Sunday, April 29, 2012

Thoughts on the Book Blogging Community

I'm going to post some rambling thoughts today, so I'm apologizing up front. I've been away from the blog for nearly two months. Work for me this time of year is insane. I do have some down time in the evenings, and I choose to use it to read rather than write. Writing doesn't come easily to me (more on that later) so I opt for something requiring less concentration and effort. Things have slowed down some in the past few weeks, but it takes a bit of time for me to recover.

I'm hoping to post some book reviews next week, but to be honest, it's been difficult to come back to the blog. I've missed it, but I'm leery. I'm sure most of you have seen the drama going around lately within the book blogging community. I don't really want to rehash it, but only mention it to explain where these thoughts originated. It's disheartening in two respects--first, that it happened, and second, the reaction. The vitriol that was spewed churned my stomach. I've been avoiding twitter ever since. I guess I was naive to assume that this community was one where bloggers supported each other. Instead, I found that many find joy in the failure of others. Sickening. The personal attacks, the name-calling, and the back-biting were appalling. I'm embarrassed to be associated with this group in any way.

A completely different topic (I told you I would ramble). I struggle for how I fit into this book blogging community. I do not have a degree in English Literature or in writing of any kind. I have degrees in Accounting--about as opposite as you can get from everyone else. I enjoy reading, but I don't approach reading in the same way as many other bloggers. I don't have the background or skill set to deconstruct a text. I'm not a moron (I totally rocked my AP English Lit test--as if that counts. Ha!), but for me, I read for pleasure. That's not to say that I don't read difficult books. I do. (Sometimes not having an English degree is to my advantage because I don't know enough to be intimidated by anything.) But ultimately, I want to enjoy what I read. I choose to write about some of what I read on this blog, but it isn't easy. I struggle to write every single post. Writing is far from natural for me, but I feel rewarded for the effort, inferior as the end result may be.

I read a post recently about a blogger's frustration with the lack of professionalism in the reviews of book blogging community. I don't know. Are we meant to be professionals? I've never proclaimed myself to be one nor have I intended to become one. This is a hobby for me. Does my lack of credentials preclude me from writing about books? I probably shouldn't call what I write "reviews" because they're really not. I write about my personal experiences as I read. I try to be fair, as I know that often times I disagree with popular opinion, but they're still my opinions. I try to be respectful in my reviews. I don't know if I succeed.

That said, I want to thank all of the bloggers whose blogs I follow (who happen to write about books or not) for not being dragged into the muck with everyone else. I'm happy that there are still bloggers who are above all of this pettiness, who write honest, thoughtful posts because it's what they enjoy doing. It's not about the numbers, or the authors, or publishers for them. I'm grateful that I have found a subset of the community that actually cares about other bloggers, and has created a feeling of support and inclusion.

I'm nervous to post this because it's very personal. I don't want people to think I'm fishing for compliments here; I'm not. I just wanted to get my thoughts out there in a hope that maybe I'm not the only one that feels this way.

I'm psyching myself up for those reviews yet to come. Wish me luck (and some extra time).

27 comments:

  1. "This is a hobby for me. Does my lack of credentials preclude me from writing about books? I probably shouldn't call what I write "reviews" because they're really not. I write about my personal experiences as I read."

    No, it certainly doesn't - and your posts are always valid, no matter what you call them. As you might know from previous posts of mine, I've struggled with these questions too in the past, but these days I try to just do what I love without worrying about the meta side of it too much. I appreciate the variety of voices in blogging more than anything else, and I love that people from a variety of backgrounds have come together over our common love of literature.

    All this to say that I get what you're feeling, but I also believe that there will always be room for you here if you want to come back. The blogging community is what we make of it, after all. We each get to carve a space for ourselves in which we truly feel comfortable. Best of luck with those reviews :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the encouraging comments, Nymeth. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has felt this way. You are right, that the community is what we make of it. I'm very fortunate to have found bloggers like you, who not only write amazing reviews, but help and support others within the community.

      Delete
  2. No, you do NOT have to be a "professional."

    I hope it's okay to post a link here; if not, feel free to delete with no hard feelings! :)

    http://jillianreadsbooks2.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/for-the-right-brained-book-bloggers-a-manifesto-or-why-i-dont-call-my-posts-reviews/

    I respond to some posts I'd read recently about the necessity for book bloggers to be "professional". I'm guessing as an accountant, you are left-brained, so just ignore the whole "right-brained" argument if it doesn't apply. :) Scrolling through the reactions in the comments might help you see how many do NOT see book blogging as a professionals-only venture.

    Last week in the book blogging community very much saddened me. I don't condone the initial issue, but my goodness. It did seem that some fed off the fall.

    I've always enjoyed your posts. Cheers. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jillian! I went and read your post. I think I read it back when it was originally posted as well. :) My thoughts exactly, though you are much more eloquent than I am. I'm glad I'm not the only one that doesn't feel comfortable with or want to label of a professional.

      I did do your quiz on right-brain/left-brain. I know it's not 100% accurate, but I was split almost down the middle. Not surprising. I too approach books from the emotional standpoint, and I don't think that will ever change. I do read to learn somewhat, but not in an academic way necessarily, but more emotionally and to broaden my views. I do feel like the books that I read change me for the better. I become more empathetic.

      Like you, I don't condone what she did at all, but the word schadenfreude comes to mind, and that makes me sad.

      Delete
    2. It sounds like we approach books very similarly! :) I think I am naturally right-brained (very right-brained), but I test with a bit more left brain these days than I used to. I think this is because of the world exercising my logical thinking, which I think is a very good thing. But it still feels foreign to me to attempt to fit myself into a left-brained way of thinking. I'm definitely not as strong thinking analytically as I am creatively.

      I had to look up schadenfreude. Yes, exactly.

      Cheers! :)

      Delete
  3. Oh Kristi. This post makes me sad in many ways. I feel lucky that I don't follow many of the people who were involved in the drama so only heard little snippets of it second-hand, but unfortunately there has always been some level of drama amongst the group. I wish people could just let some of this stuff go but I think that some just take themselves entirely too seriously and thrive on the downfall of others. It's part of the reason why I choose not to get too involved with authors and publishers and followers and the like.

    But what makes me sad is your feelings here that you don't quite stack up. I feel sheepish saying all of this because I do hold degrees in literature but I honestly don't think that most bloggers (that I know) do. You aren't alone in doing this for a hobby--I work in insurance which is about as far from literature as accounting is. ;) Even with the lit degree I don't feel qualified to dissect a book so I try to focus more on how the book made me feel and what I liked and didn't like. Totally subjective. And those are the reviews I like to read as well. Go read some of FizzyJill's posts--they're awesome but if you really get down to it there's very little about the actual books in them. Ha!

    In the end, you have to do what you want to do and kind of leave the rest. I think that I can speak for most of us and say that we would just love to see you post--doesn't really matter in which shape or form. If it's books, great. If they're reviews great. Rambles (even better). Life, thoughts, dreams. Whatever. I'm not sure I'm making any sense but there is a circle here without drama and I do think it can be a very supportive and loving one. To me that's comforting.

    Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Trish for the encouragement. It feels better just to have voiced my concerns. I just have to move forward. I enjoy blogging, but I have to remember that I just have to be me and not worry about the expectations of others. If they don't like how I blog, they certainly don't have to read it.

      Like you, I prefer to read reviews where people share more of their personal reactions. The more analytic, the less likely I am to want to read it. :) And Fizzy Jill does have awesome posts!

      Thanks for all of your support. It's blogger's like you that make it worth it.

      Delete
  4. I will tell you that I used to feel very insecure that I didn't have an English degree or any experience with literary criticism. My reviews are certainly not professional by any means -- I studied neuroscience and nursing. But I feel like I am still qualified to blog about books because of the simple fact that I read a lot of them. And as a very experienced reader, I think I am qualified to say what I think about books. There are a lot of people out there who rant about professionalism, but I think they are wrong. Book blogging doesn't have to be elitist. I do think there is a problem with the "unprofessional" practices of drama, backbiting, just saying you love every book, being dishonest in your reviews, etc. But that has nothing to do with your qualifications. This is your hobby and you should do what makes you happy, but know that I will miss your blog if you decide to stop! Don't let other people's opinions bring you down!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true. I think the professionalism has less to do with the actual reviews, but with how we interact with one another. Thanks for your kind words.

      Delete
  5. Kristi - This is coming from someone with two English degrees and an English instructor: There is no one *right* way to blog. In fact, when I initially started blogging, I was too academic. My sis finally told me one day that she liked the blog but felt intimidated by it. I felt so horrible because I never wanted to come across like that, but I guess it was so ingrained in me.

    In fact, from time to time, I still feel pressure to write a more academic review (today's review comes to mind), but I'm never all that pleased with it. The reviews I enjoy and the ones that others seem to enjoy are the ones where we really discuss our own impressions and reactions to a book. Isn't that what we're really looking for? We follow an individual's blog because we like them/their voice, so a review should be an extension of that.

    I think people talking about acting "professionally" are trying to avoid last week's horrible incident and reaction. I think they are also trying to validate what they write. I get that, but I don't think there's only one way to do it.

    Whew. Sorry for the novel-length comment. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. It often isn't about the reviews themselves, but whether or not we connect with the blogger. Reading blogs used to be about book recommendations for me (it still is to some degree). I now tend to seek out and follow blogs that foster a sense of discussion and community. I like to feel a part of it and not just like a distant reader.

      I don't mind a little bit of academics in a post. Not being an academic of literature, it's nice to see what other readers may see in a book that I would miss. I have felt at times like your sister, though. Some blogs are just too academic (for me), and the intimidation keeps me from feeling qualified to enter the discussion.

      Thanks for stopping by. I don't mind long comments. The more discussion the better, I think. :)

      Delete
  6. I have similar feelings about what I do not being the same as a professional review. Although I took a few lit classes in college it's been many years, and even then I prefer to read for the joy of it, not to take pages of notes analyzing symbolism. I think part of the fun of being a book blogger though is the flexibility of where we fall on the "review" spectrum. There are those who cross over into the professional realm, having their reviews published, and then those of us who write a bit more informally.

    For me professionalism is more about how I blog: respecting my readers, giving them my honest reflections, having personal integrity in what I do online, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alyce, I tend to agree with you. I'm all for professionalism in how we blog--as you said, being honest and respectful is essential. I just have difficulty with it being applied to what we choose to write. As a blogger, I feel like I should be able to use my own approach to writing about books. Like you, I think the diversity in our approach is what makes reading different blogger's posts so interesting.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, I’m so out of it. I hadn’t even heard about any of that book blogger backlash. But, I will say I try to make an effort to stay out of those things whenever possible. I don’t consider myself a professional reviewer AT ALL and I don’t think anything on my blog would suggest that I do. I blog because I enjoy discussing what I’m reading with others and hearing their thoughts on the book.

    I also don’t dissect the books I read in the same way that many other bloggers do. I don’t think one way or the other is better, I just feel more comfortable sharing my thoughts on the book and then leaving it. I enjoy reading some of the other more detailed reviews, but it’s not my style.

    As for your blogging, I hope you blog when you feel like it, but don’t stress about keeping up a specific pace. I enjoy your blog just the way it is and it should always be a fun thing, not another job. I work full-time and my degree is in journalism. So I enjoy the writing aspect and my blog works as a creative outlet for me. I will definitely take a break from it if it begins to feel like a chore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Be glad you missed it! I wasn't in the middle of it by any means, but just happened to be on twitter when it exploded. I wish I hadn't seen it. It made me feel really icky.

      Thanks for the encouragement. I just have to accept the fact that my life doesn't allow me to post as often as I would like. It's really reassuring that even if I disappear for a while that readers are still willing to come back. It hasn't stopped being fun yet so I think I'll stick around for now.

      Delete
  9. Interesting post, Kristi! Didn't know that you were an accountant :) I love reading your book reviews - they are wonderful, not pretentious and I like the way you put forward your thoughts honestly. I love your writing style too.

    I didn't know about the controversy that seems to have erupted last week. It looks like I am living under a rock! I remember a few months back a writer saying that posts by book bloggers were not book reviews and that sparked off a controversy. Is it the same thing which blew up last week?

    Personally, I don't know what is meant by 'professional' in writing. I think there are different styles of writing book reviews and all of them are valid and wonderful and add to the diversity of book reviews / book posts. I remember reading a piece by Kurt Vonnegut where he says that he majored in Chemistry in university and so when he wanted to get into writing and literary things, the literary folks looked down on him. Some things don't seem to change :)

    Nice to see you back to blogging regularly after a long time. Can't wait to read your reviews of the books you read during the past few months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vishy--the big controversy was over a YA Blogger plagiarizing some content. It was pretty nasty. I saw it erupt on twitter, but I don't follow any of the blogs that were involved. Be glad you avoided it. Not the finest moment for book bloggers.

      That's interesting about Kurt Vonnegut. I loved Slaughterhouse 5. I didn't know he was a science guy. That makes me feel better.

      Thanks for the welcome back. I'm looking forward to having more time to spend reading and commenting on blogs again.

      Delete
  10. Huh. I missed it and the a small part wants to know what all the hubbub was abt *this* time, I really don't care.
    So, do tell me what you've been reading and what you thought of it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry, Care, you didn't miss much. I didn't get involved and really wish I had missed the whole thing.

      I'm excited to start posting on some books again. I still have to put my thoughts together on Cloud Atlas. I'm so lame. I still haven't even commented on all of the final Cloud Atlas posts from the other participants. You may be getting a comment on more than month old post soon. :)

      Delete
  11. I love chatting with my fellow reviewers and readers. I stay out of the drama and just keep chatting books in my little corner of the blogesphere. I am not a professional, I tell about a book like i am talking to friends. I use words like AWESOME and "not so much" and occasionally "read worthy"... I have fun and enjoy myself because that is what I love to do.

    Write how you feel and what you enjoyed or did not about a book. Its all good. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sheila, I love that you talk about them like your talking to friends. That's a great way to describe it. Those types of posts are the ones I prefer reading. I agree. I just need to allow it to be my space and not worry about what others expect. Thanks for stopping by and your kind words.

      Delete
  12. This makes me glad I'm not on Twitter. I missed everything that happened but I know what you mean about getting a bad feeling when things turn nasty.

    As far as being a "professional," I know I couldn't even begin to blog if I thought of myself in that way. This is a fun hobby and Lord knows my book reviews/thoughts/ponderings are as far from professional as you can get. It is just one person sharing their thoughts on a book -- that simple. We're entitled to do that and it shouldn't be a stress. I hope you can come back to blogging and just enjoy it and leave all the stress and worry behind. It should be a fun thing to do. But, if it isn't, I would stop as that just wouldn't be worth it. I hope you choose to keep reading and writing and blogging about it ... the book blogging world is a better place with you in it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jenners! I'm totally responding to this late, but I really appreciate your response. I too prefer to treat my blog as a hobby. When it starts to feel stressful, I just step away. It probably costs me readers (because I don't post regularly), but I'm okay with that. When it stops being fun, I'll quit. I'm glad that you're around as well. Your blog is one of my favorites to read. You're hilarious!

      Delete
  13. +JMJ+

    I think the "professionalism" of book bloggers became an issue after last year's controversy involving an author who tweeted that we "don't sell books." The implication was that we shouldn't receive free Advance Review Copies.

    Now, I'm not in this to sell books, so I didn't see what the big deal was, but apparently, lots of people love getting free stuff, for the sake of their egos as well as their bookshelves, and that criticism struck a nerve. Not to knock them: I love getting free stuff, too! LOL! But honestly, I don't think whether or not we sell books is the question we should be asking. If all the ARCs and the giveaways dried up tomorrow, I hope we would all still be blogging--out of a true love of reading and sharing our thoughts about books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so late at responding to this Enbrethiliel, but I really would like to. I completely agree with you. Thanks for your thoughts. I would hope that most of the bloggers out there would still be doing it without the free books. I know I would especially considering the fact that I don't get free books (aside from the library!). I tend to read blogs where you can tell that the focus is the love of books and the sharing of thoughts.

      Delete
  14. Your comment about someone saying something about the lack of professionalism is funny-for most I would think this is a hobby--the day it is a chore is the day I quit. There are some blogs that hold no interest to me or their writing is not that great-but I have a solution-do not read them. I am an attorney and I think my writing is okay-not awesome-trust me I could never be an accountant (most attorneys could not). numbers are not something that come easy to me.

    PS I just scrolled through your other blog-fun family vacation last year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Esme, for stopping by. I agree that I would quit if it became more like a job. I wouldn't want the pressure of making it feel like anything more than a hobby. I agree, there are so many blogs out there that we don't have to all be the same--and we shouldn't be. That's funny what you say about attorneys not being able to be accountants. Does it work in the reverse? I was debating going to law school after getting my Master's degree. Maybe it was for the best that I didn't. :)

      Delete