A Book Obsession..: Book Blogger Confessions (2)

Book Blogger Confessions (2)

Mar 19, 2012 by Kt Clapsadl

This meme is hosted by Tiger from Tiger's All Consuming Books and Karen from For What It's Worth on the first and third Monday of each month.

This week's question: Everyone LOVES that book! Why don't I? How do you handle being the one reviewer who doesn't like a book that's taking the blogosphere by storm? Do you write a review? Pretend you didn't read the book?

I always rate each book that I have read on Goodreads and add them to my challenge lists. However, I very rarely review the books that take over the blogosphere whether I liked it or not. I just don't feel like there really is anything fresh and original to say after so many other people have written. Also, I don't like to write reviews of books that are hugely buzzed as I'm afraid of that being an outside influence to my opinion. I'd rather write my review without knowing what anyone else thought, and then use comments to discuss other's thoughts. Of course this doesn't apply whenever I had received a review copy in advance, but in those cases, my review is typically written before most of the "buzz" starts to happen. So that outside influence isn't typically a problem.

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jrafterdark 22p · 683 weeks ago

This is a great question. I recently tried to read Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent and just couldn't get into it. According to Goodreads it seems "everyone" really likes the book or LOVES it. Initally I was hesitant to write the review for it because of the hype and all the love it was getting. But I sucked it up and posted my honest review anyway.

I do agree with you that sometimes it just doesn't seem to make much sense posting a review for a heavily hyped book because everyone has something to say about it.

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 683 weeks ago

I just figure that I have enough to do with the reviews I am obligated to do since I received a review copy, that I don't need to spend time writing a review on something that is really hyped up already. This holds even more true when I don't enjoy it. I'd rather just move on to something else.

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Karen · 683 weeks ago

I don't really read a lot of reviews anymore before I start a book. I don't even want to know what the goodreads star rating is. I find that I either have overtly high expectations or I start worrying that it won't live up to the hype.
I want to go into reading a book with no outside influences.

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 683 weeks ago

I have OCD while writing reviews in that I always have to do things in the same order. I copy paste the description and cover photo from goodreads, so I always see the rating first. However, I do try and stay away from the review section.

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Hannah Lorraine · 683 weeks ago

If I know I'm going to be reviewing a book I avoid other reviews like crazy because I'm afraid it will influence my reading - and I'm also majorly worried about repeating others' thoughts. But then once I review I get really curious about what everyone else had to say and I start reading other reviews. But it is definitely hard when a book is so talked about it's in your face all the time and it does become difficult to say something original - but then again you're opinion is worth something too.

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 683 weeks ago

When a book is really hyped up it seems like avoidance of other reviews/comments is unavoidable. There's twitter, facebook, goodreads, and even my stops to my favorite blogs. It just seems like I couldn't steer clear of them unless I cut off all social networking, so I'd rather just not write a review instead.

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julie@my5monkeys · 683 weeks ago

Yeah I wonder too with goodreads and not liking the same book as everyone else. The before and after a book is big too.

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Kathy Martin · 683 weeks ago

I tend not to read other people's reviews of books that are sitting on my TBR stack because I want to form my own opinion. After I have read and reviewed the book, I start reading other reviews. It does keep me from letting others influence my opinions. Since I am writing partially for my students who likely don't follow as many blogs as I do, I do review the really popular titles. I think a variety of opinions about books are necessary to give a balanced picture.

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 683 weeks ago

Unless a book has been out for a long time, I won't read any reviews before reading. However, on the books that have been sitting on my tbr pile for a long time, the reviews help me pick which one to read next.

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Jo_FluidityTime 46p · 683 weeks ago

That's a good point you made about trying to say something fresh and original about a book that's all over the blogosphere. Usually, I just wait to read a book like that ..... or I read it and just rate it on LibraryThing or GoodReads, but don't review it.

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 683 weeks ago

Also, just reading a book and not having to review it can be a big help with blogger burn out. I try to read at least 1-2 books a week that won't need a review to keep things fresh. I can be so relaxing to just simply read for pure entertainment.