So I've been thinking about a few things these days and I have some nagging questions that refuse to fade away. I've tracked all the books I've reviewed on this blog and I was wondering: do you guys LIKE the books I read? When I started this site, I thought it was going to be primarily YA, but ever since Pirate Penguin came into existence, I seem to be branching out into different genres. (although of course they're to my taste. I don't really care for murder mysteries or suspense...sorry James Patterson.) But then again, there are so many books that don't necessarily fall under YA, but are just as good. Another thing that's bothering me is the way I review. Do you guys honestly and truly like my style of reviewing? I feel like I mostly summarize what I read and then throw in some of my thoughts. (it's kinda like a messy recipe) I summarize since I believe that sometimes the descriptions given on books aren't always the best. I know I judge a book not only by its cover but by how the synopsis is. I don't want to read about something that doesn't interest me AT ALL. Here's what I'm talking about:
Ex: Gina wanted Daren. Daren wanted nothing to do with Gina.
What I find interesting: Gina, the girl who has it all but never wanted any of it, only wants one thing: Daren. Daren, on the other hand, wants Gina but can't deny what happened two years ago that summer night and so refuses to look at her.
See, THIS IS WHAT BRINGS THE PROSPECTIVE READER IN. I want to accomplish that with my reviews. So should I make them shorter? Should I just cut out the summarizations and just jump into my review?
I guess you could say I'm having a "reviewing crisis". ;P Call it nerves, confusion, chicken salad*, I don't care. I'd really like your input since you guys are my audience and basically the driving force behind the blogging world.
*this saying is actually from some of the characters of Sarah Dessen's Along For The Ride. I really loved it, and I use it in real life, hah. Just wanted you to know so you don't think I invented some cool slang.
I think it's a good thing that you branch out and read things in different genres. I know that personally, I never strictly read just YA fiction, even when I was a teen. Writing your own synopsis is impressive, I'm way too lazy to do that. So I say, keeping doing it!
ReplyDeleteI like how you put a bunch of books from different genres on your blog. YAs great, but there are a lot of other cool books in other genres. When you have an exclusively YA blog, you end up leaving them out. I totally want to read Snake Hips after your review!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I honestly and truly like the way you review. I like reading your summaries because I get to see what you think the book is about. Sometimes the official summaries just don't cut it. If you have to make it shorter, cut out the official summary, not yours.
I haven't read Along For The Ride yet, but I'm totally going to start using that slang! :D
Well I really like ur reviews, and a book blog doesn't necessarily needs to be about YA, mine ain't I read adult and review it also, hystorical fiction at times, I guess what Im trying to say is : " Read what you love, and love what you read."
ReplyDeleteMy motto, made by me.
Also Im going to give a little piece of advice, don't write what you think other people want, write what you think, write whatever you want, if you want to curse? Curse! Some books make you want to, and thats ok.
write the way you want to review. otherwise all book blogs would be the same.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather read your summary thank you very much. I can read the back of the book anytime but I'd rather know how you saw the story and how it made you feel. And like the lovely Ms. Cullen said, write what you think. It is your blog. Besides, kiss ass brown nosey all-books-are-great-even-the-ones-that-are-crap reviews....make my ass twitch :)
ReplyDeleteI like YA, Adult, and Kid books but various subjects and genres! And I think its good to try lots of books! Christian fiction doesnt spark my interest but there are really good ones!
ReplyDeleteBranching out is always good. And I hope I'm the first, but not sure, to congratulate you on 50 followers! You're doin' something right.
ReplyDelete~Tashi