A Book Obsession..: Let's Talk With Smash & Kt (1)

Let's Talk With Smash & Kt (1)

Nov 02, 2012 by Kt Clapsadl

Welcome to the Let’s Talk weekly discussion meme!

Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another! Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses.This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let's Talk!

This week's question:

Be honest, do you ever get embarrassed by some of the posts from when you first started blogging due to the lessor quality? Yes, growth and experience is natural, but do you ever get the urge to go back and “fix” things?

I realize that it is silly, but yes there are times where I have felt embarrassed by some of my old posts. I really feel like I've come a long way since I started blogging which is a good thing, but that doesn't really make it easier to not cringe when I read some of my early posts. However, other than grammatical rrors, I try to leave things alone. For the most part, this isn't too hard, but the fan girl squealing five star reviews of books that I would now only give a 3-4 based on my expanded view on books. After reading almost 800 books in the last 2.5 years I've become a whole lot more critical. It's just a whole lot harder to impress or surprise me at this point, so books that received a high rating at the start of my blogging career now get a much lower one. That being said, even though some of those high rating posts make me now want to cringe, I also realize that what I said was accurate at the time based on what I was feeling. Because of that, it really wouldn't be right to change anything. It would just lose that in the moment feeling.

Let's Talk weeekly discussion meme

1.	Smash Attack Reads	3.	Creative Deeds	5.	Felicia @ Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
2.	A Book Obsession..	4.	Mariana @ Book Travels	6.	Jennifer

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Smash_Attack 103p · 653 weeks ago

Your final thoughts make so much sense! How we feel in the moment can vary drastically. I've actually picked up beloved books again and not been as impressed. Tastes changes as we expand our reading, for sure.
My recent post Let’s Talk: 11/2/12

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 653 weeks ago

It always amazes me when I look at a book and think to myself, "How in the world did this earn a 5 star rating?! What was I thinking!" It's just funny how our tastes change over time. I'm still all paranormal/dystopian, but I'm a whole lot pickier now than I used to be.
My recent post Early Review: Magic For a Price by Devon Monk

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@book_travels · 653 weeks ago

I understand you completely and haven't thought about the rating. I feel like now I'm a bitch because I enjoyed this book them, but there are so many others better now that it's a bit insane I ever loved that much.

Now is difficult for me to give a 5 star rating, but when I first started blogging it was like everything was amazing.

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 653 weeks ago

Exactly! I think so much harder about giving out 5 stars than I used to. It's so much more of an honor to receive a five star rating from me now.

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therelentlessreader 70p · 653 weeks ago

That's a really good point. Those feelings you had back then were totally legitimate THEN, even if they wouldn't be now :)

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 653 weeks ago

Yes! I'm all about staying true to the moment, no matter how much my opinion may have changed.
My recent post Early Review: Magic For a Price by Devon Monk

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creativedeeds 40p · 653 weeks ago

Perfect response. I feel exactly the same way about the ratings I've given. When I first started blogging all my ratings were high. I never would have considered giving a book a 3* rating. Yikes! The funny thing is that some of the best feedback that I've gotten from authors came after I gave their book a lower than 4* rating. They actually appreciated my honesty and totally agreed with the points that I brought up. Wow. Who knew? I also agree that once you have a couple 100 books under your belt the 5* reviews show up less and less. My opinion stands, as long as we're honest, don't bash and come away with at least some positive comments we've served a purpose. Thanks for hosting!

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 653 weeks ago

In 2010 I rated 136 out of 235 (57%) a five star rating. In 2011 it was 120 out of 301(39%) with a five star rating. This year it's only been 44 out of 229(19%) so far that have earned a five star from me. So as you can see, I've become a lot harder on my ratings.

And I think you are awesome for holding a stance against author bashings. I just think that there is never an excuse for that. Dislike a book all you want, but the author personally should never play a part in the review.
My recent post Early Review: Magic For a Price by Devon Monk

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@thegeekyblogger · 653 weeks ago

I think the ratings are the biggest "change" for me too. Back in the day I gave 5's or even liked some books that would drive me nuts now! If I reread them I would have to change the ratings because I am so much picker than when I started! It is crazy how reading more has made me pickier about what I think a true 5 book is.

I think the bigger area I would change is my 3 and 4 range. I would probably DNF a few of my old 3's and a lot of those 4s would be 3s now!

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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ABook_Obsession 81p · 653 weeks ago

Ooo! This! When I first started blogging, I couldn't DNF a book, and even if I didn't like them I still had a hard time giving them a 3 rating. I just felt guilty for not liking the book. Now, 2s and 3s are so much more common for me. Although I still have a hard time letting go to DNF a book since I always think that it might get better if I keep holding on. Since my reading time is much more limited now, I'm really going to have to work on being able to DNF the books that aren't working for me.
My recent post Stacking the Shelves (14)