"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"
My answer is: I like the reviews most of all. I primarily read blogs to check out the reviews and see other people's opinions of books I've read and to find new books to read. But I also read blogs because I'm intrigued by the varied personalities of the bloggers. I like people who like books. And people who love books enough that they want to spend time telling the world about the books they've read...these are people I want to get to know better.
I also love to participate in the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase. This week's question, posed by Christina, is:
What is one of your literary pet peeves? Is there something that writers do that really sets your teeth on edge? Be specific, and give examples if you can.
I struggled with this. I'm not sure I have a pet peeve. Something can bug me in one book, but another writer can do the same thing and get away with it. It's all in the execution. I suppose one thing that tends to put me off is mystery/thriller writers who use child torture and mutilation as a way to build suspense or get the reader's attention or sympathy. If a psychopath is killing children, I usually don't read the book.
Join along in the hops. I'd love to hear your comments!
I love the camaraderie of the book blogger world and I love reading reviews to find new books. I also totally agree with you just using child torture to get a thrill in a book doesn't make it a great read.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. I love getting to know other people who enjoy books as much as (or even more than) I do. It's a lot of fun to see how we're all different and similar.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm a new follower :)
ReplyDeleteI like reading reviews, too, especially of books that I have already read. It is interesting to see what other's have to say about them.
Have a great weekend, and if you have time, drop in and say hi!
Julie (Manga Maniac Cafe)
I think you summed it up when you said "I like people who like books!" That is so perfectly exact, and exactly perfect!!!
ReplyDeletehopping by from www.twobibliomaniacs.blogspot.com
Have a great weekend!
I like people who like books too. I'm a relatively new entrant to the world of book blogging. There's plenty to like though.Too much perhaps. Too many good blogs, with clever, funny bloggers blogging about books that I'll want to add to my already groaning TBR. When you find a blog you like, it's almost like sitting down and chatting about books with the blogger (oh if only we could)
ReplyDeleteI struggled, with a personal peeve, because as you rightly say, what would be acceptable by one author, becomes a hamfisted neanderthal crushing us with their lack of subtlety & taste by another. So I settled on a minor niggle.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting when you said one author can do something you find annoying and another author can get away with it. l totally agree.
ReplyDeleteBooks For Company
I don't read things that seem to have been written for shock value either.
ReplyDeleteMy post is at www.readerbuzz.blogspot.com
Like you, I think certain authors can get away with things that other's just can't. My pet peeves aren't literary ones, but usually centre around the physical look and feel of the book.
ReplyDeleteOh and you also pointed out something very important: the place of torture in books. While I'm not into gratuitous violence on-screen (I have never seen a SAW movie in my life, never intend to!), in books it can be a very useful narrative tool, but only if the author is a literary genius. This year I read Selby Jr's 'The Room' and while it had a lot of violence in it; I actually found myself 'getting the message' as it were because he was so in control of what he was writing about and WHY he was writing it in that specific way.
Violence is probably the most dangerous topic to write about as it could so easily be taken the wrong way e.g. Brett Easton Ellis and 'American Psycho'. So it takes a real pro to use it in a creative, constructive way. There are very few authors that have conveyed the effects of claustrophobia and self-loathing quite like him purely through the manipulation of language.
Check out my pet peeves: http://mywordlyobsessions.wordpress.com
Good article,I look forward to jade jewelry looking at more of your posts. Good Job…
ReplyDeletenice answer for the book blog hop question - I totally feel the same way. people who like books are just too cool for school :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my blog and sorry for the late response. I agree, it's also great just to know that there are people out there with the same interests.
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