Sunday Salon : Blogging Observations and Books
As we crossed the finish line for the first half of the year (see my recap here), I realised that those last six months of reading also completed, almost, my six first months of blogging (although it hasn’t been much more than 3 months since I’ve been a regular blogger). This came with a few observations on my blog so far :
When I began blogging in a regular way, I had a very precise objective : I wanted at least half of my posts to be book reviews, the other half being for memes, discussions, new books, etc. (of course when I thought that, I hadn’t realised I would be posting almost evvery day.) When I looked at my stats this week, I realised how far from it I was! Right now, I have about 1 review for every 2 posts on other things. It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that I DO have books to review; about a dozen of them, waiting on my desk. My plan is to get on it this week, and maybe prepare a few reviews in advance.
Back to the books!
Now that June is over, I can jump into chunkier and/or serious books. It was right on time, since Prey came out on July first with its almost 400 pages, and I had to read it! But I did read a lot slower this week : the Man was at home almost all week so we spent more time together (yay!). Oh, and also the Furry One staged an espcape at one in the morning, scaring me to death, but he turned out ot be on our upstairs neighboor’s balcony, wet and scared and nervous.
Books read this week :
- Two Way Street, by Lauren Barnholdt
- Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler
- Prey, by Rachel Vincent
For this week, I’d like to simply finish some of the books I’ve begun : The Awakening, Blood Bound and The Hunger Games. Especially The Hunger Games : it’s the fourth week I’m saying that, it’s beginning to get repetitive. I also borrowed a couple of books by Margaret Atwood that I’d really love to read this week.
There’s been a lot of rain this week, but today looks like it’s sunny! So this means I’ll be at my favorite spot once again, all equipped with a good book and an iced coffee.
Going on This Week :
- “Sex in Teen Lit” month has begun! Discuss and enter giveaways here!
- The “Sookie Stackhouse reading challenge” has officially begun!
- When is it time to “off” a series? Discuss it at Book, Line and Sinker!
- The “50 books of our time” project : go look it out or, better yet, sign up for a book!
- Kim asks the question : What makes a good community member? Speak up at Sophisticated Dorkiness!
- How should authors handle negative reviews? Discuss it at Hey Lady! Watcha Readin?
This last one came right on point this week : I was just about posting my review on The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman when she, uh, went a little nuts? So I decided to re-write it completely by adding my view of the event, since I DO believe that an author’s attitude can affect my perception of their books. Am I alone on this?
Happy reading all! 🙂
I try not to allow non-review posts to gain over my review ones. I want to keep non-reviews to 1-2 a week, but no more than that. Sometimes I fail, but that’s the goal at least.
Happy Sunday!
I’m glad to read I’m not the only one with such goals! 🙂
I think it will be a far more realistic goal once university starts again and I have less time “blogging”. Another thing that counts for a lot are my participations in various events like the “Bloggiesta” or the reading marathons : I end up posting many times in only a couple of days. It’s only this week, though, that I realized this so I’ll be working on my reviews.
I’ve really cut my down and usually just have the 2 feature posts I do for Around the Web, unless I see a Reading Challenge I need to join 🙂
I’m a big Alice Hoffman fan but it will be interesting to see whether I like her new book after her reaction to that reviewer.
I usually don’t worry too much about my ration of reviews to other posts as long as I’m posting a few reviews every week.
I’ll be interested to see what you think of Hunger Games. I loved it!
I don’t usually take much notice about whether I’m posting reviews or not. I don’t structure my posting habits, setting out a date when my next review should be up. I just post whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I post a lot in one day and sometimes I don’t post for a couple of days.
I haven’t read any of those books. What Atwood books did you borrow?
I have borrowed “The Tent” (a collection of mini-fictions) and “The Penelopiad”, which I’ve been wanting to read for so long! I’ve read Atwood’s only once, but every time I see her in an interview I absolutely love her. I figured it was time, as a Canadian, that I read more from her 🙂
There are only three events that occur that I tend to participate in The Sunday Salon, Teaser Tuesdays, and Friday Finds. All the other ones I do irregularly.
But I too tend post more non-review related items because I average about a book a week.
I’m not an Alice Hoffman fan but I would’ve probably read some more by her if she hadn’t gone off like that. Now, I don’t know. I’m like you, an author’s attitude does change my perception of their books, depending on if they are sincere about what they show the public or not. VS Naipaul, on the other hand, while a horrible character, stays true to himself in front of the public, so I don’t really mind reading him. Plus he’s really, really good, unlike Hoffman who is just okay.
I tend to just post what I want, when I want. I don’t really keep anything organized.
Happy Sunday!
I totally agree that my perception of an author – good or bad – can affect my feelings for their books.
The Penelopiad is OKish. It’s Margaret Atwood so you can’t go wrong but it’s not up to her usual high standards.
I don’t understand how who a person is can effect how their work is judged. Shouldn’t their work be judged on its own merits? Isn’t it a bit, well, silly to dislike a book because of your dislike of the author?
Though I do understand and I hope I’m not coming off as an ass here.
I might have to write a blogpost on this.
Don’t worry, I appreciate your opinion on this! 🙂 I don’t want to get too much in to it because I’m writing a complete post on this, but I would like to explain myself shortly :
I still love the book, and my review will still say so. But her reaction makes me less willing to share that love… or to try another of her books soon. I know I’ll probably do eventually – I’ve been wanting to read “Practical Magic” for a while! But I think you underline the question very well. Yes, a book SHOULD be judge on its own merit (that’s what I think at least), but the author’s attitude toward the reviewer still irritated me. But I would love it if you did a post on this subject : we need every opinion 🙂
I like trying to get my reviews done on Sunday and scheduling them to post later in the week. I like to participate in memes which I feel helps build relationships with others and of course, helps to add to my ever-growing TBR list!! There are a ton of books that I’ve read but not reviewed so I just go with the flow and try to post every day if I can.
I sympathise with trying to balance reviews and other stuff! It’s difficult, especially during the weeks when I read a lot of awesome books.
I try to do book reviews 3 days a week and I post pretty much every day…so you do the math!
I’m always surprised I can come up with so much content!
I’m actually the opposite! Though I’ve been told I hide it well, I’m actually pretty shy, so it’s harder for me to write chatty posts than reviews. They come more naturally for some reason. So, my goal is to try and write a few more non-review posts.