Discussion Post: Say What You Want to Say and Let the Words Fall Out - or Is There One Right Way to Write a Book Review?

So, let's see.  My goal was to do 4 discussion posts for the year. That's one every 3 months.  So far in 2017, I've done a big old fat zero discussion posts.  Oh sure, I keep thinking of ideas to do, but then I run out of the time to actually sit and write them out.  Or I have so many other things I want to write, like my novel, or other blog posts to do, or books to read to actually review for my book review blog.  Anyway, I participated in the Mini-Blog Ahead in June, and so I decided to get some of my discussion posts done during that.  Also, I'm posting it this week because I'm getting ready to go to Orlando later this week, and I don't want to worry about my blog while I'm on a family trip.  Also, it's always fun to try to go out and find fun GIFs to add.  So enjoy those as well!

A reminder that the 2017 Discussion Challenge is hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight.




Today my post is a kind of personal one really, and the title refers to the Sara Bareilles song Brave, the video that I've shared above.  Earlier this year I lost a friend.  In the email she sent me telling me why, she said that she didn't want me to write any more "book report" reviews on her books.  I was a little hurt at this.  In the past I've always done a recap of the story as my review, partly because it is how I would do a book talk for my students at the library where I work, in order to get them interested in a book.  It's also something I do occasionally to get customers interested in books at the bookstore where I work part time when they ask for recommendations.  At first I decided to kind of just ignore her little dig, as I have had many people comment that they liked how I wrote my reviews.  


via GIPHY

But then, just recently, I got sent a form to join another blog tour group, and one of the things on their application was about not writing a summary of the book.  Then this past week, I even saw an author say something about how a review was not a summary of the story.  Now because of how far behind I've been on reviews, I've just been sharing the synopsis of the book from Goodreads, and then what used to be the last paragraph of each of my reviews, where I tell what I did or did not like about the book.  

 

So I guess the question I am asking you, my fellow bloggers, is what you think about the format of someone's reviews.  I mean, I know that everyone has certain types of reviews that they prefer to read, as well as they have a certain way that they choose to write their own reviews.  But do you feel like it is anyone else's job to tell a blogger/reviewer how to review a book?  I feel like it should be up to everyone to review how they want. And as long as it is their own work, they haven't stolen any other reviews' words and passed them off as their own, and maybe no spoilers, why shouldn't they do it their own way?  What do you think?  Do you have a certain way you like to review?  What types of reviews do you prefer to read?  Am I being overly sensitive about this subject?

 

Stacking the Shelves - July 29, 2013

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is a way for us to share the new books we have collected.  Not too bad of a haul this week, and a couple of my e-galleys I got because I saw other blogs had them, so I went and searched for them!  And I was kind of bad this week.  I bought two books, well two physical books, and one e-book that was a deal for my Nook this week.

Purchased e-book:

I saw this was one of the Nook deals for only $2.99 this week, and I had to get it, even though I rarely buy e-books.  But I've been a bit obsessed with learning more about the Hatfields and the McCoys since I saw the History Channel's tv movie.  So, excited to have this to read whenever I want now!

Purchased physical books:

I saw the first book when working one day at the bookstore.  It is a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book for adults!  Anyone besides me that loved those when they were a kid?  This is much longer, so much more to choose and have happen I guess.  Can't wait to read it!  The 2nd book is from one of my favorite tv shows, New Girl.  I love that Douchbag Jar they have for Schmidt, that he has to put money in whenever he says anything like that.  So it will be fun to read through this book.

E-galleys from Edelweiss:

The first two you see above I had to go get after I saw other bloggers had gotten them from Edelweiss.  Two authors that I really have enjoyed their books, new stuff from them.  The third book is a new series by another author that I really like, so I was excited to find it today on Edelweiss when I got the newsletter to go check out new review titles.  

So how about you, what books did you add to your shelves this week?