Interview with Alea from Pop Culture Junkie1) How do you write your reviews? Do you write them right away while the book is fresh in your mind, or do you wait a few days to let the book simmer and your thoughts gather before sitting down to put your thoughts on the screen?
I always write my reviews (for the most part) on Sunday evenings. That way the book should still be fresh in my mind seeing as I read it sometime in the previous week. I guess I’ve never sat down right after reading a book to start a review. Sometimes I’ve written it the same night I finished but that was when I was in a crunch.
Do you find it difficult to write a bad review? If you didn't like a book, do you just skip over it and not review it, or do you feel an obligation to review it, no matter what your thoughts on the book may be?
I guess when I’m writing a review for a book I didn’t all together care for I try and be more careful with my words so in that sense it is more difficult. In everything there are pluses and minuses so when writing a “bad review” I try and make sure to mix in some of the good with some of the not so good, it’s important to tip people off about things they might like about the book.
What qualities do you aim for when writing your reviews? Is there any set criteria of things that you have to go over in each review, or does it vary book-to-book?
I guess I like when people point out details they like about a story instead of a vague overall look at a book. So I try and do that, not sure how much I succeed but I try! I also like finding out how a book made someone feel so I try and include that sometimes too. I’m not sure I really follow any guidelines when writing a review but maybe someday I can get good enough that I can do that!
How did you find my book blog, as well as any others that you frequent?
Oh gosh I don’t remember! I do remember coming across Bookshelves of Doom via her etsy store and then somehow The Compulsive Reader and those were sort of a gateway into reading YA blogs. Before that I was mostly reading design blogs.
What book blogs, if any, inspired you to start your own book blog?
I think seeing the community of book blogs in general, the ya blogs and the adult blogs all of that excited me enough to turn my own blog that I barely used into a book blog. I had already written a few reviews for LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program so I took those reviews placed them on my blog and there we have it! And actually before I was posting the lookalikes I post now I had posted several that were movie related. Kind of funny that really it’s a feature I had before it was even a book blog! But back then I was really the only one enjoying it!
Do you have any advice or thoughts on how authors should handle mediocre or bad reviews, or their expectations when sending a book out for review?
I guess since I’ve never been an author myself it’s hard for me to really give them any advice since I’ve never been in their shoes. For the most part to me, it seems like they are doing a wonderful job interacting with bloggers!
Guest Blog from Kristi of The Story Siren
So, YAY! James is celebrating his two year blogiversary! Which is totally awesome, because I’ve never had a two year blogiversary myself, so as you can imagine I’m insanely jealous! But he did ask me to do a guest post... so that means I’m pretty cool right? But enough about me, let’s celebrate the blog at hand, er I mean the person behind the blog... JAMES!
When I first started The Story Siren, I used MySpace a lot! Personally I absolutely hate it now and I rarely if ever get on there (I do still have an account though). But when I first started I used MySpace to network my blog. There are a ton of authors on there, as well as a ton of readers, so it only made sense for me to be there at the time. I don’t exactly remember who friended who, but somehow Book Chic and I ended up being friends. I’ll say he added me, because honestly he probably did, I mean he’s nice like that.
Now, I know I’m not alone in this, but when I was first introduced to Book Chic, I totally thought James was a girl. And don’t act like you didn’t, because you know you did too! I mean, his icon is a girl! Of course he’d be a girl. And then to further add to my confusion, I mean stupidity, I’d been pronouncing Book Chic as Book Chick... you know like a little baby chicken... because I am a dumb-ass and didn’t realize it was chic:
chic >adjective (chicer, chicest) elegantly and stylishly fashionable. >noun stylishness and elegance.
Uh yeah, I’m naturally a blonde.
I think it was an interview that James had done on another site that I finally figured out he was in fact part of the male persuasion! I was still a little confused as to why he had a girl icon, but that was later explained when I found out James is also gay. Total sense! Why I didn’t put two and two together I’ll never know. Again with the blondeness.
James was one of the few people that came to my blog back in the stone ages. And he commented and everything. (He commented more on my blog that I did on his MySpace! As you all know, I was and still am one of the worse people to leave a comment ever.) So, I’ve always loved James even before I got to know the person. You cannot not love some who comments on your blog... am I right? I’m right.
James is also one of the nicest people in the blogging community. I know that I have the upmost respect for him, not only as a person but as a fellow blogger. He’s always true to his beliefs and never hesitates to speak his mind and stick up for someone. Which is a lot more than I can say for myself personally. I am the chick-en.
I’m so psyched that James has decided to leave the hell hole that is known as MySpace and join the awesomeness of a blog platform! YAY for Book Chic: In My Mailbox and More!! It only adds to his personal awesomeness.
On a more personal note, I want to thank James. Thanks for supporting me and your fellow bloggers. Thanks for leaving me comments, thanks for participating in my
memes, thanks for being my friend, thanks for being YOU.
I’m truly blessed to call you a friend. Happy Two Year Blogiversary! I <3 U!
Thanks so much to Alea and Kristi for helping me celebrate my blogiversary! I love both of them and their blogs, and can't wait for their own blogiversaries!! They're such great people and I hope you'll check out their blogs if you haven't already (though I'm sure you all have their blogs in your favorites already- they're so popular!!)