I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to start writing this month’s update but I’d definitely need at least both my hands to count, if not some of my toes too. Being so honest last month left me feeling raw and exposed, scraped bare and a bit bruised despite the kindness of readers, especially those who contacted me to say that they to were in the same boat and offered sypathy and solidarity. But it’s the last day of the month and I’m not going to miss my (admittedly self imposed) deadline just because I’m still feeling uncomfortable at having told part of my truth.
To ease me in gently, let’s start with all the words I managed to herd onto the blog in the past month:
As I’m now over half way through my year of writing a review for every book1 I read as soon as I’ve finished it, I decided to take stock of how it’s going. On the positive side not only does posting the review help give the stories and authors I love a boost (I post my reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and The Storygraph as well as on my monthly reads blog posts) writing it makes me sit with the book for a bit once I’ve finished, rather than just rushing off to pick the next one. I’ve also found that knowing I’m going to have to write about each book helps me read more slowly, closely and deeply. All of which enhances my reading experience, especially with the non-fiction, and ensures I’m less likely to miss things as I rush to find out what happens next.
Yet whilst that level of focus can be a good thing (especially for someone who writes as well as reads, as it will hopefully also make my writing better) sometimes I just want to chill out and disappear into a book without subconsciously worrying about the “homework” I’ll have to do afterwards. I really do not want to turn reading into a chore even a little bit and, between that and the fact that I write spoiler free reviews and often find it difficult to explain what I loved without giving away the plot or something important about a character, I think I’d be getting dangerously close to doing so if I didn’t have a cut off date when I can stop if I want to. As such I’m not entirely sure I’ll continue to be quite as assiduous about reviewing once the year is up but I think it’s a valuable thing to do for the books I want to get the best out of and I will continue to ensure I at least leave stars on review sites to help the authors who give me so much pleasure.
I feel I ought to add that the other reason I’m sharing my thoughts on book reviewing with you all is because book twitter (I’ll be damned if I call it by it’s new name) blew up on the subject the other week. The spark that caused the power keg to explode was a tweet in which an author expressed confusion as to why everyone didn’t review every book they read, worded in such a way that gave the impression they believed that buying a book conferred the responsibility of writing a review onto the purchaser.
I didn’t get involved in the furore that followed but many people expressed similar views to the ones I just shared above and it made me smile to see thoughts I’d jotted down for myself being validated. Others said that they didn’t have the accounts required to let them post reviews where it mattered, didn’t feel qualified to write reviews, didn’t think anyone would care what they thought. And several other people made the most important point, which is that once someone has bought a book it is entirely up to them what they do with it (including put it on a shelf and not actually reading it for months/years/ever) and as an author you might wish that they would review it but you have absolutely no say in the matter.
Reading so many strangers takes on reviewing made me curious about what the people in my circles thing, so what do you all do, lovely people? Review everything you read, just leave stars but not words, review only the books that leave you needing to say something about them, or review nothing? I’d love to find out.
Journaling is something that, having been something I did on and off over the course of my life, became central to my well-being about five years ago and far more so once the pandemic hit. Not just as a way to offload stresses and worries and the myriad things that need to be done to keep everything going (not smoothly, mind, just going) but as a way to process my own thoughts and feelings in a world that seems to demand instant reactions and responses. I have always been the sort of person who finds out what they think about a topic by either discussing it or writing it down and when you’re not able to go out and meet your friends, the pen and page take centre stage.
It’s also an early warning system for my mental health. One of the ways I actually came to see that I was I was getting to a very bad place over the past few months was the fact that although I was still writing most days my journaling had become spasmodic and superficial. When my brain refuses to let me ruminate on the page, stops me introspecting, stops me learning what I think about myself and the world, then I know I need to change tack, and fast.
Pleasingly I’ve filled far more pages in my journal over the last month than I had over the previous three and they don’t merely say things like “mowed lawn, got washing through, tired”. There are quotes, thoughts, notes, ramblings and, since Good Omens season two dropped last Friday, quite a lot of theories and theology (especially relating to heavenly hierarchies and the names of fallen angels). I have absolutely no intention of spoiling the season for anyone, so I’ll not be saying anymore here2 except that if you’d told teenage me I’d voluntarily be doing close readings of bible passages for fun, I’d never have believed you.
This photo represents what happens when I am allowed to spend an entire day in Hay-on-Wye. My only defence is that I was there entirely unsupervised but given that I’m a grown woman in her forties that’s not much of one. I’m looking forward to working my way through them each evening before I go to sleep (no kindles or tablets are allowed once I settle down for the night, only physical books) and as always I will share my thoughts in review form once I’ve finished them!
Hay was lovely as ever, full of interesting people, quirk shops (some of which did not just contain books), and good food. I went on a Thursday as it’s also market day so returned home with cheese and crusty bread as well as intellectual sustenance and a renewed spring in my step.
I definitely needed some time to myself out of the house and, despite the changeable weather (I managed to avoid the cloudbursts more by luck than judgement), I enjoyed myself immensely and even managed a quick walk by the river.
I didn’t take all these photos yesterday (I try to get to Hay at least once a year if I can) but they certainly give a feel for the place as I have experienced it.
And, as always, we finish with a tarot card in the hopes it might give us a small insight into something helpful for the month ahead:
As well as the more obvious points that learning is a lifelong pursuit and sharing your skills with others is a great way to improve your craft, I see a deeper meaning in this card. Take the time to talk to, and listen to, the people in your life because they will not always be there to help and guide you. So this August make time for that cup of tea and chat you’ve been meaning to have, go on the visit you’ve been putting off. Who knows what you might learn in the process.
As summer turns its face toward autumn may we find the fruits of our labours over the past year have ripened beautifully now we begin the work of the harvest.
Every new book (re-reads are not being counted) and only if I’ve rated it at least 3 stars (I am not comfortable writing negative reviews and often if a book is coming up short then I won’t finish it and reviewing incomplete feels wrong in most cases)
Other than please go and watch it if you haven’t done so yet. Please! I need season 3 with the fire of a thousand suns and if Amazon is going to green light it we need the viewing figures to be fantastic. Go and watch *wiggles fingers in an effort to hypnotise you into going and doing so right now*
Hi, I am useless at analysis of plots and being critical about books, films etc. I just get swept along in the plot and enjoy the ride. I use Goodreads and give stars pretty much always. I leave reviews if I’m particularly moved/impressed. Really appreciate your books reviews and others who are more able to analyse in a kind yet critical way. It helps a lot.
As for book reviews - I leave stars on Goodreads for everything I read and finish, although many books I feel deserve 3.5 stars or 4.5 stars so it's quite restrictive. And I write a book review on Dreamwidth at the end of each month, which is generally only why I read the book and whether I liked it or not, with sometimes an extra sentence or two. Given that I read on average 7 books per month I'd get bored writing longer reviews.
I very rarely write reviews on Goodreads unless I've been sent a free book, in which case I'm happy to write something.