Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

I ran across what might just be borderline things in book descriptions on two editions of this book. [Admittedly, caught my attention because was disqualified as a group read for being YA (having read, the sexual content was not particulalry explicit despite a lot of illegitimate characters running around, adultery, extramarital stuff, between humans and odd non-human races, rape, etc. — but not explicit so guess can loosely qualify as YA; tamer than some of what is clearly YA).]

Publisher description is here: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/44902... and matches what I've seen on bookjackets.

That publisher description is why there's a quote/book review by author Piers Anthony at top of book description for most editions including the one at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65... .

First Question: I know book reviews and promotions not allowed in descriptions. Does that little publisher provided bit by Mr. anthony need to be edited out?

Second Question: on just one edition at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44... it starts by noting was a selection by YA branch of American Library Association. Does that belong in the book description or in the award section? If belongs in the book description, should it come before the actual book synopsis? If put in the award section, doesn't that make it show for all editions? If a book was selected by library associations, NPR or other organization reading lists - does that get included at all or in the awards sections? (I don't mean things like NPR book of the year voting winners which clearly are awards,just the being selected to be on a reading list type of notes.)

I'm positive the quotation marks in the book description following the YA selection note are wrong/unnecessary. Otherwise almost all book descriptions just noting what publisher put on back of book and on publisher websites would have to be in quotes.

Not a completely disinterested inquiry (a group I am in disqualified) so I am not going to make any edits; but, it just struck me odd that the one YA selection statement was only on one edition and so front and center headlined no one in the group looked further at book description.

Debbie wrote: "First Question: I know book reviews and promotions not allowed in descriptions. Does that little publisher provided bit by Mr. anthony need to be edited out?"

Yes.

Debbie wrote: "Second Question: on just one edition at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44... it starts by noting was a selection by YA branch of American Library Association. Does that belong in the book description or in the award section? If belongs in the book description, should it come before the actual book synopsis? If put in the award section, doesn't that make it show for all editions? If a book was selected by library associations, NPR or other organization reading lists - does that get included at all or in the awards sections? (I don't mean things like NPR book of the year voting winners which clearly are awards,just the being selected to be on a reading list type of notes.)"

Browsing through previous discussions these have been allowed as awards. And it should be moved to the awards section.

Debbie wrote: "I'm positive the quotation marks in the book description following the YA selection note are wrong/unnecessary. Otherwise almost all book descriptions just noting what publisher put on back of book and on publisher websites would have to be in quotes."

Yes, please remove.

On it being YA or not, I don't think that the award should be the deciding factor. According the the award's website: "Each year, the Popular Paperbacks committee creates lists of books to encourage young adults to read for pleasure. The lists of popular or topical titles are widely available in paperback and represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres." It says nothing about the books being exclusively YA books, only that they are books that would appeal to young adults. If you look at the list for 2003, many books marketed to adults are included (e.g., The Eye of the World):

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawa...

However, I think this is outside the scope of the main question. ;)

Outside question scope, but, useful in group.

Making edits.