Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
For more information, and
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.
What to Do
1.) Post on your blog answering this week's
question:
Do you encourage other reading
friends to start a blog, or at least put
their thoughts/reviews on public
reading sites such as Goodreads,
Amazon, etc.?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
2.) Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Billy's blog.
3.) Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts.
4.) Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit
Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!
My Answer
I'm at a loss for words..... (Not an easy thing for me, at least not online! Lol.)
Well, the short and sweet answer is that I don't do this. ALL of my reading friends are only online; there's no one in my immediate vicinity who shares my passion for books and reading, sadly enough..... Most of my online reading buddies either already have blogs, and/or already do post their reviews on Goodreads, as well as Amazon. But there might be a few on Goodreads who just read and rate books, without posting reviews. I need to sift through my Goodreads friends' list to see who might not be posting reviews. Then I could certainly do my best to encourage them to do just that.
There are some EXCELLENT reviewers on Goodreads! I come across them all the time, and their reviews leave me feeling awestruck. Not all of these people have blogs, but I suppose they don't want to have them, since they're already publishing their thoughts on Goodreads.
If I were to meet someone in the real world who subsequently became a reading friend, the situation mentioned in the question above might arise. I might discover that this hypothetical person likes to write, and just ADORES books and reading. In that case, I would certainly let them know that I would be very interested in reading their thoughts online. This might help them to express themselves better, too. Of course, if they weren't interested in doing this, I would NEVER push them to do so!
Alas, no such person has yet appeared.... I just haven't been lucky in this area! But I do have some WONDERFUL reading buddies online! I just wish I could someday, somehow, meet them in person!
Well, the short and sweet answer is that I don't do this. ALL of my reading friends are only online; there's no one in my immediate vicinity who shares my passion for books and reading, sadly enough..... Most of my online reading buddies either already have blogs, and/or already do post their reviews on Goodreads, as well as Amazon. But there might be a few on Goodreads who just read and rate books, without posting reviews. I need to sift through my Goodreads friends' list to see who might not be posting reviews. Then I could certainly do my best to encourage them to do just that.
There are some EXCELLENT reviewers on Goodreads! I come across them all the time, and their reviews leave me feeling awestruck. Not all of these people have blogs, but I suppose they don't want to have them, since they're already publishing their thoughts on Goodreads.
If I were to meet someone in the real world who subsequently became a reading friend, the situation mentioned in the question above might arise. I might discover that this hypothetical person likes to write, and just ADORES books and reading. In that case, I would certainly let them know that I would be very interested in reading their thoughts online. This might help them to express themselves better, too. Of course, if they weren't interested in doing this, I would NEVER push them to do so!
Alas, no such person has yet appeared.... I just haven't been lucky in this area! But I do have some WONDERFUL reading buddies online! I just wish I could someday, somehow, meet them in person!
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
Please leave a comment!
If you're participating in this meme,
I'll go comment on your
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!
This is a very interesting question.
ReplyDeleteI do know people off line who I discuss books with. But they mostly do not share the level of my interest. I think that my sister comes close, but I cannot imagine her starting a blog.
This post has gotten me to thinking who I might try to encourage going forward.
Hi, Brian!
DeleteIt sure is! Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews always comes up with interesting questions for this weekly meme!
I think you're right -- for people to actually create and maintain book blogs, and/or post reviews at public sites, they have to be REALLY passionate about books!! There are people who read, and yet, don't feel this overwhelming love of books that we who blog about them do.
One of my previous bosses did read, but only occasionally. She couldn't understand my great love of books. I got into the habit of having books delivered at work pretty often, and got in trouble because of it....lol.
Maybe you should encourage your sister to start a blog. If she likes yours, and is a regular reader, she might be persuaded to start one herself. Or perhaps one of your co-workers might be interested.
Billy, the blogger who hosts this meme, pointed out that blogging can be stressful, but that need not be the case. It all depends on how you go about it. It's not necessary to post every single day, after all!
Thanks for the nice comment!! :)
I do encourage folks, but no one is interested.
ReplyDeleteToo much of a commitment for them.
Wonderful answer as always, Maria. I would love to meet you in person too. You would be amazing to talk to about books and any subject.
Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
Hi, Elilzabeth!
DeleteHow nice that you do encourage people to do this! Yes, I imagine it's too much of a commitment for them. Billy pointed out, in his answer, that blogging can be stressful, especially when you fall behind in your reading for book tours. That's why I have limited my participation in these tours. And I have decided not to review books for blog tours, or perhaps only rarely. The problem is, there's always subtle pressure to give these books favorable reviews.
Thanks for the compliments, Elizabeth!! I would love to meet you, as well!! I'm sure we could talk for HOURS about books we've read!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!! Happy Hopping!!
Thanks for your LOVELY comment!! :)
Isn't it nice though that we can all connect through the wonders of the web. It's one of the things I like about blogging. I posted less comments when I didn't have a blog - now I feel connected.
ReplyDeleteHi, Emma!
DeleteIt is indeed nice that we're all able to connect through the wonderful technology of the Internet!! And yes, this is one of the great things about blogging!
I LOVE the feeling of connection with other bloggers. Still, it would be SO very nice to meet all of you in person!! We should have book bloggers' conventions, like comic book fans do! Lol.
Thanks for the nice comment!! :)
I'm kind of the same. Other than a few close friends who read a lot, most of my friends and acquaitances are not big readers, so I don't usually recommend blogging or Goodreads to them as they wouldn't be interested. And I agree- since starting blogging all of my closest reading friends are online. Isn't it funny how that is?
ReplyDeleteHi, Greg!
DeleteYeah, it's just turned out that all of my reading friends are online for me, as well! And my relatives are not at all interested in reading....well, my mom is, but she's not as passionate about books as I am. No way would she ever post reviews online, and blogging is just not her thing at all. My husband is into video games, not books, so he's definitely out! Lol.
So....my online reading friends are either bloggers already, or post their reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. Yes, it's kinda funny how NO ONE around us bookworms loves books as much as we do!
I'm SO glad that we have the Internet!! That way, we can interact with other book lovers who might be even on other continents! Lol.
Thanks for the GREAT comment!! :)
I don't generally steer people in the direction of reviewing or blogging either, Maria. I would if I found someone in my offline life that was leaning in that direction. But honestly, I so rarely talk about blogging or reviewing to anyone in my offline life. Even those that read.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wendy!
DeleteYeah, it seems that it takes an extra commitment for people to even WANT to blog about books, or post reviews on Goodreads and/or Amazon.
You know, it's kinda sad that no one in our immediate vicinity is interested in posting their thoughts about books online.... In my case, I don't even have readers around me! Well, except for my mom, but she's not into any technology AT ALL, so I would never be able to convince her to either blog or review books online, although she does like to read. (But I'm MUCH more book-obsesssed and addicted than she is, lol.)
Anyway....this is why our blogging friendships are SO important!!! I'm so glad to have met a SUPER nice book blogger like you,Wendy!!! YAAAAAY!!!! It's people like you who make blogging about books SO VERY worthwhile and FUN!!!!
Thanks for the lovely comment!! <3 :)