so far, so that makes this even better!
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 10:29 am by Elizabeth Pass.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
DancingLady
This book looked way too weird for me. After reading the review, it seemed like it might be good for a few laughs and some insight into the minds of the mentally ill. The first 10 pages were certainly weird and amusing but I found I don’t really get the story very much. I’d have to say it’s a little too weird for me. I found one error, “coach” should be “couch” but it seemed well edited otherwise. I did not enjoy this book enough to buy it.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 10:13 am by DancingLady.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
desantismt_17
This book’s title made me very curious, and the description caught my attention. With a lead story title like this one, I wanted to know what else this collection held. Before sampling, I thought I’d read this one. After sampling, I will pass but not because the book is poor. The writing is solid, and the text appears professionally edited. I noticed only one missing word. The reason I’ll be skipping this one is because it kind of scares me a little. I read the introduction to get a sense for the collection, and this just doesn’t feel like something I can handle. I have no improvements to suggest, and I must applaud the author of the first story for setting the framework for a fascinating tale. The OnlineBookClub.org review for this book was glowing. It’s just not the right book for me.
First Ten review added on May 9, 2018, at 9:31 am by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
pilvi
Reading the free sample gave me a surprise. I didn't expect the book be right down my alley. The cover looks cheap. The title doesn't really tell what kind of book this is, neither does the subtitle. I only read the review after reading the sample. I think also the review would have convinced me that I like the book.
I'm pretty sure I'll buy the book. I'm on strict money saving budget right now and NOT buying books, but I think I'll use my first book reviewing salary on this book. I liked the free sample that much. And I want to find out what happens to Alf!
First Ten review added on February 18, 2018, at 7:46 am by pilvi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
SPasciuti
Prior to reading the sample I was curious about this book. I do think the cover looks terrible, but the blurb and reviews showed a lot of promise for this book. I found myself really enjoying what I read in the sample. The characters were well developed, the writing was good, and the book itself was immensely creative. For these reasons I think I will be getting myself a copy of this book to finish reading. The book is professionally edited and my only irritation came with the fact that there were some rather racist comments at the very beginning of the sample, though I understand that it was merely the character. The best place for improvement with this book in my opinion would be to replace the current cover with a better one.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2018, at 2:37 am by SPasciuti.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kathryn Price
Looking at the cover before I even started reading this, I knew that this isn't the type of book I normally read. And the sample confirmed my initial reaction - I am not a fan of this type of book, and I didn't like this one. I will admit, the idea is intriguing, and the writing style was clever, but the underlying political satire of this story turned me off completely. I also found one or two editing errors. From the Amazon reviews, it looks like the other stories are better - I didn't read that far - but I doubt that I'll read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2018, at 9:48 pm by Kathryn Price.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ladycraic
I wouldn't have chosen to sample this book apart from First Ten. The cover is not visually appealing, and the title is strange. From the blurb, I got the gist that this novel contained some weird stories, and that was totally fine with me since I consider my sense of humor weird. I didn't know how I would take the story of a rape victim confronting her assailant though, if I chose to read further. The sample on Amazon was hilarious, and I was surprised to see that I had finished it so quickly. It was definitely strange to find out Virgil was growing a second head but that made it all the more funny. The doctor's conviction that removing "Alf" would be considered murder was also hilarious. Despite how much I enjoyed the sample, I think this novel is too mature for me. The official OBC review mentioned that there was some disturbing content. In addition, I was not a fan of the foul language I saw in the sample. This book seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2018, at 12:24 am by ladycraic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
N_R
To be honest, I would not have wanted to read this book if I had not sampled the first 10 pages. This is because the title does not really indicate what the book is about and the imagery does not convey that there are multiple stories in this collection. The reviews on this book are positive, however, I do not rely on others reviews to make my reading decisions. I am intending to buy and read the whole book as I found that it was very interesting and I wanted to know more, the idea of growing a second head was so surreal and nobody seemed to be that concerned about it. The author's way of writing keeps the book very light and I thought that the descriptions were very interesting. Now that I know this is a collection of short stories, I am more interested in reading it also. The book seems like it is professionally edited and I did not find any typing errors. The bit I liked most in the sample that I read was the discussion that the main character has with his girlfriend as he describes the second head as a monkey's head and his girlfriend is saying it looks like handsome famous actors. The banter in the book about this, as well as the description of the head, was very humorous. The one part of the sample that I did not like was the way that the main character speaks to his girlfriend as it conveys such disrespect. There was some very positive feedback and reviews on this book, which I read afterward. I think that a change of title page may help in drawing in readers.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 11:47 pm by N_R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scrawling Pen
This book is a great example on how to draw an audience into a story! I am really looking forward to getting the chance to read this story. From the first few sentences, it is intriguing and entertaining. I am looking forward to the multiple independent stories and narrators as well. I have seen an online book review, and this further increased my interest. I think that the cover image is a good choice as well. It is an interesting image which definitely will peak someone's curiosity. I did not notice any grammatical errors, and this seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 8:01 pm by Scrawling Pen.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and the amusing way he wrote the first story. He is great at creating memorable characters that feel like real people and bringing to life their unique disorders. I love the cover illustration. It’s weird and fun to look at. I’m not sure how I feel about how dark some of the stories get. From the review, it sounds like it can get pretty graphic. That’s really the only thing that would deter me from reading the rest at this point. It appears professionally edited and I love the weird title and the author’s creativity. I wouldn’t have found this book outside of this program, but the cover image would be enough to spark my curiosity to at least give it a look.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 7:56 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dolor
I choose to buy and to read this book even if I had not sampled it as part of this First Ten program. A Second, Less Capable Head And Other Rogue Stories by James Hanna is a thought-provoking anthology of absurdities with dark humor. Not the genre I usually pick, but I was intrigued by the OBC official review, so I'm gonna put this book right on queue. The title, the cover, and the contents match the weird genre. Reading the first ten pages, made me wanna read the whole book. I would like to know how surreal books of absurdities are narrated, and it made me wonder how I would react while reading a book of this genre. I have not found any error in the first ten pages, and I dont have any improvement suggestion for this book. It is professionally edited. Virgil Ploughrigh is a plumber who finds it hard to work, due to a lump on his neck, which cannot be removed because it is a second head growing. Oops, I don't wanna grow a second, less capable head!
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 6:24 pm by Dolor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
MsTri
While the cover for "A Second, Less Capable Head" is interesting, I was more intrigued by its title. The synopsis and review also convinced me to read this because they confirmed that it's odd and dark and macabre, all things I love in a book. I also really like anthologies. The sample read went faster than I would have liked, as I was enjoying it quite a bit. I didn't notice any grammatical errors, so that was also a big plus. I most liked the simple but expressive writing. I've only read some of the title story, but my favorite part was when Virgil first went to the doctor to find out what his growth was. I also liked where the Minutemen and Tea Partiers chimed in with their thoughts about Supernumerary Cranial Syndrome. I definitely would not change a thing about this book because it's been perfect so far, and I DO intend to read the whole thing.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 5:34 pm by MsTri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lavellan
I most likely would have read the sample for A Second, Less Capable, Head even if it had not been part of The First Ten program. The Book of the Day review for it was very interesting and left just enough to the imagination for my interest to be piqued. I probably am not going to buy the book today, but there's a good chance that I will in the future. I liked the irony of the first story where Virgil wants to cut off his second head, but does not support abortion. The book seemed professionally edited; I did not notice any errors while reading the sample.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 5:18 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
NL Hartje
I would not have picked up this book based on the cover because it looked like a book for tweens. However, the reviews and jacket blurb were certainly enough to pique interest and get me reading. After the first ten pages, I cannot wait to read more! I loved the caricatures created by the politically type-casted dialogues and cliche scenarios. A review hinted that the different stories are written with different writing styles and this heightens the appeal. The writing was clean, concise, and properly edited. I will be putting this on my to-read list.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 2:36 pm by NL Hartje.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
RebeccasReading
This is not a book I would normally read. I typically don't read short stories. I also found the cover odd and unappealing. However, after reading the sample I will read the rest of the book. The story is smart, fun and well-written. I loved the political satire and commentary. My one suggestion is that the character is a little too over the top in his stereotypes, but I know that it's an intentional choice by the author. The book is professionally edited as far as I can tell.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 2:11 pm by RebeccasReading.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ayoomisope
A Second, Less Capable Head, by James Hanna is a collection of rogue stories with elements of dark humor and absurdities. The book title and cover are very intriguing, and they elevated my expectations before sampling. Additionally, the title builds suspense and does not reveal a great deal. The book seems like it is professionally edited. I should be reading this book very soon because of the author's decision to write through the eyes of flawed or immoral characters. In addition, I appreciate how the human psyche is explored.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 1:40 pm by ayoomisope.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
BookishCreature
At first glance, I would not have picked up this book. Despite the interesting cover and the overwhelmingly positive reviews, this book is just not my preferred genre. I don't generally read short story collections. After reading the first ten pages, I found that the stories are very well-written and well-paced. The book has obviously been professionally edited. I really can't think of anything that could be improved. I enjoyed the dark humor to an extent, but I think this book is just a little too dark for me, so based on personal preference alone, I will not be finishing it.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 1:19 pm by BookishCreature.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
I remember reading the official review of A Second, Less Capable, Head back when it was the book of the day. The review had me so excited to read the book. And when I finally did, I was not disappointed. The book was great, and the writing style was impeccable. I really liked that nearly every story left me with a lot to think about; I also appreciated the dark sense of humor. Based on the cover and title, I would have sampled the novel because it drew me in and made me curious about the book's content. When I read the book I did not spot any obvious errors, which makes me believe the book was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 1:07 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Penny Lee
Had <i>A Second, Less Capable Head</i> not been the Book of the Day, I would not have picked it up, due to the off-putting cover art. The first ten pages were well-written and seemed to be professionally proofread. I enjoyed the author's descriptions and similes. I found the characters to be unlikable, difficult to identify with, and repulsive. I was also repulsed by the concept of the story in the first ten pages. I will certainly not read the whole book, as it left me with a feeling of disgust. This book may appeal to people who enjoy political satire and horror, but if the first story is any indication, it will be considered too gross for most readers.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 11:44 am by Penny Lee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Christina O Phillips
The cover, though simple, caught my attention as did the title. The summary of the short stories made me want to read more. Without this program, I would have still read the sample. The sample let me read the title story, or most of it. It is absurd, but in an amusing way. The dialogue felt real and I liked the descriptions. It kept me interested and I was sad when the sample ended.
First Ten review added on February 16, 2018, at 10:10 am by Christina O Phillips.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kourtney Bradley
Although I thought the title of this story was catchy, it's probably not something I would choose to read on my own. First of all, I'm not really drawn to short stories. I usually prefer a story that will pull me in and keep me wondering about the characters. I was also disappointed with the sample of the story, as it only included one partial story, which didn't give the satisfaction of the ending. I'm going to pass on this one.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 3:32 pm by Kourtney Bradley.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
I love a good wacky story with depth, and so far reading the titlular story A Second, Less Capable Head I'm really enjoying myself. I'm incredibly curious about where it'll go, and between all of the excellent reviews and the introduction I'm very confident it'll go somewhere great!
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 12:49 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rebecca_Rivera
This story definitely pulls you in right away. Short stories are not my preferred genre nor is dark humor, so I will not be finishing this one. The OBC review did not change my mind in this case. I also did not find the cover attractive. While it may be professionally designed, it looks homemade to me. The writing was good and seemed professionally edited. I found only one typo. I enjoyed the sample but will settle with recommending this book to those who like dark stories.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 9:55 am by Rebecca_Rivera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Londera
If this book was not a part of the first ten program I would not have read it. Mainly because it reminds me vaguely of a book that traumatized me as a child. The one with the story about the girl with the ribbon necklace. But after reading the first few pages I am intrigued and will most likely buy and finish the book.What I like most was the dark humor of the book. It had a nice tone and was entertaining.There were minimum errors in the parts that I have read and it does look professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 8:52 am by Londera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cjgarland89
Based on the cover of the book I figured I would pick it up because it was short and according to the OBC review a really good and quick read. A enjoy short comedies that have an actual plot to them. After sampling I have reiterated I will be purchasing and finishing the book. I didn't see any errors.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 8:42 am by Cjgarland89.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I probably would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, and OBC review. I'm not really into dark stories. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. The first story was right away too weird for me. This just isn't my type of book. It did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 2:26 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
jungkookblog
When I see the cover, I think that this book is going to be about some kind of horror novel, where a person has two heads. I think that this book would be very enjoyable, so I would want to read this book. I will be reading this book because the first ten pages made me wonder what the society would be to not be so panicked when they heard that he was growing a second head. Maybe the society was a sci-fi kind of world. It seems like a great book and the humor in this book is very entertaining. It seems professionally edited. I did not see a review, and I don't think that would affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 14, 2017, at 1:46 am by jungkookblog.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read romance books. Having read the sample, I found it interesting and unique. The book seems professionally edited. It has a favorable onlinebookclub review. The sample made me curious about the plot and hence, I think I will read the book further.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 11:40 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Donnavila Marie01
This philosophical but humorous book of Hanna is composed of short stories that will make the reader sigh, wink, smile, and laugh out loud. The author was able to present a new recipe of entertainment through this book. This could also serve as a source of things to ponder. I recommend this to everybody but with caution to the young adults because the author used some strong themes to make the stories excellent.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 9:49 pm by Donnavila Marie01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this one I may have given it a chance. I love a good short story compilation when done right and creepy ones seem an added bonus. After reading the first ten pages I was convinced that I will love this one. The book had just enough "creepiness" to keep me interested and had a healthy dose of humour to boot. I will likely be buying and reading the rest of this one as it seems right up my alley. It also looks well written and edited.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 8:28 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Lennycat
Had I not read the sample, I would have eventually read this book. I have it on my list of books to read and it looks very interesting. I like short stories and this edition seems like it has a fresh approach on short story topics. I don't really like the cover. It's eye-catching, but I don't find it appealing. I did read the review of this book on OnlineBookClub.org and it was a favorable review. I didn't find any technical or grammatical errors in the sample that I read. I will probably end up reading this book in the future.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 3:52 pm by Lennycat.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Momlovesbooks
The cover of the book seemed creepy to me. The review left me with the impression it was a collection of short, rather odd stories. Since they were described as also humorous, I decided to give it a try. I read the first few pages, but quickly determined this was just not my cup of tea. I won't be reading this book.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 3:38 pm by Momlovesbooks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Afuglsan
Based on title, cover, and reviews, I would not have chosen this book to read. I don't like the idea of "scary stories." After reading the first ten, I will not continue to read the book. The whole idea of stalkers and psychopaths gives me nightmares. The author does have an excellent command of the English language, though. Other than that, it's not for me.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 1:38 pm by Afuglsan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeyran Main
40 % of the sample did not even cover any sufficient part of the book. The content was very small to determine if it was good enough to buy. I don't think it will be something I would pick up. The work appeared edited and did have humor in it. The sample made me decide that I was not going to buy this book.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 1:22 pm by Jeyran Main.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
L_Therese
Nothing about this book was exactly what I had expected it to be. I saw the title first, and I was surprised by how literal the cover image was. Then I thought that the anthology might contain some humorous or absurd stories and I encountered a few other opinions through the social media promotions. When I went to read the first ten pages, what I encountered was a scathing social commentary. Most of the writing was technically sound, but I was a little put off by the transparency of the short story's societal criticism.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 10:25 am by L_Therese.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MarisaRose
When I first read the blurb for 'A Second, Less Capable Head,' I was excited about the sarcastic storytelling and short-story format. I enjoy short stories, but don't ever see many collections. I was also positive about this book after reading the official OBC review, which was very positive. After sampling the first ten pages, I was drawn in by the author's writing style. I quickly became excited to read the stories in the collection as the first one I read seemed unique and thought provoking. Further, the book appears to be well written with no noticeable grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 10:01 am by MarisaRose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
truebookaddict
I like dark, bizarre stories, and I like political satire, so I would have chosen to read/sample this book had it not been for this program. Unfortunately, the price is above my eBook spending limit so I will not buy the book at this time. I will say that I really enjoyed the first story, "A Second, Less Capable Head" (what I was able to read of it in the sample)...political satire at its best. I'm sure all the stories in this collection are equally entertaining. Regarding the editing, it is very good. There were no typos or grammatical errors. (Note: This book was officially reviewed on OBC)
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 9:20 am by truebookaddict.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
IsabelMay
This is a well-written, witty satire that combines absurdity, shock and fun and somehow it all blends together. Even though I like the humour, I had a feeling it was forced and just too much at times. At first glance I thought this would be completely original, but it does remind me of a couple of famous writers so I'm not overly impressed. Still, it's a great book.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 8:54 am by IsabelMay.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gingerbo0ks
Although I think the cover is a bit plain, the OBC review explained what the book was about and gave a positive review. I haven't read much in the satire genre for a long time. In the sample, the storytelling style is easy to follow and the subject matter is odd in an entertaining way. I probably wouldn't read every story in the book though but would find a few entertaining for a short read.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 7:54 am by Gingerbo0ks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
jwalker73
My initial thought is odd title and odd cover. Based on that alone, I would probably skip this book. The blurb and review, however, sparked my interest. I like stories with a twist, although was unsure about the dark aspect. After reading the first ten pages I can not say the story gripped me. It, like its cover and title, is bizarre. I would have liked to have read more to see if the stories were any different, but not enough to purchase the book. I did not find the story dark, but just so unrealistic that I could not relate to any aspect of it.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 5:27 am by jwalker73.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
I was intrigued by the cover and description, and the first ten pages convinced me that it was worth signing up for Kindle Unlimited, because I want to find out what happens with the Tea Partiers and the second heads! Some spelling errors - "coach" instead of "couch", "leach" instead of "leech", "Vergil" instead of "Virgil", and a missing apostrophe, suggest that this wasn't closely edited. I hope there aren't too many more errors going forward, given that this was rated 4 in the OnlineBookClub review. I loved the lively writing style and the bizarre situation that made for a compelling tale, which is also hilarious!
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 3:12 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mallory Whitaker
I'm not particularly into short stories, but the reviews and synopsis might have gotten me to read it without this program because it sounds funny and whimsical. While the sample showed that the book was both funny (most of the time) and certainly whimsical, it also showed that it was something else: political. I should've expected this with the mention of the Tea Party in the synopsis but somehow this either slipped my mind or I thought the politics would be played off like South Park - hilarious, critical but ultimately nonpartisan. I'm not going to read this book because I'm not looking for someone to make fun of the beliefs of others without making fun of their own beliefs. If you can't make fun of yourself, don't make fun of other people. The world is full of condescending political views. Yes, they can be humorous, but its only funny to me when everyone is made fun of, otherwise it feels like propaganda. I know this book is more than that but the first story left such a bad taste in my mouth I wouldn't continue reading. The book seems professionally edited though I felt like the author overused italics. I read the review and it didn't really change my opinion. I understand the humor in this book, I really do. It's funny and witty, I just feel like it's trying to sell me an opinion and I don't like that in books.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 1:41 am by Mallory Whitaker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Christina Rose
From the sample, the book seems professionally edited, as I did not encounter errors while reading. The Official OnlineBookClub review was very positive, but I do not think this book is for me. It sounds intriguing, but I did not personally enjoy the humor of the story from the sample. I will not be purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 1:35 am by Christina Rose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ananya92
This book is a collection of stories. From the description it is evident that the stories deal with the bizarre and unusual. The well-detailed review explained the stories well enough for the readers to get an idea about what to expect from the book. The first thing about the book which would impress the reader, is the imaginative writing style, enhanced by the superlative choice of words. The stories are unique and pretty out-of-the box to interest the readers, especially considering the perspective of the protagonist becomes clear later on. The book seems to be edited properly as well. While the idea of the book really fascinates me, currently I'm in the middle of another book, therefore, I'll skip this one.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 1:08 am by ananya92.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Miche Sora
The title was amusing so I figured this would be a humorous book. The book is professionally edited, but I don't find it funny. I know people like Virgil, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if some of them sprouted a second head. It's social commentary and more sad than anything else.
First Ten review added on September 13, 2017, at 12:48 am by Miche Sora.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ReviewerDiksha
The cover and the title of this book are very appealing. From the reviews, it was pretty clear to me that this book was nothing like anything I have ever read. And from the sample, this fact was consolidated. The writing style was engaging and I was so engrossed in the story that when the sample ended I felt like going out and buying the book ASAP.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 11:56 pm by ReviewerDiksha.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kitkat3
I like the cover and the title. I enjoy the genre, and the blurb is sufficient. Reviews are positive. I may have sampled this book without this program. The book appears to be professionally edited. The OnlineBookClub review made me want to read the book, so it was already in my To Read. After reading the first ten pages, I will be reading the rest.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 11:08 pm by Kitkat3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vermont Reviews
Today's book of the day was a definite have to have. A Second, Less Capable Head by James Hanna a group of short stories peaked my interest. I did purchase the book based on the preview.
I am a Kafka fan and enjoyed the story of a second, less capable head.
Very well done. Can't wait to read the rest.
Vermont Reviews
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 10:28 pm by Vermont Reviews.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
mratdegraff91
I was intrigued by the 4-star review on OBC. There was more to the book than I realized. I thought the description interesting but it wasn't until after I sampled the book that I wanted to finish reading the other short stories. I did not observe any grammatical or formatting errors in the sample and could not stop reading the first story. This book will make a great addition to my shelf. The first story was funny and had me laughing several times.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 7:57 pm by mratdegraff91.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
juliusotinyo
Alf, Trixie, and Virgil made such a loveable and dysfunctional family. Alf was slowly taking over Virgil's life and especially his girlfriend. I enjoy a good short story and I've not had any for quite some time. Kindle Unlimited is unavailable in my country, but I would buy this book at my earliest opportunity. The book cover and title were enough to get my attention, the OBC review was also tantalizing as well. I appreciate this program for the further interest I've gained in this book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 7:56 pm by juliusotinyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
RegularGuy3
Of COURSE the racist man growing a second head is a Raiders fan. The opening to this book is nearly note-perfect in its takedown of the grotesque Virgil Ploughright. I would have given this book a chance regardless of any review on this site--it's too bizarre to pass up. I found the banter endearing and clever--arson of a building Virgil had installed sprinklers might lead to a negligence lawsuit. I'll give the rest of this story a chance, and will take the rest on a case-by-case basis.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 7:06 pm by RegularGuy3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Yoli García
I think the cover has a nice graphic design that corresponds to the title of the book. The review in the forum praises the stories and the author's writing style. However, I decided I will not read this book because I am not interested in reading about the mind of depraved people. I found the sample pages to be a bit grotesque for my reading style. Despite of that, I liked the author's witty writing style. It did not get lost on me that Mr. Ploughright is a hypocrite.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 6:17 pm by Yoli García.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a few pages of, A Second Chance, Less Capable, Head by James Hanna, I have decided that, while I enjoyed this book I will not be purchasing it today. When I first saw the cover for this book I was ready to pass on it. I didn't think that this book would be something I'd find interesting. Once I read the blurb for this anthology, I found my interest piqued. The variety of stories and the uniqueness of them made me want to know more. I am putting this book on my to-be-read list because I did enjoy it. I found the first story to be both bizarre and humorous. I think that this will be a book that many will find enjoyable. I enjoyed how upset Virgil was that the doctor would not remove the head. I probably laughed too hard when he got the generic letter from Sarah Palin. Based on what I have read this book does appear to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. I found the review to be fun and engaging. If I could afford to purchase the book today I would, but since I can't I will once I'm able.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 5:59 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
The cover artwork is very unique and intriguing. The only thing I didn't like about the cover was the placement of the award logo in the middle - it interferes with the artwork. It would have been better to make the award logo smaller and put it further away from the picture of the two heads. I found the summary blurb to be free of grammatical errors and easy to understand. However, the lack of line breaks between paragraphs gives a compressed feel. The sample pages appear to be professionally edited and the author has a nice, casual writing style. That being said, I am not interested in reading the rest of the book since I don't care for short story collections.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 5:22 pm by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
I think the cover captures the "weirdness" and "dark humor" of the short stories in this anthology. I think plenty of people who are into unique and dark stories would enjoy this collection of stories. I don't really think this is for me. I like to read novels and just one story rather than a collection of smaller ones.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 4:52 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kdonegan91
The cover and title were not appealing to me. Therefore, I would have passed on this book at first glance. However, after reading the first ten pages and the OBC review, I am anxious to read more. My mind was completely changed and I am grateful I gave this book a more thorough look. I will be purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 4:49 pm by Kdonegan91.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Naval Aulakh
"Second, Less Capable Head" is a combination of several stories. All the stories are unique and interesting. After reading its review on OnlineBookClub, I decided to read the reviews of readers on Amazon. The reviews are very positive.
Moreover, the variation in stories makes this book worth reading. So, I would definitely like to read the entire book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 4:04 pm by Naval Aulakh.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Snowflake
The title matches the tone of this collection of stories well. The basic drawing on the cover turns me off from this book and I would not have read it without the first ten pages program. The Amazon blub and the OBC review confirmed that this book is not my cup of tea. The sample was written well and the story explained clearly. I did not notice any obvious typos or grammar errors. This is not a type of literature that I enjoy and I do not plan to read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 3:33 pm by Snowflake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Azeline Arcenal
After reading the sample, I decided not to finish reading the book. The sample wasn't interesting enough for me. While reading the sample, I didn't notice any major grammatical errors either.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 2:59 pm by Azeline Arcenal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. The cover is unappealing and a bit scary, and I don’t lean toward anthologies. Though the OBC is positive, it did not sway my decision. Based on what I read, the book does seem to be professionally edited. I think it’s creative and a bit twisted to open this book with a man growing another head. I found the dialogue to be a bit stiff and the writing didn’t seem to flow well, but I can see how it could be grabbing for some. However, this is not my taste in books; dark and disturbing stories are not something I am interested in. Therefore, I do not plan on buying and finishing this read.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 2:50 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
DDunstock
I have to say that the book blurb confused me just a little bit. There are some interesting ideas presented, but I am confused as to what exactly are the contents of this book. That being said, I do not think I would read this book based on the blurb.
The first ten pages are certainly interesting. What stands out to me the most is the satirical tone of the writing which I actually very much like. For that reason, I probably would be inclined to read the rest of the book. I also like how this is a composition of several short stories, it breaks up the pace and makes the read a bit easier.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 2:24 pm by DDunstock.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
micoleon13
I don't like the cover page. The drawing, plus the orange lines, makes it look unappealing and amateurish. I would have no interest in this book. The Onlinebookclub review was interesting, elaborating on the stories. I don't like reading short stories, so the review didn't change my mind. The pages which I read were well written and edited. The first story didn't really appeal to me, with unrealistic reactions to the second head, as well as a dislikeable main character. A change of cover page would be a good improvement. I am not going to be reading this book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 2:17 pm by micoleon13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Izesicle
The title could be improved a little bit more, it looks too handmade. But the i agree with the review that the content is a terrific read. I breezed through the sample and i didn't notice errors. I will definitely buy the book.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 2:01 pm by Izesicle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gali
I probably wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as I am not a fan of short stories. The cover and blurb aren't very appealing, but the OBC review had me intrigued. The sample included only one unfinished tale. While the premise of people sprouting second heads was intriguing, the tale did not interest me enough to want to finish it. I won't read the book as it isn't my cup of tea.
First Ten review added on September 12, 2017, at 1:33 pm by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 39%
A Second, Less Capable Head earned a score of 39%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 39% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for A Second, Less Capable Head
