Thursday, April 6, 2023

Advice you trust... where do you go?


HALLIE EPHRON: I am so out of touch with television and movies these days. Too many choices, too many streams that I don’t subscribe to and don’t want to pay for. Too much of a good thing? 

It’s like going into a department store (remember NYC Macy’s?) with SO MANY floors and departments that you feel like running for the EXIT.

So I’m very grateful that here in Boston we have a wonderful television reviewer – Matthew Gilbert for the Boston Globe. I can usually trust his recommendations – if he likes something, I’ll usually like it too. Though I cannot imagine how he keeps up with it all.

My other go-to place for recommendations–like when I need to buy a mouse trap or a cell phone charging cord or breakfast sausage – is the Wirecutter feature of the New York Times. Saves me so much time–they’ve done all the testing. I subscribe to the New York Times anyway, and it’s only a small amount more.

Are there reviewers or columns you rely on to help you make your reading or watching or purchasing decisions?

HANK PHILLLIPPI RYAN: I love Matthew Gilbert, Hallie ,and I am in awe of his television watching. Yikes. I read what he says very carefully, and usually agree. Usually.. (Speaking of, and fyi, I HIGHLY recommend The Night Agent! Based on a Matthew Quirk novel, and I adore him, and this is a compelling FBI CIA DC story. We are loving it.)

And hmm. Thinking of it, we came upon it via “shopping” the “trending” videos on whatever platform it is. (I think we all have a pretty infallible blink reflex where we can tell if it’s good after watching about ten seconds.)

And–I get so much from right here on Jungle Red! What kind of immersion blender, for instance, and what movies, and what books. YOU all are my go to.

I do like Wirecutter–those kinds of decisions are truly impossible, and I love when someone says, well, you want the pricey one? Or the perfectly good one?

And the Facebook hive mind is also valuable..,ask a question, and the favorite will emerge. People cannot resist suggesting things, right?

RHYS BOWEN: I've long given up reading reviews of movies as I never seem to like what the reviewer likes. I have to admit when I plan to buy a product I go to Amazon and read all the negative reviews. If enough people find a fault I am warned. 

Ditto for hotels. If enough bad reviews state that the place is dirty, the staff rude I look for somewhere else!

But I have bought books based on reviews, either professional in the Times or Post or on Goodreads or here at Jungle Reds. We have a great Resource!

JENN McKINLAY: Well, I used to use Yelp for quite a lot of things but then I learned that they take payments to lift businesses up, so now they’re out. I like TripAdvisor for traveling. Usually, books and TV are word of mouth.

If someone I like (such as the Reds and our Readers) recommends something, it usually proves out. I have become very suspicious of pop up ads, however. If I tell the Hub we need a new toaster and then my online world is full of ads for toasters, I refuse to buy any of them on principle.


If I want to buy your product, I’ll come to you. Sheesh!

LUCY BURDETTE: Me too on Wirecutter! They review the most interesting items so I have to hold myself back from buying things I don’t need.

I do look on Amazon, but only use that as one source of info. Sometimes I’ve fallen into their “if you liked this, you’ll like that” rabbit hole and found they weren’t correct at all!

I do love the Red readers advice and after a while, can figure out who has my taste and who doesn’t:).

For pet-friendly hotels, BringFido.com is a good resource!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Count me in among the fans of Wirecutter (which, btw, you can access on the web without a NYT subscription.) I also subscribe to Consumer Reports - yes, they are still around and still number one for telling you the most reliable and best-performing car/ dishwasher/ router/ baby carrier. At $30-something per year, it’s well worth the price.

Amazon, for all it’s faults, used to be a great way to find things that many people genuinely loved, but it’s become SO much more difficult to find the actual “best reviewed” items among the ads-that-don’t-look-like-ads and artificially-boosted results. The Washington Post had a whole article about it. Now, I don’t even look there until I already know what I want to buy.

And for movies - I love Roger Ebert Reviews. No, the sorely missed Roger Ebert himself is no longer writing (although if you’re considering an older movie you stumbled across on Netflix of HBO, all his old reviews are still there!) The new reviewers working there jibe well with my tastes - they judge fun popcorn flicks on their merits, but also have thoughtful reviews of more ambitious cinema.


DEBORAH CROMBIE: Yes to Trip Advisor for travel reviews, no to Yelp, ugh. 


For movie and TV reviews I read the
Times and the Post and there seem to be about half a million other suggestions that filter in. I love when we have books/movies/TV suggestion days here on the blog because I always learn about things that sound interesting. 

I read Bon Appetit reviews for food and cooking related reviews, and I do read Amazon reviews for products, although I tend to take them with a handful of salt. Sometimes I'll buy a book just because someone's horribly negative review annoys me–call me contrary.

HALLIE: Where do you go for trustworthy recommendations, and where have you been burned?

43 comments:

  1. Aside from the wonderful Jungle Red recommendations, I don't do much hunting for advice, especially when it comes to books, movies, and television. Like Jenn, I dislike those pop-up ads and always ignore them but Wirecutter on line is great for tech information . . . .

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  2. I have always read reviews on Amazon, and written some, too... but like Rhys, when I'm in the mood to buy, I focus on the 1 and 2 star reviews so I know what to expect. I too like Wirecutter, and for more expensive purchases, Consumer Reports. Julia, I read that Washington Post article on Amazon's current ranking process when it came out and was happy to have the bizarre and mystifying new algorithm/payoff system explained. (Why, when I knew exactly the brand I was searching for, and put this in quotes, was it no longer showing up? Now I go almost immediately to page 2 of results. Or I go elsewhere to buy.)

    I normally will not watch violence -- I have nightmares -- or shows that make me too discouraged about the human race, i.e. featuring detestable characters without any redeeming moral qualities. (Now only am I prone to depression, but I have always been very aware that characters are WRITTEN, and I've never wanted to linger in some stranger's nihilistic worldview). I am also not interested in sci fi and/or zombies. In today's climate this limits my choices for television and movies. That has always been fine because I am not a television or movie person. I read. I watch TV with my husband but when he's away the television will be untouched for weeks. However when I do want to watch with him, I will read reviews in the NYT and Washington Post, and watch trailers. Often, however, my best tips come from our adult children, who know my tastes.

    All that being said, I second Hank's recommendation of THE NIGHT AGENT. The reviews were so strong and both my husband and our visiting, exhausted daughter adore political thrillers, so even though thrillers onscreen are not my thing, I set up dinner so we could watch the pilot together. I kept my eyes closed through about 1/4 due to violence, but the story was engaging, the pace non-stop, and the leading characters sympathetic. Our daughter who was driving cross-country has already binged ahead and my husband and I will watch the rest of the season. He was happy and I can always close my eyes.


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    1. That's quite an endorsement of THE NIGHT AGENT. We will have to try it. I admit, I've never dwelled on the nihilistic worldview behind a book--now I won't be able to get that out of my head!

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  3. Some years ago I made the mistake of buying a dress from a Facebook ad. Yikes. Horrible material, wildly off size, and from China, so I couldn't return it. Never again.

    A Quaker friend recommended Night Agent and we watched the first episode last night. TOO violent, and neither of us car for wickedly dangerous car chases. We'll probably give it one more try.

    Thanks for the Wirecutter tip. I don't subscribe to the NYT (I can hear the collective gasp of horror, but it's true), so I'll look for it on the web.

    I read movie reviews in the Globe, and Matthew Gilbert on shows, although that's frustrating because so many good ones are on services we don't get. Otherwise it's mostly word of mouth.

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    1. Edith, knowing how tough the pilot was for me, even with eyes closed, my daughter reassured me that the episodes following were considerably less violent.

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    2. Thanks, Anon. That's good to know.

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    3. I must be in a different plane about it. When I think of that show, I do not think of violence. But yeah, I guess so. Huh. It's more about politics and power plays to me. Okay, there's one, um, sociopath woman,:-) but she's not the point. To me.

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    4. I’m with Edith about Night Agent. Fifteen minutes in and we switched channels.

      We are waiting for all episodes of Ted Lasso S2 to drop. Then we’ll binge watch. Highly recommend

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    5. Season 3 on Ted Lasso. We are watching a week at a time, but will probably watch again when it's finished, to pick up on all the little things.

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  4. For books, I'll read reviews or blog posts here, on Wicked Authors, Bolo Books and Dru's Book Musings.

    For music, well I pretty much like what I like so I just rely on myself. I've had friends recommend music to me and their taste is so gawdawful out of step with mine it makes me question why we are friends. This is where being on the PR mailing lists for a couple of people helps, I get a lot of music samples to check out even if I don't like a lot of the stuff.

    For TV and movies, I'll read reviews and see what other people post but generally I rely on myself here too. I know what I like and what I don't. There have been rare occasions when someone else recommended something that I love but not a whole bunch.

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  5. Big fan of Wirecutter, Reds, and readers! Wirecutter has been spot on about all of the items I've bought. Don't watch much streaming, but when I do, it's usually recommended by FB friends whose tastes I know jibe with mine. I miss Roger, too.

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  6. Love Wirecutter, especially during the Pandemic when our toaster oven died. Found the perfect replacement (size and simplicity were issues) and vendor. I need a reliable source of reviews for movies and streaming services, other than the Post and NYT. I'll try Ebert. Loved "Night Agent"! I hadn't seen a bang bang car chase let's blow up a helicopter series in a while.

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  7. Before I even finished reading this, Hallie, I found Wirecutter and it is amazing! I will try to remember it. I often read the user reviews on Amazon before deciding on a product (now that I have found Wirecutter that will change) but I am usually skeptical about the 5 star reviews or the one- or two-stars. I like the ones where both pros and cons are mentioned.

    As for books and TV shows, I get most of my recommendations from Reds and other Readers. For TV shows it would be so helpful if when you mention a show, you say where you watched it. There are so many streaming services and I am fairly new to that world.

    I just did a search for Night Agent. It's on Netflix, so that lets me out. Oh well, there are tons of other good things out there!

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  8. Entertainment is almost always word of mouth. Hank, I am on episode four of THE NIGHT AGENT.

    Tech stuff is sometimes Forbes - yes, that Forbes - or CNET.

    I used to read Amazon reviews - good and bad to get a wide range - but yeah, it's just too difficult these days.

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  9. My best tv watching comes from here or my librarian – we have (mostly) the same taste – she likes Coronation Street after all! Hope there is another chat on tv shows soon, as I have a huge list of ones for me to watch, but not for the huffer* to watch. (Huffer* - the one who sits in the chair beside and keeps going huff, huff, hufffffff interrupting a perfect good show – GO AWAY!)
    Books from here and library links – have a huge pile-up going there.
    Products – word of mouth, and Amazon after I have looked up what I am looking for, checked if it is imported (not going there), and read the negative ads. I also swear that even my brain is being spied on as how often I think of something and pouf there are ads everywhere for it. We don’t even have Alexa spying on us.
    This negativity applies to books as well. I often start a book, and if it is iffy go to Goodreads and see if most of the reviews are less than 3*. I might then quit. I have lots more books and so little time…
    Has anyone read Reel Mockery? I often check it out after I have watched a show to get the entire review. They tend to pick out the picky points.
    Happy Spring to all. The kids are coming for the weekend – I am thinking of running away from home… anyone want an orphan – I’ll eat anything except vegetarian?

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    1. Oh, Margo, I hear ya! It's awful to be enjoying something while the person next to you radiates disdain. Time for that second TV or, even better, a private retreat where the huffer can go to huff in peace while you curl up with your wine and/or popcorn and enjoy what you're enjoying in peace. Do you huff when he's watching something you think is awful? I would guess you have better manners.

      Good luck surviving the kids and remember, Spring is the time for new adventures whether it means immersing yourself in a good book (or series!) or booking a spa retreat at a nice hotel to get away from it all. I recommend both.

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    2. Don't huff - just sleep through the Formula 1. Wake up a few times to ask intelligent questions "What is the pink group doing this year, and as he starts to drone on, go silently back to sleep. No huffing involved.

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    3. See? I knew you had better manners.

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  10. From Celia: What a great and timely subject Hallie. Here’s a link to an Op Ed from the NYT today -
    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/opinion/online-advertising-privacy-data-surveillance-consumer-quality.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare - targeted ads, and guess what it appears that Facebook is the head of the pack here. But to try and answer the question, Yes I have used Wirecutter but was not thrilled to find it going to a paid subscribe model. I get a lot of my reviews like the rest of JRW readers - from you guys. After all this is true networking isn’t it? I do read reviews and will go and check out websites for stuff I need but I seldom sign up for the Give us your email for 10%, 20% etc. I get and scan Katie Couric’s newsletter and do look at some of the sales they recommend. I have some good buys there from their gift lists but mainly I do my own research is a general way. TV, movies etc, I look for certain actors, and I’m not a fan of violence though I love a good who done it. One show I watched recently and loved on Netflix was Borgen. Interesting portrayal of women in power with a great ending.

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  11. Trip Advisor, word of mouth, my sister for TV shows, customer reviews for products, the Reds, you name it! We took Consumer Reports at one time; Frank may still subscribe. I'm with Edith as far as buying clothes from Facebook ads; don't. I'll have to check out Wirecutter.

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  12. Recommendations for recommendations! VERY meta! xxx

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  13. SCHMICAGO! Love love love. ANd "Roger Ebert" loves it, too!

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    1. I checked out Schmigadoon after hearing an interview with one of the creators on NPR's Fresh Air, and found it hilarious. Now I'm watching Schmicago and laughing just as much. Such a treat for a long-time musical theatre fan! (And, while you're on Apple TV, watch Ted Lasso, too!)

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  14. This blog, and the denizens thereof, always have the best recommendations! I am like Anon above, though, and cannot watch or read anything that will trigger nightmares. My husband likes the movies where things are blown up and away, so we are often in different rooms watching our evening entertainment (or I'm quietly reading, trying to block out the screams and explosions). He makes fun of me for watching so many mystery shows, mostly British, but the action usually happens offscreen and I can choose not to imagine it.

    Jenn, just this morning the NYT had an article on why you shouldn't fall for the online "recommendations" based on algorithms. I'm gifting this so everyone can read it, even without a subscription: http://tiny.cc/3m16vz

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    1. I read that article in the NYT too, Karen, and found it very interesting.

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  15. I read Wirecutter, too. I like America's Test Kitchen for kitchen gadget reviews, and besides this blog I have gotten some good recommendations for mysteries set in the British Isles from a FB group.

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  16. My toaster oven just died, after 15 years of faithful service. I have been overwhelmed by the swamp of information out there about toaster ovens, countertop ovens, air fryers, and who knows what all else. I finally turned to my brother-in-law and nephew, both of whom love to research things like that, using Consumer Reports, America's Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, and all the things. They have narrowed my search down to three models that meet all my specifications, and I'll take it from there. Whew!

    As many of you have noted, this blog and the people who comment on it have become my go-to source for book and movie/tv recommendations. You all read so widely, and we get each other. You rarely steer me wrong. I'm far more likely to rely on your advice than I am on film critics, many of whom seem never to have said, "Oh, screw it! I just want to watch something that makes me laugh and lets the good guys win." Or, heaven forbid, "Lets the awesome women win!"

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    1. Good luck on the toaster oven, Gigi!

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    2. It almost makes you miss the days when, if your toaster oven died, you went to your local Sears and bought one of the three models they had for sale. Decision fatigue is real, y'all!

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    3. That's exactly how I got the one that just died, except I went to Wal-Mart because I lived out in the country.

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    4. I swear, There is no such thing as a toaster.I just want a TOASTER, that toasts. But noooo...there are only toaster ovens.

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  17. Consumers Report is my go to for everything from paring knives to new cars. I treasure the NYT Book Review, this group, and a few blogs for books. And Bookbub and the ilk.

    I always order a sample for my Kindle before buying anything. I’ve now read the sample for that Chemistry whatever and still can’t get into it! Saves money

    However I avoid Amazon reviews like the plague. I find no value in them.

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  18. Speaking of what to watch, I see that Prime just brought out The Storied Life of A J Fikray. We read the book last year in Book Club, and the general consensus was "That was just a good book" - usual 7-9.5/10. Think I might pull the movie up tonight and hope it is as good as the book.

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  19. Gigi, I want to see which toaster you choose! LOL

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    1. I'm leaning heavily toward the Cuisinart TOB-135 but I want to see it "in person" so I'll be able to judge how it will fit on my counter.

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  20. so late this morning! I have been on a roll this week working on my WIP.

    Regarding reviews, I look at book posts by bookstagrammers on Instagram. I follow many different types of accounts and several are my "book twin", which means that we often like the same books.

    Sometimes I am introduced to books that I never heard of. I am learning about new books published in Ireland, for example. There is also an American expatriate living in England and is about to move to France. She introduced me to Penelope Lively, an English author.

    Personally, I like to Know WHO is reviewing the books. If I know, then I know their personalities and what kind of books they like.

    What is the difference between Trip Advisor and Yelp?

    And I consulted Consumer Reviews when making major purchases.

    Diana

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    1. Diana, I agree that knowing WHO can be important. The Portland Press Herald used to have a dedicated movie reviewer (alas, that position is no more; now they buy reviews from AP) whose tastes jibed perfectly with mine. I almost always read reviews before I buy a ticket to anything, but back when that guy was writing, I only ever paid attention to what he said about a movie. I wish I could recall his name!

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    2. In contrast, one of the regional papers here used to have a film critic who really only liked art-house-style gay coming of age films. Once I figured that out about him, I was able to happily ignore it any time he totally panned a film about independent adult women or adventurous little girls. If he hated it, I nearly always loved it.

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  21. Disclaimer: my hubs works for the House of the Mouse. Even if he didn't, I'd still be sitting here wearing a Star Wars tee shirt from the Out of Print store, whose mission is to spread the joy of reading.

    Yes, we've watched all the Star Wars shows. Frankly, the Andor series is very good about the early years of the Rebellion. It's a prequel to Rogue One. Very spy vs spy with lots of dystopian suspense and an energizing "St. Crispin's Day" speech from Fiona Shaw. She's not the only one with acting chops. Skellan Skarsgard gives in an incredible speech about how these are not the times for the faint-of-heart. Great actors with amazing writing to work with.

    If I were curious about the Star Wars streamers but had no interest in space wizards (Jedi powers), Andor is your show. Andor is not the Star Wars of the trilogy films, or even The Mandalorian, but deeper and a little darker.

    Ghosts is a blast. Amazon has the original British version, but the American version is hilarious.

    Also, lighter fare with a lot of heart is Ted Lasso. Witty, clever characterization. That said, I haven't watched any of season three because the double opt-in goes to my husband's phone. We just can't sync up the timing when I want to watch and he can send me the code.

    And we're treating "Daisy Jones and the Six" like a fine wine and taking it an episode per week. The book it's based on is excellent and inspired by Fleetwood Mac. The show and the book got me interested in learning more about Stevie Nicks from a biography by British music journalist Zoe Howe. The bio shows Nicks's creative processes and how she's overcome various challenges.

    Well, that went overlong. :)

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    1. We loved Daisy Jones and were a bit sad when we finished it. Loved Andor, too.

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  22. Like so many of you, I am coming to rely on JRW authors and readers for book recommendations. And Dru Ann! She’s now introduced me to about a half dozen new authors in only two months of subscribing to her newsletter. As for Amazon, I used them for book titles while working as an elementary school librarian (if kids wanted something not in our collection, I would get them the exact title and tell them to check at the public library), but don’t use their reviews. I did just order two “mother of the groom” dresses from them to narrow down my search. I pray they are decent quality since I think they are coming from China…. Lastly, I liked The Night Agent TV series so much that I just read a different book by Matthew Quirk! — Pat S.

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  23. Susan Shea here. This morning, for the first time ever, I submitted a really negative review for an Amazon purchase (a "silk" undershirt for cold weather) that I think is a fake. Like some of the Reds said, I look at negative reviews for any goods I'm considering buying online. I prefer to buy "things" locally anyway even if they cost a bit more. I want those hardware, clothing, and service stores in my town. Wirecutter is impressive, although I'm raring looking for some of the gadgets they review. Books - so many recommendations by other good writers, and I know in advance if it's going to be too nasty for my taste. Movies, I'm pretty ruthless about the 10-minutes-and-you're-done rule, although Catriona McPherson told me to try "Derry Girls" again - I said I could not understand a single word - and she was right! Loved it!

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