AIBU or is this out of order?

[falcon]

This is about a friend of mine who recently had his book published.I mentioned him in chat.

He now has an Amazon page set up, and has reviewed his own book, pretending that he's not the author.

I think this is dishonest and does him and his book no favours.

However he's made it pretty obvious that the review was written by the author, using the same first name, and if you click on his Amazon name it shows you the reviewer has the exact same name as the author. Oh what a coincidence.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the attempt, he's a good friend but this is pathetic and dishonest imo.

Does anyone find this acceptable?

UABU

If he's going to do it, do it right! It's dishonest and badly done.

Online it's pretty common for people to do this. There's a lot of debate in PR circles for people who work a lot with online products about how acceptable it is. I tend to agree with you that it's dishonest, but this is a new medium and isn't part of using the internet for savvy users, being able to tell the good from the bad (in theory)?

I was going to post a review myself, praising the book, I really do like it, but now I'm not sure I want to do that.

Personally I find it absolutely acceptable. My dad has written a book that will never see the light of day because the world of publishing is so closed to new writers.

In publishing, it's who you know that counts. So well done to your friend for getting published, and though it's a bit pathetic to give his own game away so plainly, I don't blame anybody for bigging up their own work or their friends work - that's how all the well known authors work. They write dazzling reviews of other writers books, knowing the favour will be returned.

How many books have you bought with dazzling quotes on the back from respected writers, that have turned out to be shit? I've lost count of how many I have.

It wasn't really published, it was one of those companies that will publish literally any book and you have to do 99% of the marketing yourself. And pay huge fees, so I guess I can understand why he's doing it.

However he and I had a discussion about it last night and he acknowledged it was wrong and decided he wouldn't do it. But when I checked his Amazon page, he'd written it anyway.

It's a pity he could have had a genuine review from me, instead of one that has clearly been written by the author.

Get over yourself, He isn't hurting anyone is he? If this is all you have in life to worry about then you have a very easy life!

I have more things to worry about of course, as I presume most people who post in AIBU or chat have, but it doesn't stop them posting about relatively minor issues does it?

The fact that he could hurt himself by doing this worries me, it's so obvious that it was written by the author, that it doesn't make him appear very creditable.

Thinking more about it, the truth is that he's not being dishonest in what he writes, is he? He's the author. He's gone to the trouble and expensive of publishing it himself. He really does believe it's the best book ever written!?

LOL That's true, but pretending to be someone else is dishonest.

Well I have done what your friend did WRT my books on Amazon - written something like 'This book is great. Yes I know I am saying that because I wrote it, but it's still great so buy it.' Given that most of the reviews on Amazon etc are a load of old bollocks either written by morons or by mates of the author, I don't know why you have such a stick up your arse about someone trying to market his own work.

I look at some of those book reviews and often think that a best friend of the author has sent it in. You can often spot them.

I wouldn't bother about it

If you genuinely like his book then please write that positive review.

My dad has self published too, a kids' book. He had a 'review' given to him from a young lad who was the son of a colleague. The review was so enthusiastic and genuine that we were all in tears reading it. I know that a genuine positive review means so much to my dad, and no doubt to any other frustrated writer who doesn't have the right connections to get published.

Be honest and objective if you can, and say that you know the autor if it makes you feel less dubious. There's no reason why people known to the author can't write on Amazon.

I think one review, using his real name, is just marketing.

If he'd created a new identity it would become a little borderline dishonest at that point!

My old next door neighbour wrote a book and I looked at the reviews on Amazon and her daughter with a different sur name had reviewed at given it five stars!

They ALL do it, I personally know a very well known author who has has several psedoyms (sp?)
on amazon,

and is always giving himself five star reviews

and his books don't deserve a five (and that's from a mate )

If my dad ever gets published I'll be giving him 5 stars and encouraging everybody I've ever met in my life to do the same.

Wouldn't anybody do this for a friend or family member who had written a great book?

Dont really see why you should let this bother you so much.

Let him get on with it...after all, it really isn't your business.

It's common practice. Same with restaurants, they all write their own fabulous reviews.

Perhaps if he'd written the review stating he was the author or at least if he'd written a review that didn't clearly point to him being the author though he's obviously trying to pretend otherwise, I'd have less issues with it.

If you're going to do something, do it well please.

Perhaps if he'd written the review stating he was the author or at least if he'd written a review that didn't clearly point to him being the author though he's obviously trying to pretend otherwise, I'd have fewer issues with it.

If you're going to do something, do it well please.

No, I still cant see why you would be so bothered about it!

do a review
He probably just had a moment of panic

I don't get it either. YOu sound rather controlling of him. why on earth do you think that he has to live according to your values?

THe thing that concerns me is that you say he had to 'pay a lot' to get his book published. The kindest thing you could do for him would be to point him in the direction of lulu.com which is a self-oublishing site that I rather thought had put the bulk of vanity publishers out of business. I'm sorry to hear that there are still some of the bastards out there ripping people off.