Bookmark The Bookbag! (thebookbag.co.uk)

Member Name: dididave

Product:	thebookbag.co.uk
Date:	29/05/06 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simplistic layout, exceptionally written reviews, impartial recommendations.

Disadvantages: Is the layout is a little too simplistic? Limited number of genres and reviews presently.

Sometimes I tire of opinion sites. Wading through countless identikit reviews to find my next purchase can get a man down. It was therefore a pleasant surprise when I stumbled across the Bookbag, a brand new book review and recommendation site that has somehow managed to escape the trappings of the standard opinion site. The Bookbag differs from other opinion sites in that it does not offer the reader/browser the chance to rate the reviews according to their usefulness, helpfulness or by how much you like or wish to suck up to the writer. The Bookbag does allow you to comment on the content of the review but refreshingly these comments are vetted for content so there is a nice lack of “What a good writer you are” comments with them being limited to the books contents and its authors.

What I also like about The Bookbag is there is no need for membership or registration. This is a site set up for readers browsing for their latest indulgence. Membership would offer no rewards or benefit that are not already fully available and The Bookbag does well not to offer this option. Monthly innovative competitions merely require sending to the supplied email address and comments are vetted using your own email address.

Perhaps, in the interests of the technophiles out there I should say a little about the site layout itself. It is crisp and simplistic with an easy on the eye large blue font on white background. A complete lack of ads and flash imagery which will hopefully remain the case is a rarity in itself. Despite The Bookbag’s ready admission to links to Amazon.uk of which they will benefit if a purchase is made, the links are so unobtrusive as to be non-existent to the casual surfer. Navigation is swift and easy with the homepage providing one click links to all the genres on offer. The decision not to over complicate the genres is inspired. This means with an initial split of five categories there is no overwhelming of information and searching amongst the genre for a book you want is ridiculously easy. However, perhaps due to the fact the site is obviously in its infancy there is a distinct lack of variety in the book reviews on offer. An over emphasis on Crime Fiction is noted although undoubtedly this will balance out as the site evolves.

The Bookbag’s reviews are what separates this site from so many others. This is a site obviously designed by book lovers, for book lovers. Reviews are open eloquent, imaginative and offer an impartial viewpoint in genres you may not have even considered. The reviews have no particular layout yet manage to give a clear impression of what the book is about, and whether it is worth reading. The merits of books are discussed without waxing lyrical about the number of pages or characters and the descriptive ability of the reviewers is something I rarely see elsewhere. It has been a long time since I have consistently read and enjoyed a book review from start to finish yet The Bookbag offers reviews that hit the mark every time. Perhaps, because there are only a few dedicated review writers on the site, I did find a lack of variety in the books covered and not as many new reviews I would like but again, this is a site that will constantly evolve. At present I could be considered a weekly visitor but as its popularity increases and the number of reviews progress I can see myself being a constant visitor. It is certainly amongst my bookmarks.

What is this site missing? Well…although I love the simplicity of it you could accuse The Bookbag of looking amateurish in places. The nearly entirely blue fonts make the site easy to read but makes it all a little samey. However, remembering this is a site designed for book lovers and not web surfers it certainly serves its purpose. Although the standard of review is exceptional I feel there is a limit to the books that may be covered despite the owners claims of not being tied to a particular genre a one-sidedness will become inevitable without an influx of reviewers to cover the multitude of genres out there. These are but minor trifles in an ever expanding buffet but ones that in my mind needs addressing in the future.

Nonetheless, The Bookbag’s claims of being, “The corner of your local library…” is very apt and browsing it makes me feel part of an exciting new book club which has no catches and will only get better. I certainly recommend this as a site for the future and it can only continue to get better. Anyone who loves a read and is looking for their next one should visit www.thebookbag.co.uk.

Summary: A must stop for book lovers everywhere.