Comments on: Will Blogs Save Books? http://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=will-blogs-save-books Are you reading with a flashlight under those covers, or are you just happy to see me? Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:53:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michelle Zinkhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8569 Michelle Zink Sun, 24 May 2009 05:18:51 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-8569 Great, great post.This kind of thinking smacks of the same eliticism that make literary fiction seem unapproachable to the "average" (i.e. most of us) reader.As a writer who frequently communes with review bloggers and sees them as integral to reaching as many readers a possible, I find it offensive and distasteful. It is short-sighted in the extreme to dismiss en masse a group of people who spend their hard earned time and money thoughtfully reading and reviewing books simply because they aren't part of the traditional establishment.Times they are achangin'...Let's judge each reviewer individually and on the merit of their work without slapping an "irrelevant" label on them right from the get-go, shall we? Great, great post.

This kind of thinking smacks of the same eliticism that make literary fiction seem unapproachable to the “average” (i.e. most of us) reader.

As a writer who frequently communes with review bloggers and sees them as integral to reaching as many readers a possible, I find it offensive and distasteful. It is short-sighted in the extreme to dismiss en masse a group of people who spend their hard earned time and money thoughtfully reading and reviewing books simply because they aren’t part of the traditional establishment.

Times they are achangin’…

Let’s judge each reviewer individually and on the merit of their work without slapping an “irrelevant” label on them right from the get-go, shall we?

]]> By: Annahttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-3004 Anna Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:21:41 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3004 Amen! I don't give a squat about the canon, and as an English major, I had to endure many conversations about it. I prefer book blogs over professional reviews because they are down to earth. I prefer when someone says "I liked the book because..." Include all the personal pronouns you like if it makes me feel like I know you. And what I really want to know is why does she think her opinion about book blogs is important? I see a lot of "I'm tempted to say" and "I'll tell you" in her article...what happened to leaving out the personal?? I think the fact that we're bombarded with ARCs and have authors emailing us to ask if we'd review their books is proof enough that us book bloggers are important! Amen! I don’t give a squat about the canon, and as an English major, I had to endure many conversations about it. I prefer book blogs over professional reviews because they are down to earth. I prefer when someone says “I liked the book because…” Include all the personal pronouns you like if it makes me feel like I know you. And what I really want to know is why does she think her opinion about book blogs is important? I see a lot of “I’m tempted to say” and “I’ll tell you” in her article…what happened to leaving out the personal?? I think the fact that we’re bombarded with ARCs and have authors emailing us to ask if we’d review their books is proof enough that us book bloggers are important!

]]> By: pumpupyourbookpromotionhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-3003 pumpupyourbookpromotion Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:28:34 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3003 Fantastic rebuttal. I hate to take a stand on this but they are dry. I don't want to call them boring...I would just say they are for people who like that sort of thing...I prefer a fun blog, less dry. As a matter of fact, your blog is one I do admire, so keep up the good work. I will visit often! Fantastic rebuttal. I hate to take a stand on this but they are dry. I don’t want to call them boring…I would just say they are for people who like that sort of thing…I prefer a fun blog, less dry. As a matter of fact, your blog is one I do admire, so keep up the good work. I will visit often!

]]> By: Heather Johnsonhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-3002 Heather Johnson Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:35:04 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3002 I already had this post marked (as well as lots of others by other bloggers) as reference material for the panel I'll be on. Thanks for reminding me. :) I already had this post marked (as well as lots of others by other bloggers) as reference material for the panel I’ll be on. Thanks for reminding me. :)

]]> By: Dawnhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-3001 Dawn Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:22:45 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3001 Hi, Trish, I'm a first-time visitor to your blog, but will be back! Interesting perspective and I believe that blog reviews fill a completely different niche than, say NY Times reviews. Both are valid in their own way.The blogosphere is so ginormous it's hard to generalize, but yes, some blogs (even book review blogs) are so poorly written, I really wonder if the bloggers have any right to criticize *other* people's books!However, if you know where to look, and spend some time weeding them out at the start, there are a number of fantastic book review blogs out there.I don't think any of them will "save books," primarily because I don't think books are in need of saving. I don't think they're going away. And, book review blogs to encourage reading are kind of "preaching to the choir," anyway.... those inclined to visit book review blogs are already readers, presumably, looking for the next enjoyable find.One thing book review blogs ARE doing successfully--in much the same way downloaded music is shifting support from big record labels to independent musicians--is making it easier for first-time authors or authors published with smaller houses to make a name for themselves, get some great publicity and hopefully increase sales.One blog I know of that is doing that is Mary Lewis Blog Stop Book Tours. (Sorry for the shameless plug, as I'm a reviewer on her tour, but you DID ask for good review blogs. LOL ;) ) www.http://blogstopbooktours.wordpress.com/Since I'm shamelessly plugging anyway, you can check out my latest review on her tour here. http://allcotmedia.blogspot.com/2008/08/book-review-smart-one.html Hi, Trish,
I’m a first-time visitor to your blog, but will be back! Interesting perspective and I believe that blog reviews fill a completely different niche than, say NY Times reviews. Both are valid in their own way.

The blogosphere is so ginormous it’s hard to generalize, but yes, some blogs (even book review blogs) are so poorly written, I really wonder if the bloggers have any right to criticize *other* people’s books!

However, if you know where to look, and spend some time weeding them out at the start, there are a number of fantastic book review blogs out there.

I don’t think any of them will “save books,” primarily because I don’t think books are in need of saving. I don’t think they’re going away. And, book review blogs to encourage reading are kind of “preaching to the choir,” anyway…. those inclined to visit book review blogs are already readers, presumably, looking for the next enjoyable find.

One thing book review blogs ARE doing successfully–in much the same way downloaded music is shifting support from big record labels to independent musicians–is making it easier for first-time authors or authors published with smaller houses to make a name for themselves, get some great publicity and hopefully increase sales.

One blog I know of that is doing that is Mary Lewis Blog Stop Book Tours. (Sorry for the shameless plug, as I’m a reviewer on her tour, but you DID ask for good review blogs. LOL ;) ) www.http://blogstopbooktours.wordpress.com/

Since I’m shamelessly plugging anyway, you can check out my latest review on her tour here. http://allcotmedia.blogspot.com/2008/08/book-review-smart-one.html

]]> By: Jillhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-3000 Jill Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:51:10 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3000 Dear Lissa,Your article is pretentious.Love, All Book Bloggersps: I secretly think your name is Lisa and you were one of those girls in middle school who added an extra "s" because you thought it made you more interesting. Like all the Kelly's who became Keli in 1991. Dear Lissa,

Your article is pretentious.

Love,
All Book Bloggers

ps: I secretly think your name is Lisa and you were one of those girls in middle school who added an extra “s” because you thought it made you more interesting. Like all the Kelly’s who became Keli in 1991.

]]> By: Ruthhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-2999 Ruth Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:08:36 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-2999 In my other life, I used to write book reviews for academic journals and I hated them. Unless it's absolutely required reading, I never read professional book reviews, because never has one convinced me that I should actually go out and buy the book in question. Book bloggers, on the other hand, are singularly responsible for the increase in my TBR pile this summer. I've found so many great books, like The Pink Forest by <a href="http://www.danadorfman.com/" rel="nofollow">Dana Dorfman</a>, for example, just by reading the recommendations on other peoples' blogs. In my other life, I used to write book reviews for academic journals and I hated them. Unless it’s absolutely required reading, I never read professional book reviews, because never has one convinced me that I should actually go out and buy the book in question. Book bloggers, on the other hand, are singularly responsible for the increase in my TBR pile this summer. I’ve found so many great books, like The Pink Forest by Dana Dorfman, for example, just by reading the recommendations on other peoples’ blogs.

]]> By: Jeanehttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-2998 Jeane Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:57:44 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-2998 As long as there are readers, there will be books! I don't think any of us need to worry about books needing to be "saved". As long as there are readers, there will be books! I don’t think any of us need to worry about books needing to be “saved”.

]]> By: Jessihttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-2997 Jessi Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:26:52 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-2997 Canon schmanon! =) I agree with your comments. I put a lot more stock in the opinions of book bloggers than stuffy judgement of formal reviewers (whose pieces are generally a snore). I like the informality and conversational style of blogging. Canon schmanon! =) I agree with your comments. I put a lot more stock in the opinions of book bloggers than stuffy judgement of formal reviewers (whose pieces are generally a snore). I like the informality and conversational style of blogging.

]]> By: Nithinhttp://heylady.net/2008/08/21/will-blogs-save-books/comment-page-1/#comment-2996 Nithin Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:02:37 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-2996 Great article! I think you summed up the opinions of all book bloggers there. :) Great article! I think you summed up the opinions of all book bloggers there. :)

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