The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Disarrhoea
Because Disarrhoea 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.
Manang Muyang
The title is weird; I actually missed the "s" the first time I read it. The cover is a creative rendition of Russian dolls. The blurb got me at "how best to cook your housemates." I am a "Twilight Zone" and Stephen King fan, so I would have looked into this anthology even outside the program. Alas, the contents page had a fatal error that made me do a double take: "Eat They Neighbor" should have used "Thy." At 16% of the sample, "Half way through my first slice of toast, Jess placed her phone on the table" should have used "halfway." Nonetheless, I was totally engrossed (great descriptions by the author!) in the first story and was unhappy that I couldn't read it to the end. The infection was absurd; I pray it doesn't ever happen for real. Apart from addressing the errors, I have no other suggestions for the author. I will buy the book. The official OBC reviewer liked the book immensely; it was a reviewer I respected, so I knew I was making the right decision to buy and read the book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:58 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gabriella H
The book cover, title, blurb, OBC official review, editorial review, and customer reviews didn't attract me to this book, and they influenced my decision. I wouldn't have read the book without this program. I believe the book could use additional proofreading because I saw some errors in the first ten pages. I like how the first story about the disarrhoea pandemic was narrated with vivid imagery. I wonder if Jess found Emily and if she will find her way back home. I was almost moved to keep reading the book because of the first ten pages, but I'm not interested in the other stories based on the summary in the OBC official review and Amazon description. Therefore, I won't be completing this book. My decision is based on the OBC official review and Amazon description. This sentence contains punctuation errors, "Fortunately we have sufficient supplies to get us through another week; and the water, electricity and internet are so far unaffected." There should be a comma after fortunately and electricity. Also, the use of a semicolon after 'week' is incorrect.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:55 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title "Disarrhoea" and the cover that contains some things that look like dolls do not indicate the theme of the book. There are only three Amazon customer ratings, which is not a sufficient number for me to decide to sample the book. The Amazon summary indicates that the book has short stories related to science fiction. As I am generally interested in science fiction, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration containing a story in which the protagonist is locked up in their house with other occupants because of a disease that's spreading across the town. As I am interested in the science fiction stories, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample. What I liked most about the book is its genre. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:53 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jeremie Mondejar
When I'm a part of this program, I sample this book based on the reviews on Amazon and here on the OBC site. I don't have any idea about the title, so I read the sample. There were airborne pathogens that caused bizarre things and chaos in the place. The plot is quite fascinating, but when I learned that the book is composed of different stories, I decided not to continue reading this book. I would rather read a full-length story than a lot of shorter stories. I like the presence of mystery embedded in this book. I don't see any typos or errors. The cover photo looks like a children's book, which is quite confusing. I can't recommend any changes. I read the OBC review, which helped me understand the book, but it didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:51 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample as part of the First Ten program, I would have read the book. The Amazon reviews did not affect my decision. I am a little weary of "humor" as a genre but I am in a reading slump so I think short stories would help me out a lot. I am also interested in speculative fiction. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I would not change anything. The "documentation" feeling given off by the first story and its casual narration was really interesting as I felt like I was reading "found footage" and trying to look for clues. It might be fun to play around with this formatting more as I enjoyed moments where it doubled down on that, such as by using timestamps. I do think that maybe another round of editing could be helpful as I noticed a few errors such as a sentence fragment after a semi-colon ("and they have a shared tablet...") and also some inconsistent verb tense. However, overall, I found the story fun and engaging. The official review on OnlineBookClub did not affect my decision. I would for sure recommend this to readers of sci-fi and speculative fiction.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:40 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Adrian Rondon Salazar
The dolls on the cover are adorable but not suitable for a cover; they are not impressive. When I read the title, I thought it said diarrhea. For those reasons, I would not have been interested in reading this book outside the program. The sample was not to my liking either; there is no description of the facts, and everything is so strange. I thought the protagonist was a teenager, but later, I realized that he was an adult. I did not understand what that car accident meant; was it a consequence of the effects of the supposed illness or something else? So, I'm not interested in buying this book. Errors: none. There was nothing I liked. I would have liked the author to describe the events and characteristics of the characters better. The official review on OBC was helpful.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:38 am by Adrian Rondon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
FunkyFlowerLady
The title and cover page are quite intriguing, but I would not have picked up this book on my own. I'm glad I read the OBC review and sample of this book provided by Kindle; I liked the premise. The story and pacing are excellent, and I was eager to learn what was happening to the main characters and how they would be saved. After reading the first ten pages, I'll definitely buy the book, as I want to know what is happening in this world inside the story. I did not find any errors in the first ten pages. I liked the concept and pacing. I didn't like the title or cover page because they said nothing about the actual content of the book. The OBC review helped me give it a chance, though.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:31 am by FunkyFlowerLady.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Asma Aisha Ansari
As a fan of short stories and science fiction, I would have picked this book up based on the Amazon blurb. The cover and title are also attractive. The OBC review is well-written and further convinced me to sample this book. As for the sample, I loved the story but found the writing very slow-paced. But this is only a minor issue, and I intend to read the rest of the book because of the interesting characters and story. I didn't need to read the other editorial reviews or customer reviews to make my decision.
The book doesn't seem professionally edited, as I encountered a few errors in the sample. For example, in the sentence 'Half way through my first slice of toast, Jess placed her phone on the table', it should be 'halfway' and not 'half way'. I suggest a thorough round of editing to remove such errors.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:30 am by Asma Aisha Ansari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shrabastee Chakraborty
Based on the genre, the official OBC review, and other published reviews, I would have read this book. I found no errors in the first ten pages. The first story, Disarrhoea, spoke of a strange illness that kept people confined at home. The protagonist, a journalist, recorded the strange events that started with an accident in front of their home. I liked the intrigue that was inherent in the story. I had no suggestions for improvements. Based on my reading experience, I would read the whole book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:21 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Linus Ann
There are chances I would have sampled this book because of its unique cover and title, but even more certainly after reading its OBC review. I was most intrigued by the news that the book was a blend of science fiction and horror—I had never seen a book like that.
After sampling this book, I am as hooked as the characters in Disarrhoea were disoriented. I loved the suspense that built up on every page of this book, and I am so curious about the outcome of the first story that I'll continue reading this book.
I didn't notice any errors while sampling the first ten pages of this book, and I don't think the book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 4:10 am by Linus Ann.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu
I thought the title and cover of this book had a hint of mystery to them. I love short story collections so when the blurb described this book as such, I wanted to check it out. I would have read or sampled this book even if it was not part of the First Ten Program. The editorial and customer reviews were full of praise for the author and the stories. I was too after reading the sample. The first story is about an outbreak of an airbourne infection that seems to affect everyone the moment they step outdoors. For a moment I thought this was based on the recent Corona Virus outbreak but with a slight imaginative twist. I loved the sample. The author did a great job describing the events I could visualise the occurences with ease. The simple style of writing kept me enticed and reading on. I found no errors in the sample and nothing I did not like. The OBC review described this book as a collection of stories with themes of horror and sci-fi put together. This description and the impressive sample helped me make the decision to read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 3:56 am by Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
I found it hard connecting with both the book's cover page and title. The OBC blurb also dissuaded me from reading the book as it suggests that it is based on sci-fi. Because I am not an enthusiast of the genre, I wouldn't have read it without sampling it. To be honest, I didn't find anything to like while reading the first ten pages as the diary contained little action. I didn't fall in love with the characters, such as Jess. The editing seems professional because I didn't flag any errors. I also didn't notice anything that needs improving. Having read the OBC review, I will not complete reading the novel since I am not looking for a fantasy or sci-fi book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 3:50 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
If it wasn’t for this program, I would not have sampled this book. The cover and title are fairly unappealing to me. Also, I don’t enjoy horror and science fiction, so the genres and blurb also do not pique my interest. The positive customer and OBC ratings do not affect my opinion of the book.
Reading the sample, the book could use another round of editing. For example, in the first chapter, it states, “Two thirds of the way to the gate…”. There is a hyphen missing in between, “Two” and “thirds”.
Having the ambulance truck and cars just stop on the road without movement is both gripping and terrifying. On the other hand, it was a bit challenging to understand how each character was related to each other. I believe Jess and the narrator are a couple. However, Emily, Sam, and Meaghan were harder to understand each other’s relationships. In addition, I found the writing style not to my taste. It was very much “tell, not show” as I believe the narrator is slowly losing his ability to keep track events.
Due to not enjoying the genres and the writing style, I do not plan on buying and reading the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 3:40 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dzejn_Crvena
Outside this program, I'd have sampled this book because the title is unusual and catchy, and the cover is colorful and pleasing to the eyes. The blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews convinced me to sample it when I learned that it's a combination of various science fiction themes. Moreover, the OBC review and the sample convinced me to buy and read it when I learned that it's a collection of short stories. I enjoyed reading science fiction books, so I'd have sampled the book based on the genre. In the first ten pages, there's an explanation about the choice of the title and the short story related to it. It contains grotesque elements that are borderline unsettling and creepy. However, it's not too graphic. In Disarrhoea, there's a pathogen that caused humans to be trapped in their homes, leaving the readers with a slight feeling of claustrophobia. I like the straightforward writing style that makes the book very engaging to read. I'm looking forward to reading the other short stories within the book. It seems professionally edited, and I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 3:33 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Justine Ocsebio
I only sampled this book because of the program. I'm not really interested in narratives dealing with the pandemic. In the sample, I like how the initial part of the book establishes the premise with adequate exposition. One can vividly imagine the bleak environment that comes with the pandemic and isolation. The narrator is going about his daily routines, and the descriptions of these monotonous but interesting days are kind of satisfying to read. Sadly, I'm not going to read the book because the premise is not the one I'm aiming to read at the moment. The OBC review was a huge help. The text seemed to have undergone professional editing. I didn't find any errors or aspects that I didn't like. I also don't have any improvements to suggest.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 3:00 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stellah Chege
I would have read this book based on the cover page and title only. It is witty and had me wondering what I was looking at. However, the OBC review, blurb and first ten pages changed my mind. I am not a fan of sci-fi, especially one that is mystical. I can imagine that the narrator is writing down the mysterious events happening with a mysterious disease spreading. However, something makes me feel like there's impending horror, which is something I don't fancy reading about. I did not find any errors and I believe it is professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvement so far. I will not buy or read this book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 2:59 am by Stellah Chege.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jennifer Garcia 555
I am not a big fan of the cover or title of this book, but based on the genre, description, and an official OnlineBookClub review I read, I would probably pick this book to read. I like this genre and the OBC review made the short stories sound exciting and a bit scary. I read the sample pages and did not see any editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I like how the first story starts off with a car accident across the street from the main characters house. The story started off exciting, but by the end of the sample I began to loose interest. This book could be improved by more exciting events in the beginning. The disoriented people wandering around bumping into things was not very entertaining. For this reason I will not buy or finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 1:55 am by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
Even without this program, I would have sampled this. The ratings on Amazon are not very good, but the official review from OnlineBookClub, the cover, and the blurb look fine. The genre is also my cup of tea.
I like the horror theme and the excellent editing. Still, the first story is quite vague. It seems to be about a new disease, but nothing is clear. The plot is also similar to other disaster movies. I would suggest a better start. I will need more of the content to see if I should read the rest of the book. For now, I won't buy this book. The OBC review was helpful in motivating me to sample the book, but I made my decision myself.
First Ten review added on November 17, 2022, at 12:58 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rita Nuncia
I would have read this book without being a part of the first ten programs because of the genres of the stories in the book, the blurb, the OnlineBookClub review, and the customer reviews. The reviews praised the book and stated how interesting it was. I have no problem with the title and cover, although the title sounded weird. After reading the first ten pages, I would love to read the book because the first few pages captivated me. It felt so real, and it got my full attention. The first few pages seem professionally edited because I didn't see any errors. What I like the most about this book are the genres that make up the book. The mixture of science fiction, fantasy, and horror is a mind-blowing combination. I have no suggestions for improvements. There is an OnlineBookClub official review. It did affect my opinion of the book.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 11:34 pm by Rita Nuncia.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Eunice Geres
I wouldn't have read the sample of this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, and OBC review. I'm really not into sci-fi/horror. According to the OBC review, the book seems well-written. The reviewer said that the author managed to write something innovative, creative and horrifying, all the while having some scientific accuracy. Unfortunately, these are not themes I'm interested in, but I'm impressed. I enjoyed reading the sample. I thought it was going to be hard to understand. But it's actually easy to understand. I find the pacing to be too slow because the author described everything from the environment to the scene very thoroughly. That's not necessarily a bad thing; it's actually good. However, I'm into fast-paced fantasy/adventure novels. So, even though I didn't mind reading the sample and actually enjoyed it, I'm still not going to buy the book to read the rest of it because it's not something I find interesting. There was nothing I disliked, so I'm pretty sure other readers would be thrilled to read this if given to an interested reader. I would recommend improving the cover because it doesn't look like what the book is supposed to be, which is sci-fi/fantasy. It kind of looks like a children's book based on the cover. I also didn't notice any grammatical mistakes.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 11:14 pm by Eunice Geres.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
If Disarrhoea hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would have skipped the sample of it due to the Amazon.com description. I am not into horror novels, so I knew I was going to skip this book based on this description. The customer reviews did not affect my decision to read the sample. After reading the sample, I can say it reminded me of the TV series The Walking Dead; I liked this the most. I did not find any grammatical errors, and there is nothing I can think of that needs improvement or that I disliked. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I did not need to read this review to know this book is not for me.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 10:43 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
The cover and the title are creative and attractive, but at first glance, they do not make me think of science fiction or horror. However, I think it should attract many potential readers. I'm not a fan of science fiction. The blurb comments that the book presents six speculative fiction stories that mix science fiction and fantasy with a touch of horror and macabre humor. The only customer review is favorable. The official review of OnlineBookClub highlights that the book includes a fair share of realism through terminology and credible scientific theories and conjectures. Based on these elements, I am uninclined to try this book. The first ten pages are part of the story called “Disarrhoea.” These pose a chaotic situation in which people lose locomotive capacity, which generates widespread chaos. Inevitably, this makes me remember the coronavirus pandemic. Although in this case, the disease-transmitting agent seems to spread through the air with a broader range and faster. It is striking that it does not affect children, at least so far. I like the story is narrated in the first person perspective by the protagonist since it makes you perceive what is narrated more vividly. I find it terrifying that you cannot move where you want to go. The case of Jess was tragic since she went out to find out about her mother, who didn't answer the phone calls. Next, she was entrapped on the street by this mysterious disease. What I read generated some expectations as to whether the characters will be able to overcome this troublesome situation. For example, Jess, her mother Emily, Sam, and the narrator himself all go through harrowing circumstances because of this unexpected attacker. What I read was interesting and entertaining but reminded me of those complicated times in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. Hence, I am unexcited to read the rest of the book. The editing looked remarkable, as I didn't see any details to comment on. As a whole, I did not see anything that I believed could be improved. In conclusion, I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 8:09 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelsey Roy
I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of “Disarrhoea.” The cover art is fascinating and reminds me of Russian dolls. I do not know what the title means but the font makes me think of a horror show. The blurb and OBC identify the genre as fictional short horror stories. I’m very interested to see what this genre entails. The reviews discussed six short stories with macabre humor, which appeals to me.
I found no errors in the sample pages. The first story of this book reminds me of the film “Bird Box,” where everyone that went outside entered some trance. I enjoyed the story and would like to continue reading to identify the ending! I found nothing to dislike and have no recommendations for the author.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 6:22 pm by Kelsey Roy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, title, customer reviews, or editorial reviews. I don’t often like science-fiction books, and this one didn’t seem to be for me. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I was quickly engaged in the first short story. I liked the way it was narrated with the narrator describing events by the day. I wanted to know what happened next. I hope that the next stories are just as interesting. The book did seem to be professionally edited. There wasn’t anything specific that needs improvement.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 4:56 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kirsi Cultrera
I did not like the cover picture of this book, and would have passed it without the First Ten program. Reading the blurb, customer reviews, and other information at the book’s Amazon page did not change a thing. I like science fiction, but horror stories are not for me. Six horror stories in one book sounded like torture. I wasn’t prepared at all to what happened when I opened the sample. It completely enchanted me! I loved the author’s style and how the story increased my curiosity inch by inch. I couldn’t put it down as I had to find out what this mysterious sickness was, and if the characters would survive it. I have my fingers crossed for Jess! Despite the genre, I didn’t find anything at all to dislike. I wondered if the other five stories would be as good as the first one was so far. I read the Official OnlineBookClub review, and it confirmed my new thoughts about this book. I absolutely wanted to read the works of such a gifted storyteller, regardless of the genre. This book seemed professionally edited, although there was some grammatical incorrectness in the text messages between Naomi and the narrator. However, I wouldn’t count it an error as this is common procedure in texting, and therefore, it was probably intentional. It seems as I am willingly going to read a horror book now, and I can’t wait to see how this story will end.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 4:20 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ekta Kumari
The book is a collection of sci-fi horror stories. All the tales have interesting twists and turns. I wasn't planning on sampling or reading the book, though, based on its genre because it didn't interest me much. The cover page didn't intrigue me much either. I found the sample engaging, though. What I liked the most was the first-person narration where the central character narrates his activities and how everyone's life is affected by an airborne pathogen. I could relate to the story to some extent, considering the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. I also like that the story is fleshed out properly. The narrative doesn't seem hurried. However, I do think the book needs another round of editing, as I was able to find four errors in only a small portion of the text. One error is in this sentence, "Fortunately we have sufficient supplies to get us through another week; and the water, electricity and internet are so far unaffected." There should be a comma after 'Fortunately'. I saw a useful and detailed official OBC review before sampling, but that and the sample don't convince me enough to read the whole book because I'm not much into the themes. I would suggest the author to get the book edited again as an improvement. I wouldn't rate it as professionally edited.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 2:47 pm by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
I'm not a fan of horror books. This book blends sci-fi and fantasy, which seems like a great mixture for fans of that kind of read. I didn't find the synopsis appealing either. But all of those are my subjective takes. I haven't changed my mind after reading the sample. I could tell that the author was inspired by COVID-19, and that is another thing that I don't want to read about. There is an Official OnlineBookClub review of this book and some interesting Amazon reviews too. I didn't notice any errors, and I wouldn't change anything about the book.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 2:47 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kenesha Latoya Fowler
I don’t read horror stories, so I would not have sampled this book based on that alone; the cover, title, blurb, and review would not have swayed me. My experience of the sample was not entirely unpleasant, though. In fact, I found the beginning of the first story, “Disarrhoea,” strangely fascinating, which I kind of liked but was wary of. I couldn’t really tell what was going on, just that something was. I didn’t dislike anything in particular, and I didn’t find any errors. I think I want to read a little further than the first ten pages, but I have no interest in buying the book. The OBC review was helpful; it provided enough information for me to know if the book is a good fit for me or not.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 2:05 pm by Kenesha Latoya Fowler.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
Because the title sounded like diarrhea, I would not have chosen this book. I did wonder about the nesting dolls on the cover. The blurb made the book sound like Edgar Allen Poe. The OBC review was positive. I liked that the reviewer found little profanity or sex in the stories, but I still was not convinced. I did not find any errors in the pages that I read. I enjoyed the story of the family watching the strange occurances on their street. I suggest that the author change the title. I am not going to finish reading the book because I am not much for macabre stories.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 8:13 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickali
Disarrhoea is a book that I recently downloaded for free from Amazon, and I really enjoyed reading the sample. It would be fascinating to read this sci-fi book, which seems incredibly thrilling. The first ten pages of this book's first section, which I read, have the narrator discussing a topic pertaining to TV and radio. Additionally, he is speaking about a subject that is unsupported by any solid evidence and devoid of any useful guidance. The literary style the author used to write this story is what I loved most about the few pages I read. It is magnificent and admirable, in my opinion. I'm confident in saying that there was nothing in the section I read that bothered me in terms of what I didn't like. The few pages I read also contained no grammatical or spelling errors. It appears that the author hired a professional editor to work on his book. I really liked reading the sample of this book; therefore, I feel like I should buy it and finish it. Therefore, I'll purchase it and read it later. Well-written and providing a summary of what to expect in this book, the OBC review was excellent. I can also claim that it was useful in helping me decide whether to read this book or not. I fully recommend and concur that anyone who likes sci-fi should read this book. Based on the genre, customer reviews, and even the stunning cover page, I wouldn't have read the sample of this book if I hadn't been a member of the First Ten program. This is because their influence on my choice is negligible.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 7:01 am by Vickali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Soraya Bayah
The book's cover, title, genre, customer reviews, and reviews like OBC's did not interest me much. It's because I am not a big fan of horror or short stories. Reading the sample, I came to the conclusion that the book was worthwhile. My only issue is how I tend to confuse people with each other since we do not have adequate description of any of them for me to remember who's who. Other than that, the narrative was thrilling. I kept attempting to figure out why everyone was getting motion sickness and how widespread was this 'infection.' I would only be disappointed if the story does not reach a satisfying point before another story begins, which is why I dislike books with short stories. The story gets one thinking what they would have done had they been in a similar situation. I am excited to know the rest and hope I do not get disappointed. I could not find any errors so far and nothing could be noted as a negative except the situation with the characters. I wish you luck with the sales of this book. Well written!
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 6:07 am by Soraya Bayah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Faith Ejai
I wouldn't have read the sample of this book if I hadn't been a part of the program (First Ten), based on the book's cover, editorial reviews, and customer reviews. Disarrhoea sounds like a terrific science fiction and horror novel. According to the table of contents, this book is divided into six stories, which I discovered in the first few pages. Disarrhoea is the title of the first tale. Since the first remarkable event—a car hitting head-on with a light post immediately across the road—took place on Sunday, the author refers to it as "Day 1." I won't buy and finish reading this book after reading the first ten pages. I won't buy it and won't finish reading it because I wasn't particularly impressed with the plot. The first ten pages I read in order to sample the book did not include any errors; therefore, the book appears to have been exceptionally well edited. The cover was my favorite part of the section I read. It was fascinating and amazing. There was nothing I read that I didn't enjoy, and I didn't find anything that needed to be changed. OBC has reviewed the book. I read the review before deciding not to purchase and finish this book. The readers I recommend this book to are fans of science fiction and fantasy.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 5:57 am by Faith Ejai.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
I could not guess what I could find in this book after seeing its cover, title, or genre. Without the program called the first ten, I would not have sampled this book. The editorial and customer reviews of this book were encouraging to me. The OBC official review was the one that motivated me to read the sample. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that the book was not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the free sample. For example, the sentence, "Once that's up to date I'll keep a daily log, in case anyone wants to know in the aftermath what happened in this house – and in case I'm not around to tell the tale." This sentence could be as follows. "Once that's up to date, I'll keep a daily log in case anyone wants to know in the aftermath what happened in this house – and in case I'm not around to tell the tale." In this sample, I liked the journalist's idea of typing rather than making audio or video recordings when it was unsafe going out. From the first chapter, I learned that people were advised to stay indoors. Sadly, I could not visualize the scenes clearly from the descriptions given in the narrative, and I lost interest in reading due to it. I will not buy and read this book today. My suggestion to the author is to elaborate the descriptions of the scenes with adequate details for visualizing them clearly. For more clarity in reading, this book needs a round of professional editing.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 5:28 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
BruceP
Disarrhoea is a book that I got the chance to read the first ten pages of after obtaining a free sample from Amazon. Additionally, I read the official review that was posted on the OBC website. The author begins the first few pages I read by stating that he is unsure of the origin of the word "disarrhoea." This is provocative in some way. Additionally, he complains about his slow typing pace. He is forced to use autocomplete because it is slow. Even though I read a lot and adore sci-fi, I won't buy and finish this book. This is due to the fact that I didn't enjoy the book's content. I think this is a wonderful book and would recommend it to anyone who likes reading science fiction books. The cover was the feature of the book that I adored the most. It was brilliantly created, in my opinion. Nothing about this book did not grab me. My choice not to buy and continue reading this book was unrelated to the OBC review or the book's cover. The first ten pages I read had no grammatical or spelling errors. This book appears to have been edited by a competent professional.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 5:20 am by BruceP.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Carson25
I read the first ten pages of this novel, Disarrhoea, after downloading a sample. It is a sci-fi novel. The first chapter (part) of this novel is titled the same as the book’s title. At the start of this book, the author begins by talking about TV and radio programming. According to him, they’re sporadic, and the internet is inundated with reports and images of tragedy and despair. The element that I appreciated the most in the first ten pages that I read was the book’s cover. There was nothing that I didn’t appreciate in the first ten pages that I read. The book seems to have been edited by a professional editor, as there were no errors in the first few pages that I read. I don’t read sci-fi novels. This explains why I won’t purchase and finish reading this book. I will recommend it to anyone who appreciates sci-fi novels. There is an official review on OBC. The review gave a detailed summary of what this book is all about. My decision not to purchase and finish reading this book was because of its genre. The cover, editorial reviews, customer reviews, and the official review had no effect on my decision not to purchase and finish reading this book. In my opinion, this book doesn’t need any kind of modification. It is fine the way it is.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 4:37 am by Carson25.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
KafeliKe
Disarrhoea by Kevin Vodden sounds like an amazing science fiction and fantasy novel. It consists of six sci-fi horror stories. In the opening pages of this book, the author starts by mentioning that he has no idea where the name "diarrhoea" came from. The author continues by saying that after three days, the only certainty is that we’re trapped in our home like everyone else. The aspect of the book that I liked the most in the first ten pages that I read was the cover. It was well-designed, and it was amazing. There was no aspect of the first ten pages that I didn't like. I’m not a fan of sci-fi novels. I’ll therefore not buy and finish reading this book. Furthermore, I’ll recommend it to fans of sci-fi novels. On the Online Book Club website, there is an insightful official review. My decision not to buy and finish reading this book was because of its genre. The cover and the official review had no effect on my decision. The first ten pages that I read had no flaws. This book seems to have been exceptionally edited. This book seems OK and doesn’t need any improvement.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 4:05 am by KafeliKe.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rodel Barnachea
Upon poring over the book’s official OBC review and Amazon page, I opted not to purchase the anthology. I am not fascinated by the premises of the six short stories that this sci-fi horror anthology contains. I am not intrigued by the first sci-fi horror short story "Disarrhoea" even if the situation described here shows similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sampling the title failed to change my mind. I would not acquire it because nothing in the Amazon sample had me wanting to peruse the rest of the book. The first ten pages include the first ten pages of the first short story entitled “Disarrhoea.” What I liked most is when Yasmin and Archie decided to help the driver who got into an accident. I was not able to note any errors in the sample. The book seems professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 2:51 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vidhi Adhikari
The book makes a decent first impression with it's attaractive cover design, straightforward title, detailed description, and few customer and OBC reviews. Since I am a fan of horror books, I was excited to read the sample. That said, I loved the simple writing style of the author. There were some minor grammatical errors, but nothing that would affect my reading experience (Three days on, the only certainty is that we're trapped in our home like everyone else – {replace with comma} except for those helpless souls outside.) Unfortunately, since the writing seemed a little dragged, I will not finish this book. I would suggest making the content pictorial to better grab the reader's attention.
First Ten review added on November 16, 2022, at 1:34 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for this program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, OnlineBookClub review, or other reviews because I'm not the biggest fan of short stories or science-fiction. My favorite part of what I read was the flow of the story. It felt like one of those books I could read without feeling the passage of time. I also liked the description of the airborne pathogen. It reminded me of the fungi that can control the movement of ants. After reading the first ten pages, I will read the whole book because of the reasons mentioned previously and because I also liked the narrator. I don't think the book needs improvement, and it seems well edited.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 11:02 pm by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Julie Gebrosky
If I had not been part of this program, I would not have read this book. The horror genre does not appeal to me. The OBC review helped in making that decision because I do not like gruesome stories. However, when I read the first ten pages, I was interested in what was going to happen. It was almost like COVID because everyone had to stay inside, but the negative effects were almost immediate. I thought the story was compelling. A drawback was that there were a lot of names and it got confusing who all the people were. I did not find any errors. I do not plan to finish the book simply because of the genre. It was well-written.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:32 pm by Julie Gebrosky.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
The title of this book was certainly interesting; however, the cover illustration did not attract me. I enjoy short-story anthologies, but I do not read sci-fi often, and the blurb indicated a level of horror that I would not choose, so I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. Thankfully, the titular story was the first one, so I found out what it referred to. The writing style reflected the state of disorientation well. I felt like I didn’t quite grasp the situation fully. I even assumed the incorrect sex for a couple of characters. For example, I assumed the narrator was a woman, and when I found out Jess was a woman, then I readjusted, thinking they were a same-sex couple and not even considering the narrator was a man until they discussed shaving their face. The writing style was clever in that way. I thought the first story dragged on for too long, though. After reading the first ten pages, I skimmed to the end of the sample pages and the mysterious illness was still going on. I will not buy this book primarily because of the horror aspect that was promised. It appeared professionally edited; I did not notice any countable grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement. I assumed the text entries were missing punctuation by design. Neither the featured OnlineBookClub review nor the other limited editorial reviews or customer reviews influenced my decision.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 8:00 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Arnaiz
I will sample this book outside the program. The unusual title and cover caught my attention. Also, the description piqued my curiosity. I like short stories and science fiction. Customer reviews are positive. After sampling, I like how the unpredictability of the first story builds up and sustain the interest. It made me curious about the other stories and read the entire collection. I have no suggestions for improvement. For editing issues, here is an example.
Location 409. Grammar. It seems a preposition is missing.
From there I was able [] show them how to load the washing machine, where to put the soap in, and what buttons to press.
The official OnlineBookClub review has helpful insights.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 7:59 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Damian Keyes
I read the OBC official review and knew from the name and genre, that I was not going to buy this book and finish it. I would not have read this sample if I was not in this program because it's a sci-fi book. The first story tells of this weird sickness going around that had these characters, Yasmin and Archie, affected by it and the main character is put in a predicament to save or hurt his friends. I did not like how confused I was because the story was describing the movement of these people who got in this accident which I believe was unnecessary. I found no errors in the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 7:41 pm by Damian Keyes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sushan Ekanayake
Disarrhoea by Kevin Vodden belongs to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, which I love to read. The title and the cover page did not make me interested to check the inside of the book. But the blurb revealed that this contained six interesting sci-fi short stories. The editorial reviews and the customer reviews spoke highly about the book. Based on the above facts, I would have sampled this book even if I had not been a part of this program.
Then I read the first ten pages, which contained the first story out of the six, 'Disarrhoea'. It was an interesting story describing some sort of a plague which set everyone to remain inside their homes for survival. The initial story gave me the impression of the rest of the book being definitely an interesting read. So I decided to buy and read the whole book after reading first few pages. I liked the author's writing style which made the reader curious and yearning to see the rest of the pages.
There was one error in the first ten pages. In the content the fifth story was named as 'Eat they neighbour', and it should be corrected as 'Eat thy neighbour'. I did not see any area that could be improved. I saw the official OBC review, which spoke highly about the book. And it backed my decision very well.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 6:31 pm by Sushan Ekanayake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Yvonne Monique
I don't like the book cover as it does not look professional at all, which is why I would not pick this book up if I would see it in a bookstore. However, the customer reviews, blurb and OBC review make the six short stories sound very interesting and exactly my cup of tea. The first ten pages are well edited and written in a very intriguing way. It was impossible not to want to find out what weird virus was affecting the people in the story. Eventually, I ended up reading the entire sample and decided to buy the book. As an improvement, die suggest to make the cover look more professional.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 4:53 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Stephanie Runyon
I like short story collections and would have sampled this anthology. I liked the writing style of the chapter "Disarrhoea." The journalist homebound reporting is easy to read and built suspense to keep my interest. The odd behavior of the paramedics, Archie, Yasmin, and the driver makes me believe they have the disease. I noted a few errors. Beyond editing, I wouldn't change anything about this book. The OBC review did not influence my decision to keep reading this collection. I did not read anything online to alter my decision. The first story had me hooked from the start and I would like to continue reading.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 3:47 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mayang Bature
Disarrhoea is an excellent novel. Even if I hadn't been a part of this project, I'd have been interested in reading it. The description was fantastic, and the review did it justice. I admire the author's writing style and the fact that the stories aren't so abstract that no one can relate to them. I enjoyed the first few pages and will definitely read it again and again.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 2:53 pm by Mayang Bature.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nemanja Jankovic
The book's title and cover don't appear alluring enough to entice me to read the sample. The cover is made in a childlike manner, and the title is similar to the word "diarrhea." My decision was slightly influenced by the blurb, which noted that the book also has some macabre humor. I also read the sole customer review and the Official OnlineBookClub review, but neither had any impact on my choice. There are no editor reviews online. Because I'm not in the mood to read science fiction right now, I won't be reading the book. Aside from two minor typos (in which “no-one” was used instead of “no one” in two instances), the book appears to have undergone professional editing. I enjoyed the way the elderly couple at number 39 was described since I could picture the situation and their dialogue in my head. From the opening page, I anticipated the book to be action-packed, and I believe that by highlighting the action, the book might be made better.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 2:34 pm by Nemanja Jankovic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
I think weird is the first word that came to mind when I saw this book's cover and title. I checked the blurb, OBC review, and Amazon review, but I couldn't decide if it was for me. It's the kind of book that you just have to dive into and see how it feels. The writing style is keeping me hooked. The author knows how to build suspense, so I had a hard time stopping. The way the 'sickness' started with the woman hitting the lamp post was weird, but I knew that the story was going to make some sense soon. We get a better understanding once Meaghan starts having symptoms. I obviously can't deny how interesting this book is. However, the first story reminds me a lot of another horror story that still gives me nightmares. Since I'm a bit fainthearted, I don't think reading this book is a good idea. The book doesn't need improvement. Also, there were no editing errors that I could notice.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 2:04 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Andrada Madalina
"Disarrhoea" by Kevin Vodden is a sci-fi book that presents six stories sprinkled with humor and horror. I liked the simplicity of the book cover and found it suitable for its peculiar title and descriptive blurb. I sampled this book because of its positive customer review, editorial reviews from the blurb, and excellent Official OnlineBookClub review. The book does not seem professionally edited since I discovered a typographical error in the first story: "Tiberius" was not capitalized in the sentence ("All doors and windows locked but tiberius went out through the cat flap hope hell be ok."). I would not improve anything on the book because I liked the mixture of science fiction and fantasy and enjoyed the intriguing plot about the nationwide contamination of the first story. Nevertheless, I will not buy and read the whole book because I am not a fan of short stories and horror tales.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 1:46 pm by Andrada Madalina.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ohna Martin
I think I will skip this book, even if I had not been part of this program. I do not like the genre. The cover is interesting and the name is original. The likeable fact about this book is that the writing style is fresh and original. The author's description of some scenes borders on fantastic humour. There is nothing I dislike about the book. The errors the OBC review mentioned is definitely not in the first ten pages. I have no suggestions for the authors. Aside from the OBC review, no other review or blurbs influenced my decision.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 1:41 pm by Ohna Martin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
Without this program, I would not have read and sampled the book based on the genre, cover, and title. The Amazon blurb was informative, and I noticed that the book had positive customer reviews and editorial reviews. Nevertheless, as I am not fond of anthologies, I did not change my mind after sampling the book. The OBC review did not convince me to buy the book, either. The book contains six stories that blend elements of science-fiction with elements of horror. The first story, "Disarrhoea," follows a journalist who finds himself dealing with a mysterious disease that forces people to stay at home in order not to be infected. I enjoyed the author's writing style; it was clear and descriptive, with a touch of humor thrown in. What I did not like, however, was that the book had editing issues. For example, it should be written "I was able to show them" in the following sentence: "From there I was able show them how to load the washing machine, where to put the soap in, and what buttons to press." (location 401 of 429 • 93%) It should be written "for another look" in the following sentence: "I reached down for the remote control, opened the garage door, started the engine, shifted into reverse, checked the rear-view mirror, blinked to verify what I'd seen, turned round for a another look, ..." (location 88 of 429 • 20%) All in all, I would only suggest another round of editing.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 1:04 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Disarrhoea' is a collection of stories written by Kevin Vodden. The first story of six, Disarrhoea, talks about a world where everyone is trapped in their houses. People outside are considered lost. The narrator decides to chronicle his time inside the house. Disarrhoea reminds me of COVID 19. I like the realistic portrayal of it. There is nothing in need of improvement. The OBC review is insightful. The editing is fine. I would have read this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I am in the mood to read short stories. After reading the sample, I have decided to read this book as I am intrigued by the writing style.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 12:58 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kira Bonita Reece
I would not read this book based on the cover and title because they do not seem inviting. I would read it based on the blurb, customer review, and the official OnlineBookClub review. I liked the suspenseful nature of the first story. I am intrigued to know what is causing all the people to become disoriented whenever they go outside. The sample was professionally edited and the only improvement I would suggest is to make the cover more appealing. I won't be reading this book because this is not my genre of choice. I don't like reading horror or science fiction.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 12:24 pm by Kira Bonita Reece.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Amy Luman
From what I read, I don’t have any answers to what is happening, but I am very curious. I will be finishing this book even though the OBC review spoke of the short stories involved and I thought I wouldn’t like it. I don’t really like short stories, but now I’m invested in seeing what happens to the narrator, Jess, Keira, and Coen. The title is about the first story, and I’ve heard it before and know it’s not good. The cover looks like those Russian nesting dolls. I didn’t find any errors in what I read, so the compilation must have been well edited. I didn’t find any editorial reviews of this, but the only customer review I found was very positive. There was nothing that I didn't enjoy.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 12:17 pm by Amy Luman.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Christell Lindeque
I wouldn't have bought or read this book whether or not I was a part of this program. I enjoy science fiction, but horror is not my thing.
The book's cover isn't very appealing, in my opinion.
The first ten pages were enough to convince me that I didn't enjoy the writing style enough to buy or read the book. When it comes to horror stories, I'm not interested either.
In the first ten pages, I noticed no mistakes.
I liked the plot and the mystery surrounding the first day of the first time the airborne pathogen caused trouble.
The writing style was difficult for me to read, which was one of my main complaints.
The OBC review did not persuade me to reconsider purchasing or reading this book.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 11:50 am by Christell Lindeque.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Danielle Briggs
Based on the genre and blurb, I think I would have given this book a try, even outside the program. After reading the sample, I would buy and continue reading this book. I liked that the first story is written in the form of a journal, allowing me to see the action happening as well as the thoughts of the narrator. I also liked the suspense readers are given, wondering what this new disease was and if it would ever end. I had no negatives or improvements to mention. I also found no errors in what I read. The OBC review provided insight in the other stories within the book and their superb quality, so it helped me decide to continue the book.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:40 am by Danielle Briggs.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shanesha Sammerson
Disarrhoea by Kevin Vodden had me captivated from the start. The title was a weird name and had me researching to find out the meaning. When I didn't, I read it to get an understanding of what the book was about. The blurb and editorial reviews done on this book didn’t say much about the book but more about the author, so this did not capture my attention. Even if I were not part of OBC, I would have still sampled this book. Yes, I am absolutely going to buy and read this book after reading the first 10 pages because it was a thrill to read about the confusing state people were in while walking and crashing into things because of being disoriented. I wanted to find out what was causing it and also read what other stories it entailed. The fact that it started out exciting and was a quick read was a definite plus. I found no errors in the first 10 pages. There is nothing that I would change about this book; I found it on the level of a Steven King thriller. I found the review on OBC did not provide enough details about the book to interest me.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:37 am by Shanesha Sammerson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chinazo Anozie
I was initially interested in this book from the title, cover, description, genre, customer reviews, and the official OnlineBookClub review. However, I changed my mind once I read the first few pages. I will not buy and read this book. I felt the plot of the first story “Disarrhoea” dragged on for too long, and it wasn’t intriguing enough. I would have liked to understand the disease better and why Jess’s children weren’t affected. I wished the author had included these early enough in the book. This book seems professionally edited because I didn’t notice any errors in the first few pages I read.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:13 am by Chinazo Anozie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
I enjoy reading science-fiction and horror stories. Therefore, I would have checked this book out based on the genre, cover, and title. I base my decisions to read books on my enjoyment of the first ten pages in the sample, so the blurb, customer reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review do not influence me. There were no editorial reviews to read. The first story in this anthology drew me in, with everyone acting strange after they go outside. I wonder if Jess and the other victims will return from the Legion of the Lost. There was nothing I disliked about the first ten pages. They appear professionally edited, as I did not see any errors. I have no recommendations for the author. I have downloaded the free copy of the book and will eventually read it.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:11 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
IconReviews
Judging from the cover, title, blurb, and genre, this is not a book I would read outside this program. The sample was professionally edited and needs no modifications. I liked its suspenseful nature. While reading I kept wondering what was making all the people sick and unable to walk. This book has a positive customer review and official OnlineBookClub review but they did not convince me to read. I won't be reading this one because I don't enjoy sci-fi stories.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 10:06 am by IconReviews.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
I would not have picked this book up based on the cover alone because the title and the cover art don’t tell me what the book is about. The cover art looks like a drawing of dolls or toys. This makes me think it may be a children’s book. I am not familiar with the title’s meaning. However, the onlinebookclub.org review that I read informed me that it is a collections of horror and science fiction stories. Since I enjoy reading that genre, this review increased my interest in the book. It also gave the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars and recommended it to readers who enjoy horror and science fiction. I didn’t read any additional customer reviews or blurbs because the OBC review was very informative. The first ten pages drew me into the story immediately. It is a diary of a family locked in their home due to a mysterious illness that appears to be airborne. There are accidents in front of their home because drivers become disoriented. When the husband and wife each went outside separately for a matter of minutes, they became dizzy and weak. They watched from their windows as neighbors appeared to experience the same symptoms. I like the author’s writing style. I am intrigued by this story and would like to finish reading this book. 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. Based on the first ten pages and the OBC review, I would like to finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 9:18 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Timothy Rucinski
I found the cover amateurish, and based on the cover alone, I would never have looked at this book. Unfortunately, the title too closely resembles the word "diarrhea," which is all I could think of when I read it. The Official OBC Review tempted me a bit as I enjoy horror and sci-fi. I read no other reviews or blurbs. After reading the first ten pages, I will likely read this book. The author does a great job of setting up the story and creating a sense of malevolence in a very short time. This is what I liked the most. There wasn't anything about what I read that I disliked. My recommendation for improvement would be to develop a better cover and, perhaps, a title. The book may have been professionally edited, but some sentences tended to run on a bit longer than necessary, and there are a few punctuation issues, as with the following. On page 7 of the Amazon Kindle edition, there is a comma missing after the word "date" in the following sentence: "Once that's up to date I'll keep a daily log, in case anyone wants to know in the aftermath what happened in this house...""
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 8:15 am by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
The cover is peculiar, and I am trying to figure out what to make of it. But I love some "macabre humour." The book also has high ratings, so I would have bought it based on my first impressions.
The first ten pages changed my mind. I read ten pages, and barely anything happened, which is weird if these are short stories. Did we, for example, need to know that the narrator called his boss? Also, what the author tries to convey as "normalcy" or "peace" seems just insensitive. Do Jess and her partner see a woman trying to crawl out of a car and do nothing? Really? Besides, the pandemic plot hits too close to home. There was nothing I liked. There are a couple of editing mistakes. For example, in the following sentence, it should read "halfway" as one word according to all the dictionaries I consulted: "Half way through my first slice of toast, Jess placed her phone..." (p. 13). I suggest fixing the editing mistakes and adding more action to the opening pages. The official OBC review didn't change my mind.
First Ten review added on November 15, 2022, at 8:00 am by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 42%
Disarrhoea earned a score of 42%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 42% 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 Disarrhoea
