Where did all the book bloggers go?
I have reviewed books on this blog since 2010 – which makes me feel a little weird. Has it really been that long? There is a review in this post too, you just have to read or scroll through the rant first.
I’m relatively fussy about what I read, and while working with Novel Publicity, don’t review anyone that is a client. (There are lots of good reasons to draw that line.) I still read my clients books, but can’t publicly review/post/gush about them. I’m better off advertising for them, and helping them sell books.
I also spend a LOT of my work time recruiting reviewers, and I’ve noticed something.
Bloggers, Amazon Reviewers, Tumblrs, Good Reads reviewers alike; getting people to accept a book to review is not hard. People are genuinely interested, and often excited to receive a new read. Authors it seems, are better at judging whether they have time to read and review though – and as a result – choose fewer books to review. They KNOW if they want to write their own stuff, they can’t over commit.
Seeing those reviews actualized? Well it’s never 100%, and things happen in life, and I understand that. If anyone has had the same kind of year as I have, I wouldn’t expect commitments to be followed through either. It still makes my job really difficult at times being put between clients and the public.
Yes, they wanted your book, and yes it’s shitty that they didn’t follow through
No, it’s nothing you did wrong, and your book isn’t bad either
Yes, it sucks, and I haven’t really got a solid answer for how to fix it
I’ve also seen a number of bloggers who have been at it for years step back, have health problems, start writing careers of their own, and/or get full-time jobs of their own. I know what this life is like. I have 3 jobs of my own, and precious little time for anything else, including reading.
If you check out my dismal Good Reads goal failure for this year, you’ll see that loud and clear.
Whatever the reasons though, social media is sputtering no matter what platform you’re on, and interaction is on a low. Either people aren’t as social online for some reason, or they’re offline more. Neither of those is a bad thing necessarily, but it does mean a constant search for new reviewers and bloggers, which is pretty exhausting at times. Advertising books often hinges on how many reviews a book has, and how positive they are.
For the record, the star system sucks, and I hate having to star reviews at all. I’d rather just give honest feedback and have some algorithm compare the positive words in all reviews of a book and spit out a random rating.
My pile of waiting to read indie author books is growing. If they weren’t mostly ebooks, I’d be buried under them. It’s not that I don’t want to read them, and I’ll review them all eventually, but work (all 3 of them) interfere, and mostly I end up reading comparable stories in the same genre as clients. So you might see HOARDS of erotica with 1 star on my Good Reads profile and think – why the hell isn’t she reviewing MY book!? That’s why, it’s work, not pleasure.
I’m just as guilty as any book reviewer/blogger of being very excited by new titles, especially from authors I’ve loved before. I tend to get excited and say yes first, then think about it later. Then realize that the last thing I should have done was say yes.
A while ago, I had trouble putting up a review by the date I promised for an author. They kept reminding me (not hounding, just reminding) and it actually worked. I finally got it done. I felt better, and I quite beating myself up about that book at least.
I could get stuck in a rut, and be negative or even pessimistic about the state of the book economy, but I’m not. The fact is, there are tons of great reads out there, and many of them are Indie authors.
Traditionally published authors have also had a great year, and some of my favorites like Neil Stephanson, Neil Gaiman and William Gibson came out with what I hope will be great reads, and awesome colouring.
I’m finally looking forward to reading Trigger Warning and re-reading Infinite Jest as part of Infinite Winter this year.
I found this year that I had little time for full length novels. The Peripheral and Infinite Jest may be the only two I get read this year (that aren’t work related), but hopefully not.
When I had a chance, I read short story anthologies. For one thing, they hold my attention in short bursts, and often that’s all the time I have. For another, when done well, the compilations read like collections rather than random bits. I’ve only read a piece of the introduction to Trigger Warning, but it’s promising, hilarious and dark. We will see what I think when I’m done.
I also tended to read a lot more online, and have spent a ton of time on Medium.
Open tabs in my browser now:
For work inspiration: https://medium.com/@jacquelinedupi/this-happened-when-i-took-2-homeless-teens-to-dinner-8159facbc529#.xiapbnd2f
To inspire myself: https://medium.com/life-learning/if-you-re-too-busy-for-these-5-things-your-life-is-more-off-course-than-you-think-728662a1b09f#.17jjekw7m
On social media: https://medium.com/the-coffeelicious/to-medium-writers-not-this-exit-8b7ecc4e5a1c#.2h7da9ug8
Success Habits (because I feel like I need them): https://medium.com/keep-learning-keep-growing/the-success-habit-i-wish-i-knew-18-years-ago-8a6e35b8149f#.9vfz5qebo
More work inspiration: https://medium.com/@JMHHACKER/the-secret-weapon-10-marketing-experts-use-to-improve-their-conversion-rate-948b36aaa165#.mvhm3fqe0
Infinite Winter (because the morbidity that is me can’t wait to start reading this monstrosity again): http://infinitewinter.org/
The one short story collection that I loved reading this year was Uncommon Bodies. One of my bosses, P K Tyler has a story in it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, and the ARC had editing errors, however the published version does not. This is one book I’d like to own a paperback off, if for no other reason than the amazing and unique cover.
I read this book over the last few months, on plains, trains, in automobiles, between games and sitting on my recently purchased (for super cheap, cuz we’re house poor!) chaise lounge. Reading on a chaise lounge is about the best thing that’s happened recently. It’s super comfy.
The best part about this anthology was the break of poetry smack in the middle. A shout-out to Deanne Charlton on her epic poetry.
Other great things about this anthology
Each story includes a summary
There’s something for everyone, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, poetry
I’ve read on more than one blog, “You can’t review poetry.”
Brenga’s Body: This poem was best read out loud to get the feel for the rhythm and punctuation. The imagery is visceral and raw, but my favorite of the three poems was Eternity in a One-night Stand. My favorite phrase was this:
The scratches bloomed, tiny protoplasmic peonies in all her private places.
Is it a one night stand? Or something on more of a cosmic scale. Great poetry blurs settings and allows for multiple interpretations. Charlton did this in all three poems in this collection. I’d totally buy a book of their poetry if it existed.
Other highlights of this collection (for me).
Undead Cyborg Girl by Kim Wells – this was so well written, and I loved the ending. I read this one on a plane, and was so angry at the doctor by the end I wanted to throw my tablet through the plane window.
We is We by Michael Harris Cohen – this is the first story in the collection and starts it off with a bang. It’s eloquently written, uses language wonderfully, and toys with identity to the max. I wasn’t expecting the end right until the end, and felt sad when it was over.
Ruby by Bob Williams – another 1930’s freak show short. It’s a little longer than We is We, and very different. I found myself reading it in a lilting southern accent, and imagining a very different kind of American Horror Story.
I haven’t read past Ruby yet, but will review the latter half of the book at a later date. This is a great collection of shorts, and one that I keep opening when I have a few spare moments.
I wish I had more spare moments. . .
Reading, Reviewing and Ranting about #uncommonbodies Where did all the book bloggers go? I have reviewed books on this blog since 2010 - which makes me feel a little weird.
