The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me
Because At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me 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.
Ekta Kumari
The book is about two writers who collaborate for creating a fiction novel and end up writing a story by taking inspiration from the events surrounding random people. I really liked sampling the book, though I wasn't going to read it as I wasn't much intrigued by the blurb, and the themes are not particularly engaging to me. However, the author has created a genuinely engaging narrative, and the thing I liked the most while sampling is that the chapters are based on the first-person narration from the characters themselves. This really helped get an inside look in each character's thoughts. This seems to be an entirely character-driven storyline. Another good thing about this read is thorough editing. I didn't find any errors while sampling and would definitely rate the book as professionally edited. I didn't see an official OBC review, but I did find a featured volunteer review of the book. While I enjoyed the sample, I will not be reading the whole book as I do not find the themes too interesting, and the absence of an official OBC review doesn't have any bearing on my decision. My choice to not read the entire book is entirely based on the sample. I don't have any recommendations for improvements.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:58 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
I am familiar with one other book by the author; he seems to favor titles with "self-help" themes. I was amused by the cover showing an old manual typewriter. Millennials and younger may be clueless about that thing! The book contains a story set in the '60s. I wish the author had mentioned that earlier to prepare the reader; Ukraine was still then part of the USSR. I would have sampled the book outside of the program based on the blurb that hinted at comedic situations. While the featured OBC reviewer was lavish with their praise, calling the book "superb," I was not exactly impressed with the bit I read. I concede that the characters were well introduced. However, such was done via extensive dialogues that seemed unnatural. A healthy mix of narrative and dialogue would have been ideal. I also noted errors. On page 7, "Because I pride myself on the reputation, I have been able to build over the years" didn't need a comma. On page 15, "whose" should have been used in "Jonathan Winton, the antique dealer, who's shop was half a block away." The editing could be improved. While I like the idea of a pair of aspiring writers stumbling upon "Soviet spies," for now, I will pass.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:57 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mercy Bolo
My first impression of this book's cover is that it is messy and abstract, so that didn't entice me to read it. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that Natalia, Ralph's mom, inquired about her son's financial situation and wellbeing. Since I spotted no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because the storyline doesn't appeal to me. The OBC review dissuaded me when it mentioned that the story follows struggling writers who try to create a story about people in their vicinity. Since there is nothing I disliked about the bit I read, I wouldn't change anything about it.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:54 am by Mercy Bolo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ann Ogochukwu
The title of this book appealed to me, and I enjoyed its OBC review, so I would have sampled this outside this program.
I, however, didn't enjoy the book itself. In the first chapter, Ralph has a dispute with his parents over his means of livelihood, and in the second chapter, Franny is excited about furthering her education in America. I liked the title of this book, but nothing else about this book intrigues me enough to complete it, so I'll stop at sampling it.
I noticed a couple of odd-looking sentences and one outright error, "I could hear Mother crying in the background and [am] certain Dad was depressed." Nonetheless, I think this book was professionally edited. I don't think this book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:52 am by Ann Ogochukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Atieno Magero
Had I not sampled this book as part of the first ten program, I definitely would have still read this book. The things that initially drew my interest were the book title and stunning cover design. I then read the official Online Book Club review of this book and my interest in the book intensified. I'm going to be buying this book to finish reading it. This is because I enjoyed sampling the book. The story did not disappoint. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything will unfold and how the storyline develops.
I didn't come across any errors whatsoever while reading. Therefore I'd say the book was well edited. What I liked the most about the sample were the flow of the story and the authors writing. I also like the fact that the story is told from multiple characters perspectives. I don't feel like there's anything about this book that needs to be improved on. I think it's fine as it is.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:42 am by Atieno Magero.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sou Hi
The cover is not very attractive, and Amazon's reviews are not very good. Since the blurb is promising, I decided to give the sample a try. It begins with Ralph, a painter who decides to become a writer. As he moves to New York City, he discovers that one of his neighbors is also a writer. The other is a mysterious Ukrainian named Franny.
I like the book's genre and how the story progresses. However, I would suggest another round of editing. Since the book is interesting enough, I will buy it. There are some volunteer reviews on OBC, but the lack of an OnlineBookClub official review didn't affect my decision.
Error example: "What is name of this music group?" my counselor asked. -> There should be an article before "name", as in "What is the name"
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 4:21 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
The book's cover page dissuaded me from reading this book. This is because I don't like art, which the cover page suggested. I liked the dialogues used. Other than giving the book a fluid flow, it enabled me to understand Ralph's career choice and how his parents felt about it. Neither the OBC review nor the sample changed my mind about reading this book. Therefore, I will not buy this book because I don't like adventure books. It was not exceptionally edited since I found a minor grammatical error (I want to thank, my editor, Gary Smailes at Bubblecow for teaching me how to be a better writer. Missing comma before 'for.' Page 4). Lastly, I didn't find anything to improve.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 3:56 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
The title looks interesting to me, so I sample the book. I was bored after reading the sample about a family drama in terms of having a real job. The OBC review didn't influence me. Though I don't see a visible typos, I will assume this book is professionally edited. I like the cover photo because it reflects the plot. Lastly, there's nothing I can recommend for improvement.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 3:48 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
I wasn't sure what to expect from the title. Although there was no official review, the blurb and the volunteer review intrigued me enough. Based on those, I would have read the book. I found a minor error in the first ten pages (location 49: there shouldn't be a comma between "reputation" and "I"). The protagonist describes his financial situation in a phone call to his parents. He narrates how his artworks have lost their market and he wants to make a living writing stories. I loved how the author revealed all the necessary background information about the situation and the character through a few dialogues. I found nothing that could improve. Based on the premise and my reading experience, I would definitely read the book.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2021, at 3:23 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
Upon reading the book's Amazon page and one of its volunteer OnlineBookClub reviews, I opted not to acquire the title. I am not interested in learning about how Ralph and Harvey's novel will turn out. I am also not intrigued by the protagonists' assertion that Franny, their neighbor, is a spy. I believe the story is not my cup of tea. Sampling the book did not change my mind. I would not acquire it because nothing in the Amazon sample piqued my curiosity or had me wanting to read the rest of the novel. It is also because I did not find myself interested in knowing how mind-bending the title is. The first ten pages include the first three chapters and some pages of the fourth chapter. What I liked most is when Ralph told his parents that he has been living very frugally and has been able to save a year's worth of money. I noted a missing word in the following sentence: "I groaned, and after thinking I would ignore the call, finally answered the phone." I believe the word 'I' should be placed before the word "finally." Despite the error, the book still seems professionally edited to me. I suggest the author correct the said mistake.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 9:58 pm by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, and title. It seemed like an interesting story. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. The phone conversation between Ralph and his parents really dragged on. Ralph’s voice was so formal that it seemed unrealistic. I wasn’t a fan of the amount of dialogue or writing style. There wasn’t anything specific that I liked so far. The editing needs improvement as I noticed errors that told me the book was not professionally edited. For example, there was one spot where “mother” should have been capitalized because it was used as a name. There was also a spot where there was a random out of place comma that disrupted a sentence. I don’t like to read books with errors.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 9:37 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
Based on the title, cover, and blurb, I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. The main characters seemed like a couple of nosy busybodies. The first ten pages introduced Harry well, and I started to get a feel for Franny. It was helpful to have the name of the narrator at the beginning of each chapter. I will not finish this book because I am not attached to the story or the characters. The dialog felt stiff and unnatural, particularly between Ralph and his parents. I noticed several grammatical errors in the sample pages. Here are two. In this sentence in the dedication on page 4, the first comma is not needed, and a comma is needed after the appositive ending with “Bubblecow”: “I want to thank, my editor, Gary Smailes at Bubblecow for teaching me how to be a better writer.” On page 7, the comma before “and” is not needed because an independent clause does not follow the coordinating conjunction: “I groaned, and after thinking I would ignore the call, finally answered the phone.”
The featured OnlineBookClub review was positive, but it had no bearing on my decision not to finish this book. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 9:22 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
At first glance, I thought the cover and title of this book were average. I would not have sampled this without the First Ten program because the Amazon blurb was too vague. The first few pages were well edited. I could definitely sympathize with Ralph's mother. It is only normal for a parent to be worried about what job their child chooses and how they will survive without them. I did not see any official OBC review, which was unfortunate because I felt like I still needed more information about the plot. For this reason, I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 7:55 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
xsquare
There was nothing about the cover, title or blurb of the book that really stood out to me. I wouldn’t have sampled the book if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten program. There didn’t seem to be an official OBC review, although there were a few featured volunteer reviews. I liked the interesting start and the dialogue between Ralph and his family. In terms of typos, I spotted an extra comma in the following line of dialogue: “Because I pride myself on the reputation, I have been able to build over the years.” There were also some other issues in terms of capitalisation of proper nouns. Other than the typos, I don’t think that there was anything that the author could have improved on. However, I did not find the first ten pages compelling enough to change my mind. The lack of an official OBC review did not factor into my decision.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 5:05 pm by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
I like the cover art of this book and the title is interesting. It looks to be about a writer and may have a positive message. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The Online Book Club review had a positive recommendation and was very informative about the book. This increased my interest. I didn’t read an additional customer review. The first ten pages begin with the character of Ralph getting a call from his mother. They are discussing how his work as an artist is going and whether he is able to make a living. Since he’s unable to sell his paintings, he has decided to move to New York City and become a novelist. His mother is worried that he won’t be able to support himself transitioning to another career at this point. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. The character of Ralph was interesting. However, I was not drawn into the story enough in the first ten pages to want to finish the book. For that reason, I will not finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 4:37 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing on the cover or the title got my attention. After sampling the book, I don't want to continue reading it because the story was progressing too slowly; also, the conversation between Ralph and his parents seems unnatural, and forced, as it could never happen in real life. Perhaps that and the pace of the story could use some improvement. This book seems professionally edited and has volunteer Online BookClub reviews; I didn't notice any official ones but that didn't affect my decision not to read the book. There was nothing I saw that I particularly enjoyed.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 3:24 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me by Jerry A. Greenberg is a fiction book that brings two people who wanted to be writers and how they get involved with two other characters from Ukraine. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review since this novel seemed to be an inspiration fiction book to motivate the readers. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire novel because its inspirational aspect didn't interest me. However, the book seems professionally edited, there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the fact that the characters seemed real and interesting since some of them seem to have good intentions, but they don't make good actions.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 2:31 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dzejn_Crvena
I was eager to read the book when I saw the cover and title because they caught my attention. Also, the OBC review convinced me to read and buy it. When I read the sample, I could relate to Ralph's situation. I like how he remained firm in his decision to pursue his goals despite his parents' objections. He loves writing and art, and when he realized that his art career won't be a success anytime soon, he switched to becoming a writer. The book seems professionally edited, so I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 12:52 pm by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gen_g
Looking at the title and Amazon blurb, the book seems like a piece of realist fiction that also has elements of a character study. I am not in the market for such books, so I would not have sampled the book; even if I did come across a positive OBC review of the book (which I did), the genre mismatch still would not have changed my mind regarding the decision not to sample. I did find a couple of errors. At 1%, the comma in "...want to thank, my editor..." is wrongly inserted; there should not be one because the clause should not be broken up. I suggest more rounds of close editing to improve the book quality. I like that the author includes background information about the characters in the story via the dialogue. We learn that Ralph is a painter, but due to the bad situation lately where prices have been dropping, he is thinking of turning to writing. Ralph has a journalism degree, and that "it's so easy for [him] to write a story". Whilst I like the inclusion of such background information that helps to flesh out the characters, I do think that it is also quite obvious that the author is not too experienced at writing dialogue – the dialogue sounds a bit unnatural and awkward. To explain, in a dialogue between two people are supposed to know each other well, both of them talk as if they are addressing a third person who knows nothing about them (supposedly the reader). In addition to the need for more editing, I would also suggest that the author rework the dialogue to make it flow more naturally. However, as I am not in the market for realist fiction, I will not be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 12:22 pm by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
It took a minute to realize what the object was on the cover, but then I realized that it was a sideways, old-school typewriter. The title did not create any desire for me to read the book. The blurb, however, did interest me because I often make up stories about random people that I see in airports. The OBC review was positive and made me want to read the book. I did not see any errors in the pages that I read. I loved the dedication to the author's former English teacher. I did not like the unnatural dialogue between the writer and his mother. I will not finish reading the book because the style of writing bothered me. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 9:10 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book is interesting and a bit appealing to the eyes, in my opinion. Since there is no official review for this book, I was unsure about the contents and had no idea what I was supposed to expect. After reading the volunteer reviews though, I got the gist of what the story is about, so I became interested. However, if I weren't a part of this program, I think I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the book's cover, genres, and summary didn't interest me enough to want to check it out willingly.
The contents seemed professionally edited so far grammar-wise, but I noticed an ongoing inconsistency. In the previous paragraphs, the words "Mom" and "Dad were always capitalized, but in the following paragraphs, I noticed that "Mom" became "mom", and "Mother" became "mother", while "Dad" consistently stayed capitalized. It's only minor, but it kind of interfered with my reading flow. Meanwhile, story-wise, I could already relate with one of the main characters. I am also a creative person who loves to draw and paint as well as a passion for writing, so I could completely relate with his situation. My parents reacted like his did, too, so I appreciated the realistic touch right from the premise.
Because of this, I am interested to know more about their story and how everything else will unfold, so I am planning on reading the rest of the book. Since I enjoyed the sample so far, except for the minor errors I found that I mentioned above, I don't think there are any other improvements the author needs to make.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 7:06 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
I would not have read the book without The First Ten program. Unfortunately, as this is not my genre, neither the OBC review nor the first ten pages convinced me to read the rest of the book. The story is set in the 1960s and follows two neighbors, Harvey and Ralph, as they aspire to become successful writers. They decide to write a novel together, taking their inspiration from the lives of the people who surround them. Things take an unexpected turn, though, when they meet their neighbor, Franny, and some of her Ukrainian compatriots. I enjoyed that the story was told from multiple perspectives; it made it easier for me to connect with the characters. The writing style was pleasant to read, but I found some errors that disrupted the flow of the story. For example, there should not be a comma before "but" in the following sentence: "I’ve always enjoyed writing, but have always seen it as a stepchild to my artistic abilities." (page 8) It should be written "foreboding-looking building" in the following sentence: "I had a bounce in my step as I left the foreboding looking building of the People’s Cultural Administration." (page 10) It should be written "What is the name of this music group?" instead of "What is name of this music group?" (page 10) It should also be written "whose" instead of "who's" in the following sentence: "I decorated my apartment with cheap, faux antique furniture I purchased from Jonathan Winton, the antique dealer, who’s shop was half a block away . . ." (page 15) All in all, I would only suggest another round of editing.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 6:49 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me' is written by Jerry A. Greenberg. Ralph is thinking of giving writing a go. The field of art is not stable anymore due to the dwindling economy. I like the way Ralph maintains his intention to become an author despite the misgivings of his parents. The editing is great. There is nothing in need of an improvement. I would read this book without the sample based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I like the genre. The OBC review was detailed. I will read this book as I would like to know if Ralph succeeds as an author.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 4:52 am by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Hazel Arnaiz
The title sounds more like a self-help book, but the cover looks appropriate based on the blurb. The blurb is not catchy, but a customer review says it is a story-within-a-story. I find this description interesting enough to sample the book outside the program. After sampling, I appreciate that the story explores the challenges and thought processes of aspiring authors. The humor is also entertaining. However, the pace seems slow for my taste, and the story-within-a-story does not happen in the first few chapters. There are also editing issues and repeated paragraphs on pages 24 to 26. The repetitions are distracting. I suggest another round of editing to address these concerns. Here are some examples of editing issues.
Page 11.
Spelling. Consider adding a hyphen.
I had a bounce in my step as I left the [foreboding-looking] building of the People’s Cultural Administration.
Page 15.
Spelling. Consider using "whose" instead of "who's."
I decorated my apartment with cheap, faux antique furniture I purchased from Jonathan Winton, the antique dealer, [whose] shop was half a block away on Carmine.
I suggest an appropriate title to add more impact and attract the target readers. Likewise, the volunteer reviews from OnlineBookClub are enthusiastic. The insights are helpful, but they did not affect my decision to skip this one.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 4:22 am by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
The cover of the book is what attracted me to the book as a whole. Because of this, I likely would have read the sample of At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me even if it was not the OnlineBookClub's book of the day. I liked Ralph's character the most, as he seems to be interested in everything that is going on around him. The interaction between his neighbor and him was entertaining as well. I am not too sure where this book will take me; therefore, I have decided to skip the rest of it. While I do not think that it needs any improvements, there was a grammatical error on Page 18. A random question mark is inserted in the middle of the word "difficult"- "...as I found it di?cult to enter a social scene with my current depressed attitude." There is an official OnlineBookClub review, but I didn't need to read it to make a decision. Readers who enjoy books without a clear plotline and a mysterious tone may enjoy this book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 2:45 am by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Raquel Sojo
I would buy and read this book only based on the cover, the title, and the editorial review. The details given make the story seem interesting. I definitely want to know how these characters relate to each other and the outcome of the story.
In the part that I read, I liked Ralph's personality because he is steady and analytical. There is room for improvement in the excessive descriptions and slow pace in the narration. The book appears to be professionally edited, error-free, and has a voluntary review.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 1:20 am by Raquel Sojo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, or Official OnlineBookClub review because the plot didn't really interest me. After reading the first ten pages, I will not read the rest of the book because the story did not draw me in. My favorite part of what I read was Franny's character. The chapters that focused on Franny and the commandant were the most intriguing to me because they were a bit suspenseful. I don't think the book needs to be improved, and it appears professionally edited.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 12:58 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
J_odoyo
At Day’s End, I’ll Always Be Me by Jerry A. Greenberg seems to have been well written and riveting. I didn’t have any problem with the book’s cover page; I think it was well-designed. The book’s title was also okay. There were no errors in the sample I read, and I would wager that the book was professionally edited. The description on the Amazon website was also okay. I liked the official OnlineBookClub review; it gave insight into what the book is all about. Reading this sample didn’t change my mind to finally finish reading this book; I’m not a fan of this genre. The earlier pages of this book narrate the story of Ralph and his new move to try a new career in writing, a decision not welcomed by his parents. He has moved to the bohemian neighborhood in New York City. On the other hand, Frances Shevchenko (Franny)—a Ukrainian—also studies at New York University. The progress of this story is promising, and I can’t stop guessing what is next. I have no recommendation for the improvement of this book; the sample was well written.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2021, at 12:50 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
The cover photo is not interesting, and the title seems like a self-help non-fiction book.I would not buy it from the cover alone. Today's review of the book rated it highly and explained this was a fictional novel about two writers. I found no spelling or grammatical errors in the pages I read and believe it to be exceptionally well edited. I didn't like the character of Ralph. He seems a bit delusional and self-centered. I was confused with how the different characters fit together. The only thing I did like about them is that they seem quirky, odd, and humorous. The story didn't interest me enough to continue. I will not be finishing this book.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 10:56 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
The title made me think of a self-improvement book that at first, I did not relate to the image of the cover of an old typewriter. I think prospective readers may not clearly determine what the book is about. Customer reviews are favorable but do not give a five-star rating. Some of them mentioned that the story is a bit complex due to the different points of view and the perception of reality. The blurb raises an interesting plot around the two struggling writers who make a fuss over their neighbor, a Ukrainian woman. Based on these aspects, I am not very inclined to test the book. The story is set in the sixties and is told from diverse points of view. In the first ten pages, Ralph tells about the recession in the world art market, which is why his paintings are not selling. Taking into account his creative nature, he decides to venture as a writer for which he moves to New York. On the other hand, Franny, the Ukrainian woman, plans to go to New York to do a master's degree. An expectation is generated regarding the Ukrainian government since they seem to have a plan that involves Franny, Yuliya Melnik, Borysko, and the singers. The official OnlineBookClub review highlights a governmental matter about the Ukrainians. It also expresses the motivational aspect of the importance of following our passion and dreams. The editing looks professional as I didn't see any details to comment on. In general, I did not see anything that I believe could be improved. The first ten pages shed little light on the plot. The official review raises aspects that seem disconnected like the artistic development of the writers, Ralph and Harvey, and the governmental affair around the Ukrainians. Ultimately what I sampled did not completely capture me. Therefore, I think I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 9:24 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
I loved the cover of this book. It’s artistic and literary at the same time. It perfectly suits the goals of the main characters in the story. I plan to read this whole book. I was pulled into the drama between Ralph and his mother on the first page, and I want to see if his new career as a writer pans out. I know fans of dry wit and creativity as well as adventure will like this novel. I found what I read today to be well edited and I saw no errors, although the 4-star Online Book Club review mentioned there were a few in the book. I found no reason for improvements to the book overall, nice job.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 8:28 pm by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Stephanie Mounce
I have read another of Jerry A. Greenberg's books and liked it, so I would have sampled this book based on the author. I discovered the same descriptive writing style that I enjoyed previously. The ease of how the author transitioned seamlessly between characters, therefore making it easy to connect with each person, is a quality I liked the most. I found an error on location 233 in the form of a typo: "...as I found it di?cult to enter a social scene with my current depressed attitude." I believe that the word is supposed to be difficult. I have no improvements to suggest beyond the small editing error. The OBC review did not have any influence on my decision to finish reading this book. I like the author's character-driven stories, and the pages I read convinced me to continue the story.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 6:39 pm by Stephanie Mounce.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
markodim721
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of its title and cover. The title seems very frank and simple. The cover is designed to match the content of the book because the main characters are two writers and there is a typewriter on the cover. I’m not going to buy this book because it’s not the genre I prefer. Reading the sample didn’t change my mind from my original guess. While reading the sample I did not notice any typos or errors and the book seems like it is professionally edited. I like how the dialogue Ralph had with his parents was written. Mother's and father's care seem very convincing and the writer emphasized the essence very well. I think the book needs to improve that Yuliya Melnik is named like that. Calling someone by their full name and surname is almost non-existent in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian cultural and customary spaces. In situations like this, I think a more appropriate construction would be if the construction of a name and a patronymic were used, for example, Yuliya Vladimirovich. The same can be said for Frances Shevchenko. I think it would be more appropriate for Franny and Yuliya to drink tea. The book has an Official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 4:58 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
The book title makes me think that this is some kind of self-help guide. As it is not entirely clear to me what this book is about, I would not pick it up if I would see it in a bookstore. The blurb and OBC review explain that this is a fictional story with an interesting mix of characters. The first ten pages seem to be professionally edited as I could not find any errors. The sample could not maintain my attention, unfortunately. I found the reaction of Ralph's parents, when Ralph tells them that he wants to be an author, very exaggerated. His dad screaming and his mum crying ; I believe that these are not very normal reactions to such an innocent statement. Furthermore, I did not really empathise with the characters. These are the reasons why I will not read the rest of this book. As an improvement, I would suggest to mention on the book cover that this is a novel.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 4:07 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
I like this sort of artsy cover a lot. However, I didn't know what to think about the fact that the story is inspirational. I usually stay away from inspirational books. The OBC review didn't make an impression on me. The book starts with Ralph talking to his parents about becoming a writer. I don't have any bad things to say, but I also don't have anything good to say either. The book just didn't surprise me with anything. A more thrilling beginning could've improved the experience. The scenario of an artist who tries to make a living in a collapsing economy is overdone. Because of that, I'm not going to read any further. I don't see the need for a comma in "I don't expect anything from you, but your love and support."
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 3:40 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kirsi Cultrera
I did not know what to expect when I first laid my eyes on this book. Had I seen it somewhere else, I would probably not have noticed it. I started by reading a volunteer review of this book, and was enthralled about the storyline. Mixing eastern and western worlds almost always creates an exciting story. I enjoyed the author’s way with words and liked that he used different protagonists to tell the story. Franny, the Ukrainian, was my favorite character. The editing appeared professional to me. I wish they would reconsider the outward appearance of this book. In its current form, it might just drown in the masses of other books. I found the story entertaining and thanks to the review, I decided to read this book further.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 3:22 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Brenda Creech
I was not impressed enough with the title or cover of this book to check it out. After reading the OBC volunteer review, it piqued my interest. While reading the first ten pages, I did not see any errors or anything that needs to be improved. The portion I read was mainly the introduction of two characters. I liked the character of Ralph right away. While he was talking to his mother on the phone about his art business failing because of the economy, I was hoping he would stand his ground with her when he told her he would try writing. She tried to discourage him, but he wouldn't change his mind. The other character was Franny. She wanted to come to the United States from Russia and attend college in New York. She had already received a grant and assistance on an apartment, but she needed permission to leave Russia. That is as far as what I read took me. I didn't have a desire to read any further. I won't be reading the rest of the book because I don't believe I can stay interested.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 1:04 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Timothy Rucinski
I read the volunteer OBC review posted today and, for the life of me, I couldn't tell what this book was about. The review didn't tell me anything about the plot, just some information about the characters. From the review, it was clear that I'd never read this book. The cover was nice but suggests a self-help book more than a novel. After reading the first several pages, it was confirmed that I wouldn't read this. There was absolutely nothing about what I read that I liked. And I particularly disliked the dialogue that didn't ring true. Reading it out loud, the dialogue came across as stiff and lifeless. The book was also not professionally edited as I found numerous errors. For example, on the Dedication page, the first sentence is filled with errors: "I want to thank, my editor, Gary Smailes at Bubblecow for teaching me how to be a better writer." There should be no comma after "thank," a comma after "Smailes," and another comma after "Bubblecow." On page 7 there is an unnecessary comma following the word "reputation" in the sentence beginning "Because I pride myself..."
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 12:58 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
I struggled with my decision as to whether or not to buy and read this book. My initial reaction to the cover and title was that it was a self-help book that I would not be interested in reading. The blurb revealed that it is a fictional book about two authors who write a book about random people, the customer reviews remarked that it is a complex book because it is a story within a story, and the OnlineBookClub review revealed that it is more of an international espionage book that also stresses the importance in believing in yourself. The book appears to cover many genres. I like how the author devotes each chapter to a specific character and writes from their perspective. I am curious how it works out for Ralph to turn from being an artist into a writer. I did not see any errors in the first ten pages or anything I would recommend the author change. The first ten pages appear to have been edited by a professional editor. Overall, the book appears to be a good read, but the first ten pages did not grab and hold my attention. Therefore, I will not be buying and reading this book.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 12:53 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I like how Ralph is determined to have a creative career no matter what his circumstances. I enjoyed the conversation between himself and his parents. The OBC review also said the characters are written well, so that made me interested in sampling the book. I also didn’t see any editing errors or flaws. I don’t really read a lot of fiction, so it’s unlikely that I would have found this book outside of the program. I received a free copy and I enjoyed what I read so far, so I will read the rest. I don’t have any suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 12:45 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
I wouldn't know what to make of the cover of the book. It's pretty, but I can only say it's about an artist and not much of the genre. I loved the blurb, though. The author captured me with the phrase "Reality is the victim." The ratings are good enough, so I would have bought the book based on my first impressions.
What I liked the most about the first ten pages is how such different characters appear to be connected by art, and that we get different perspectives. Ralph is clearly devoted to creative endeavors, as we see from the conversation with his parents, and Franny is going to New York with a "group of Ukrainian music producers." There's nothing I disliked.
There are a couple of editing mistakes, starting with "involved" in the blurb, which should be "evolved." Later on, on page 7 the comma after reputation shouldn't be there: "Because I pride myself on the reputation, I have been able to build over the years." I would suggest fixing minor editing mistakes, especially the one in the blurb, which is the reader's first approach to the book. The official review furthered my enthusiasm for the book.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 11:20 am by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Michelle Menezes
From the title, I thought it would be a self-help book about accepting oneself. When I read the blurb, I realised I was wrong, and it was a suspense novel. The Official OnlineBookClub review had good things to say about the book, so I decided to give it a try. After reading the first ten pages, I have decided not to read the book. Though it was well-written and had a good beginning, it wasn't something I wanted to read right away. I prefer novels that have a lot of tension right from the start, and that wasn't the case here. I liked Ralph's character. His creativity, determination, and confidence is what grabbed my attention, despite his parents not being very supportive of his decision to become a writer. I don't think it needs any improvement, and I did not find any errors, so the book seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 10:46 am by Michelle Menezes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rayah Raouf
I would not have chosen to sample this book because of the cover. It did nothing to draw me in. The synopsis and customer reviews do make it sound interesting though. I will not read the book. The is a lot of dialogue but I felt no purpose. I love the idea of two authors working together but it could have been so much better. It is possible the book redeems itself later on, but the sample is not enough to get me hooked. I noticed no grammatical errors in the sample. Therefore, the book seems to be professionally edited. I like how the book is short and I like how each chapter is labelled with the person's name. this makes it easier to navigate. I can not think of any improvements to be made. There was an official OnlineBookClub review. It gave me more information about the book, which I appreciated. The review made the book sound very interesting. However, I still do not want to read the book.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 10:32 am by Rayah Raouf.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
The title of this book reminded me of a self-help book. The premise is interesting and a reminder to be true to ourselves. I like that very much. The genre of this book caught my attention. After reading the sample, I am curious enough to continue reading this book. The characters are intriguing. I think the author captured well the struggling artist's narrative with Ralph. This book doesn't have an Official Onlinebookclub review. However, there is a very informative Volunteer review. I didn't notice any grammatical errors, and I wouldn't change anything about the book. The cover is flattering and fitting.
First Ten review added on August 29, 2021, at 10:11 am by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 30%
At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me earned a score of 30%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 30% 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 At Day's End, I'll Always Be Me
