My Moment of Zen

Sometimes, I just find myself staring out my office window at work. They're building a high-rise apartment building right across the street, and though it's early days, it's going to be a monstrosity. But I could watch that crane work all day. It's amazing the things the human mind can come up with to make life easier. And yet, I also love staring at the hawk that is perpetually flying around the crane and around my office building. Somehow, he's still made a home here in this urban jungle.

I'm not here to wax poetic about the shitty ways civilization has corrupted the world, either. I like some of the technology that's come from all of that corrupting of the environment. Namely, this computer I'm using to type up this post. And my phone. And my car. And I realize that there are still places where hawks can roam freely. I live in one such rural area and fear for the safety of Weasley, who is still small enough to be carried off by a (not-so-)friendly neighborhood hawk...or owl...when he's outside.

But I digress. I don't really know where I was going with all that. Other than that I've just been thinking alot. Or over-thinking, as my husband would tell me. 😝

You may have noticed -- or not -- but I haven't been posting all that frequently this year and even less so in recent months. And I expect to post even less in November and December because of the holidays and family obligations and all that jazz. Maybe I'll even go on hiatus just to get a fresh perspective. I haven't decided yet. I waffle back and forth. I'm a waffler.

And I've been in a bit of a reflective mood lately. (Obviously, look at all the tangents I went off on just in this post alone! Wow.) About what I take for granted. How I could be a better person in general. What blogging did and still does mean to me. All the things. Let me explain.

Basically, I've been reading a lot and not doing much blogging and it's like it was when I first started blogging and I kinda miss that freedom? Yeah, something like that. And then this happened today:

Actually, it happened last night, but I was too lazy to update Goodreads before bed, lol. Yep, barely into the 4th quarter of the year and I've already hit my goal of reading 225 books. And it's pretty much all audiobooks, re-reads, and review copies. I have taken to making a little more time for books that I just want to read -- I think I might do a post about what I've read lately tomorrow, time allowing -- but the bulk of what I read this year was for review or prep for the next book in a series...which was probably also received for review.

Which begs the question: when did it become all about reviewing?

But this is not going to be one of those posts. It's just...here's the thing: I've recently come to the realization that I tend to overextend myself...in all areas of my life. But especially when it comes to accepting review copies and blog tour gigs and the like. (She says after accepting yet another review request.) I gotta knock that off if I ever want to have a personal life/have free time devoted to something other than reading/not cower under the crushing weight of publisher expectations.

I just got rid of a ton of books that have been sitting on my shelves, unread. Because I felt guilty for hoarding them. For keeping them from the hands of people who really would read them. For accepting too many review copies knowing I'd never have enough time to read them all.

I know I've said it before, but I've really missed reading for pleasure. Just reading for the sake of experiencing a good book without any expectations. That's why it's been super awesome these past couple of months, just reading the bare minimum of review books -- those that I've already made a commitment to do some type of post for -- and then spending the rest of my reading time with books from the library and audiobooks that I never would have discovered I liked without the help of other bloggers and books from my shelves that I've been waiting till just the right time to read.

She says as the over-large pile of review copies threatens to topple over on her. But I do plan to read all of them. I just don't plan to full-on review all of them. People don't read full-length reviews these days. They like pictures of books and snippets from books and mini-reviews that basically let them know how you felt about the book while maybe highlighting some of the good and bad.

So. For the books where I haven't agreed to some type of promotional post, I've decided I'm going to start doing a reading round-up of sorts. Basically a collection of the short-and-sweet reviews I write up on Goodreads after finishing a book, maybe including some Instagram pics or quotes, but nothing like the tedious, time-consuming reviews I've written to-date. Not even like the mini-reviews I've been doing of late. Not unless the book calls for it.

I don't know what day I'll post these on, or if I'll do them sporadically when I feel like it. (I'm leaning toward the second option.) And I don't know how many books I'll include in each round-up. I'm just going to play it by ear. I'll include review books AND just for fun books. Because it's nice to discover backlist titles, too.

I have ideas and I'd like to see a post go up tomorrow before I have too many un-reviewed books under my belt, but Katie's off school for Fair Day tomorrow and even though I don't think we're going to the state fair this year, I'd still like to spend the day with her doing fall stuff. Like pumpkin-carving 🎃 and fall crafts. 😄 So I can't guarantee the first post will be up tomorrow. But soon.

I'd love to hear what you think! Do you often feel that sense of obligation that comes with review copies? Do you think my new post idea will satisfy that obligation? I mean, essentially they're for promotion, right? And that's what this would be, for the most part...

And with that, I leave you with your moment of zen:

(I said waffles earlier and now I'm hungry. Even though I just had lunch. But it wasn't waffles. *cries*)

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Labels: blogging, discussion, reading for fun, reviewing habits

The In-Between: Reading, Writing & Reviewing

Some things that happened while I was away:

• I got the most awesome The Princess Bride-themed birthday present from my older sister who just knows me so well.
• I'm participating in the 3rd round of #otspsecretsister. It's my first time, but I'm really excited about my sister because I've been mildly acquainted with her almost since I started blogging, I think, but now I'll have a chance to really get to know her. =)
• I taught my older sis how to use Instagram after she begged me to. And then she was like, "That's it?" :P She doesn't really get the appeal, and she asked it all I ever did was post pics of books. Ha!
• I had the best dream about Celaena Sardothien as a badass superhero fighting alongside a Batman who had real bat wings and it was fucking awesome. Of course, anything that involves Celaena is fucking awesome.
• ETA: OMG, I can't believe I almost forgot to mention seeing a Joseph Gordon-Levitt look-alike at the restaurant I was eating at in Austin on Saturday night. He was such an adorable suspender-wearing cutie, and I just wanted to beg him to lip-sync for me. Of course, he was there with some chick who had NO clue how lucky she was. 

Anyway, I'm back from vacation and I was supposed to put up a review or something or anything today, and I wasn't feeling it last night when we got home, so I just did nothing. Okay, well, not nothing because we watched Big Hero 6 and then finished up the night with the last of the Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family. Which, by the way, we'd started before we left my sister's house earlier in the day. =D #HarryPotterForever

But I digress. I just haven't felt any kind of inspiration to blog lately, not in any kind of formal way, at least. Like, reviews schmeviews, for reals. It's sooooo much easier for me to just word vomit like this than to actually think of something intelligent and eloquent to say about a book when it feels like I'm just repeating myself in all of my reviews. The heroine was badass. The story kept me turning the pages. The supporting cast of characters was well-drawn. Blah blah blah. So, I think I'm going to go all unprofesh on you guys and just gush away from now on. It's easier, and honestly, I don't even really think people are reading reviews on blogs that much anymore. I know I'm not. When I really want to check out reviews, I look up the book on Goodreads and peruse those before deciding whether to pick up the book or not...and even then I might just be looking at star ratings and nothing else. As long as I'm promoting the books I receive for review, it doesn't matter how I review them, does it? Or when, right...'cause I'm seriously tired of pushing back books I'm really excited about because of my "TBR schedule". So, yeah, I'm seriously going to go back to being just a book lover who gushes about the books she loves. It feels right.

And in the meantime, I hope to do some real writing. I've got an itch to write all of a sudden. I used to write all the time when I was younger, but I'm such a perfectionist that I re-read all of my stories later and threw them all away. I know. Except for some stupid essays that I wrote in high school and college, I threw everything in the garbage, except for some really, really bad poetry that should have been trashed. I don't know what I was thinking. But I think part of the reason I've been feelings so down and put-out lately is because I used to get out all my feelings on paper, whether it be in a journal or short story or really crappy poem. But it helps to have that outlet...and even if nothing comes of it, it'll still be time well-spent because maybe it'll help keep me sane. Writing is just so cathartic for me…at least when the words are flowing.

I'm not happy at work, and I haven't been in awhile. It's kind of trickling down into everything else. I should actually be working instead of typing this up because I'm rather behind after being out of the office for a week, but I can't find the willpower...so here I am. The thing is, I'd love to change jobs, but I don't want to do what I'm currently doing anymore. I used to joke that I "work with numbers by day and words by night" and that it should be my superhero mantra or whatever, but the truth is, I hate numbers. I only work in accounting because it comes so naturally to me. And I really hate the direction my company is headed in. But I don't know what I'd do if not this. I'm not really qualified for anything else, though my BIL frequently tells me that the length of time I've been with my current employer would be a big sell for potential employers, regardless. It's been so long since I even had to consider all of this, though. And honestly, I just want to do something that involves writing or editing or reading or just books in general.

Reading would be ideal because I'm SO far behind on my TBR. Hah! Only in my dreams, lol. I thought I'd get a crap ton of reading done over vacation, but as it turns out, I only read one book in full. Pretty lame, right? But I did spend some quality time with Katie and I got to see my sis, whom I haven't seen since our last vacation to Universal Studios. It always comes back to Harry Potter, doesn't it? :0)

So, that's where I'm at right now. I know I had more to say, but that'll have to wait for another day. Or when I'm not getting ready to leave the office for the day. :P But I'm back, and I'll be around, lurking as usual. :D

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Labels: discussion, I'm back, reading, reviewing habits, writing

The Obligation to Read

We've all felt like this before.  (Not the reading outside in the cold, though I did do that this past weekend so my daughter could drive her Jeep around in the ice.  :P)   What I mean to say is, we all have stacks and stacks -- or thumbnails galore (or avatars?  I'm not really sure how to categorize books on ereaders since they're not technically "stacked") -- of books to read, and they never seem to quit growing.  Some of us, myself included, bring this problem on ourselves, by continuing to purchase, borrow, and request books ad nauseum, knowing how many we have at home waiting for us already. It's a real problem.

But to add to the conundrum, publishers like to send out unsolicited ARCs and finished copies, as well.  I don't get these too terribly frequently, but I'm always at a loss when I do.  Do I need to review it?  Should I try to work it into my reading schedule?  One publicist contacted me the day after I'd received a finished copy that I hadn't requested and asked me if I'd received it and if it was something I thought I might be interested in reviewing.

First off, if they already had my email, I think I should have been contacted prior to receiving the book. Because in this particular instance, yes, the book was one I'd been interested in, but it was a sequel to a book I hadn't yet read -- though, I'd also received an unsolicited finished copy of the first book -- and honestly, since it's not on my review schedule, it likely won't get read anytime soon.  My point is, there are probably a hundred other people who have read the first book and would be in a better position to read and review the copy, had they been given the opportunity instead of me.  So, now I kind of feel obligated to read the book.  Not that I'm going to in the next few weeks or anything because that would just cause me undue stress, and that's the last thing I need right around the holidays.

On the other hand, there are times when I receive unsolicited books that I never would have requested or wasn't aware of, and receiving a copy puts it on my radar.  So, I can see how the tactic works, even if I do think it makes more sense to put review copies in the hands of people who actually want them.  I don't think I'll ever understand how publishers work and what methodology they use to decide who gets which review copies.  I've seen plenty of posts on other blogs about it, but it seems that no two publishers are alike, and even publicists within the same publishing house have different "systems".

Regardless, I don't think the onus falls to me to review these unsolicited titles unless it's something I want to read.  I already have a hard enough time trying to read and review the books I have requested, and even then I can't get to every one of them so I have to prioritize my reading schedule.  And that in itself makes me feel guilty.  Sometimes, I have every intention of reading and reviewing the book, so I keep it.  Other times, I give the book away on the blog so that someone else who wants to read it gets the opportunity.

How do you handle unsolicited review copies?  Do you feel like you're expected to review everything you receive, requested or not?

ETA:  I don't want it to sound like I'm complaining, though I sort of am.  But you know when you're perusing others' In My Mailbox and Stacking the Shelves posts, and you see that someone has gotten an ARC of the sequel that you're seriously coveting?  And then they proclaim that they haven't even read the first book and they hope they can make time for both before the sequel's release?  And they don't sound all that promising? THAT.  I just think instead of sending out review copies all willy nilly, publishers should maybe send those bad boys out to reviewers who really want to read them. Say, those of us who have actually requested them and been ignored.  ;0)

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Labels: reading habits, reading schedules, reviewing habits, thoughtful thursdays

Thoughtful Thursdays: How do you review?

Last week, we discussed our reading habits, and I discovered quite a few -- okay, most -- of you are speed readers and about half read a story like it's an audiobook or a movie being enacted in your head. Right on. I love that no two readers are the same.  :)

But that begs the question:  if we all read differently, wouldn't it go without saying that we all review differently? Here's how the typical review goes for me:

1. Acquire book.  Let it sit on review pile until about a month before release.
2. Read book.  Highlight (if egalley) or flag with sticky notes (if ARC/finished copy) as warranted.  (I used to keep a spiral notebook just for review notes, but it's probably been since the first of the year since I used that thing.)
3. Finish book right before bedtime.  Write the best review ever in head while falling asleep.  Wake up and forget everything you'd planned to say.  Attempt to recreate some of that most poignant review using "notes" made while reading.  (It used to take me at least a month to finally write a review, which is why notes were so important in the beginning, but now I usually write my review within a week of finishing a book.  This has helped my stress level immensely.)  Realize only a few passages are highlighted because book was just. That. Good.
4. Commence fangirling:
5. Attempt more coherent review.  Hit on favorite aspects of book, most notably the characters, the romance, and the world-building.  Anything else is just a bonus.  Try for clever closing statement; come off as more of a geek than usual.
6. Proofread review.  Preview review.  Proofread again.  Schedule it.  Realize you forgot to mention something relevant.  Update post.  Proofread.  Preview.  Schedule.
7. Review posts.  Wait for comments.  Re-read review.  Realize you spelled something wrong, despite all of the proofreading.  Update post.  Congratulate self on an awesome read and an awesome review of an awesome read.  Wonder why no one has commented yet. *shrug*
8. Remember to cross-post review and update all spreadsheets.  (This sometimes falls to the wayside...I forgot to do this for the whole month of July.  Whoops.)

And that's the general process I go through with each book.  Obviously, it differs with each one, especially when said book is a disappointment and I have to completely skip #4 in favor of snarking on the book.  But you get the picture.

I know there are some people who read a book, take brilliant notes, write their review almost immediately after finishing the book, and then post their review everywhere for the world to see, garnering them much favor in the book blogging and publishing worlds.  And to those people, I say:

But I work full-time and I'm a mother of a very excitable 5yo, and this is just a hobby of mine.  Granted, a hobby that's taken on a life of its own, but a hobby nonetheless.  So, I do what I can and I manage when I can't.  My whole reading and reviewing process has evolved so much over the last two years, and it's made things a lot simpler.  And I hope I haven't just jinxed myself saying that.  ;0)

So, I'm curious, what's your reviewing process like?  Are you one of those fastidious note-takers, or do you write your reviews by the seat of your pants?  Do you write them shortly after finishing a book? And what's the longest it's taken you to write a review?  Do you review everything you read?  Inquiring minds want to know!

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Labels: read, reading habits, reviewing habits, thoughtful thursdays