tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post9152991003085013195..comments2024-03-28T16:51:25.965+01:00Comments on Offbeat YA: The Craft of Reviewing: Or How I Amended My Evil Ways Over the Years 😀Roberta R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-15766591418189444902018-06-15T21:35:56.913+02:002018-06-15T21:35:56.913+02:00Quote: "a well-thought-out two or three star ...Quote: "a well-thought-out two or three star review might point out something I really can't tolerate in a book."<br />Exactly! They're the ones I read first when trying to make up my mind about a book. And they even work the other way around for me - sometimes the reviewers point out the things they didn't like, and I realise they are, in fact, the same things that I tend Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-39206480943202799062018-06-15T18:22:07.746+02:002018-06-15T18:22:07.746+02:00Bashing reviews are an instant pass. I tend not to...Bashing reviews are an instant pass. I tend not to read bad reviews for books I love anyway, unless I trust the reviewer. I don't need that negativity in my life. They're helpful when I'm deciding whether or not to read something though. I don't trust a handful of five star rave reviews because pretty much every book has some, but a well-thought-out two or three star review might Carrie (brightbeautifulthings)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05148269404370808872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-88796050440555499842018-06-14T22:48:46.223+02:002018-06-14T22:48:46.223+02:00Quote: "I love your headlines! They're so...Quote: "I love your headlines! They're so unique to your reviews. I don't know anyone else who uses them."<br />Thank you! Headlines give me a headache sometimes, but they're also fun to come up with!<br /><br />Quote: "I strongly dislike reviews that are mostly summary".<br />Along with the ones that bash books/authors (those of course take the cake...and with &Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-57881797582545322782018-06-14T22:37:30.009+02:002018-06-14T22:37:30.009+02:00😮😊🤗😮😊🤗Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-23516882954838221012018-06-14T18:48:16.546+02:002018-06-14T18:48:16.546+02:00I love your headlines! They're so unique to yo...I love your headlines! They're so unique to your reviews. I don't know anyone else who uses them. I also share your struggle in being concise lol. I have a lot more to say about some books though, and not much to say about ones that fall in the middle, so I figure it all shakes out in the end.<br /><br />I added an About section a few months after I started reviewing because I found Carrie (brightbeautifulthings)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05148269404370808872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-47720930544127548372018-06-14T14:50:01.460+02:002018-06-14T14:50:01.460+02:00Your reviews are definitely some of my favorite of...Your reviews are definitely some of my favorite of all the bloggers I follow. They're unique, well-phrased and easy to read because of the way you divide them. (And, as you know, I love the frames.) Most of the time I read them even when I'm not at all interested in the book you're writing about. :D Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06813427718618609226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-36164654745250683722018-06-13T14:16:02.389+02:002018-06-13T14:16:02.389+02:00You're very organised! But if sometimes that d...You're very organised! But if sometimes that doesn't seem enough, I'm sure it's not your fault - reviews are tricky that way. And some books are more difficult than others to review, either because you don't want to spoil anything or because it's difficult to convey the feelings they ignite in you...<br /><br />And since I have only just met you (hi!), now I'm curious Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-88533373061108493672018-06-13T04:58:05.811+02:002018-06-13T04:58:05.811+02:00I keep a journal near me when I'm done reading...I keep a journal near me when I'm done reading a book and make a bullet point list of things I like, things I want to say, how it connected me and try and make that into a review. Sometimes, this works and I make some good reviews (at least, I like to think so) but sometimes I feel like no matter how many times I try and draft my reviews it never works. I love reading other reviews and Tina @ The Cactus Jefahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00983152545111315101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-91990643495279201032018-06-11T10:38:03.886+02:002018-06-11T10:38:03.886+02:00LOL, not having a method sure makes life easier. T...LOL, not having a method sure makes life easier. Then again, I suppose that's just the way I'm built...trying to do things with a particular rhyme and reason. But it's not like I do that with an audience in mind either. I would like to learn how to write shorter reviews because I know most people tend to skim...but as you said, my blog is my space. If I need more words than I would Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-7309168753750264082018-06-11T04:52:12.343+02:002018-06-11T04:52:12.343+02:00I don't have a method! I just say what I feel ...I don't have a method! I just say what I feel and click the publish button. I do read it over and over again to make sure the grammar and flow sound okay, but as far as the content... it's whatever's in my heart at the moment. I usually find it easier to write a review the day after I finish a book, because I need a few hours to process how I'm feeling. <br /><br />My blog is my Lindsi https://www.blogger.com/profile/13480991226741687503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-22461702401341656892018-06-07T17:45:56.315+02:002018-06-07T17:45:56.315+02:00Quote: "and I must say I'm floored every ...Quote: "and I must say I'm floored every time I see them because they scream EFFORT."<br />I'm so happy you said this, because boy, they sure ARE effort 😅. But any kind of review is valid (except the ones where people bash the author of course). I tend to over-obsess about things, so of course reviews are no exceptions LOL. On the other hand, using different styles or formats Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-80037066546581369812018-06-07T16:39:03.195+02:002018-06-07T16:39:03.195+02:00I don't think I've actually told you this ...I don't think I've actually told you this but I do consider your reviews to be extremely well thought-out and written. Works of art, for real! I was here to see your transition into cleverly split up reviews and I must say I'm floored every time I see them because they scream EFFORT. I have always been very spontaneous with my ones. I sometimes type it all up and then split it into Ruzaika @ Wordy & Whimsicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03622559256241751912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-47242143791862206922018-06-06T20:43:31.833+02:002018-06-06T20:43:31.833+02:00Agreed!Agreed!Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-57381377209237736822018-06-06T15:41:21.703+02:002018-06-06T15:41:21.703+02:00I think the "personal touch" is the most...I think the "personal touch" is the most important thing on a blog. <br /><br />I follow bloggers that review all sorts of ways - long, short, squeeing, formal...I do have my preferences - but as long as I know the bloggers tastes in books, I love them all because it reflects their personality. As long as that comes through it's all good for me. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-50948310021985086072018-06-06T11:01:15.903+02:002018-06-06T11:01:15.903+02:00LOL, I hear you about adverbs and such.
I agree t...LOL, I hear you about adverbs and such.<br /><br />I agree that some books may need longer reviews, whatever the reason. Mine are not all the same length either - but on the whole, my more recent reviews are a little shorter than some of the older ones. It's also interesting that you favour the longer reviews on GR. Maybe on a blog they would feel more intimidating?Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-21488914323500832922018-06-06T10:56:13.636+02:002018-06-06T10:56:13.636+02:00It's great that you think reviews are an art f...It's great that you think reviews are an art form...though probably, an underrated one 😉.<br /><br />As I said, I have a problem with being concise LOL. I'm trying, but...<br /><br />As for spoilers - I've had the occasional book ruined on Goodreads because of people posting blatant ones. If I really want to include a spoiler, I use a special tag...but most of the times, I try to Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-74295546088764185802018-06-06T02:22:59.399+02:002018-06-06T02:22:59.399+02:00No, I don't have any particular mindframe or m...No, I don't have any particular mindframe or method for reviews. I do each one however it feels right. Sometimes they're long. Sometimes they're short. Long is not always bad though. Maybe for blogging it's not the best, but when I'm on GR and interested in a book and trying to decide if I want to read it, I find longer reviews more helpful because they give more info. But I Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113986982046115579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-85209020559652184712018-06-06T01:39:13.508+02:002018-06-06T01:39:13.508+02:00Writing reviews is definitely an art form. I have ...Writing reviews is definitely an art form. I have a few formats I like to use, because I like variety, but I always try to be as concise as possible. I know I skim the really long reviews, so why would l write them. I also try so, so hard to make sure there are no spoilers in my review. Hate them! Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-91482328608534435852018-06-05T21:28:41.629+02:002018-06-05T21:28:41.629+02:00Informational is good - the only reviews that I fe...Informational is good - the only reviews that I feel don't add anything to the mix are those where the reader just seems either to fangirl or to hate the book. I mean, you don't have to write a paper - just let me know what worked and what didn't and why. The fact that you stayed up all night reading or threw the book across the room doesn't help me very much LOL.Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-15611449701059658752018-06-05T21:24:37.178+02:002018-06-05T21:24:37.178+02:00Quote: "I have no set structure (as I'm s...Quote: "I have no set structure (as I'm sure you can tell lol)".<br />Haha, yes, I can. But the important thing is, there's always a personal touch, something that only you could have put into them, though it's not like you make the reviews about you. That kind of balance is not easy to achieve, but it makes for the most useful and yet entertaining ones.<br /><br />Your Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-88390623198762983182018-06-05T19:04:57.119+02:002018-06-05T19:04:57.119+02:00I don't think I'm very good at crafting my...I don't think I'm very good at crafting my reviews. I'm very informational and that's about it. But I guess that's okay. To each their own.Jenni Elysehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403700912436098391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381281230448720689.post-46271482670693915182018-06-05T16:21:56.423+02:002018-06-05T16:21:56.423+02:00I'm such a mood reader and a mood reviewer. In...I'm such a mood reader and a mood reviewer. In the earliest days, I thought I was only writing reviews for my eyes onle and I had no idea how to write a review so it was very basic and blah.<br /><br />Then I found my voice and they were more on the free flowing, snarky side.<br /><br />Then I got kind of self conscious/compared myself to other reviewers that I admired and wanted to write Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.com