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Happy Easter everyone. I had plans to share my thoughts on Isla Dewar’s Secrets of a Family Album today as I’m half way through – but I’ve decided instead to post some answers to a few questions that my fellow readers have posed this week – for part of the enjoyment of reading is sharing bookish thoughts with others right?
How much information should be revealed in a book review?
Kerrie over at Mysteries in Paradise wrote a post about how much information she reveals in a review – I was very interested to read this as I’ve been battling with how much information I should include in mine. I think once I’ve finished a book there are two things I’d like to achieve:
- Encourage others to read the book (or not) – this requires a review giving enough detail to encourage another reader to pick up a copy – but not enough to spoil it for them
- Understand my thoughts and feelings about the book – and discuss this with others who have read the book already
The problem with this is that the second *requirement* requires spoilers – which I wouldn’t want would-be readers to see.
So far I have just been tackling the review – but in future reviews I want to get stuck into the discussion too. So here’s what I’m thinking – I’ll include both elements in my posts – the review at the start and then the discussion at the end – with a *spoiler warning* in between. This way I can achieve both aims – and hopefully start a discussion in the comments.
What do you think – can this work or would you tackle it differently?
What do your books say about you?
The Literate Kitten commented on an article she read about whether you should keep unread books on your bookshelves – what an odd thing for someone to write an article about – I mean where else would you keep them? The author suggests your office or your bedside table – which I think is silly. I have a couple of shelves of unread books and several bookcases full of books I’ve read and enjoyed and if you ask me that is perfectly normal – and sensible!
Apparently bookshelves convey the type of person you would like to be and hence should only house unread books. I would prefer my bookshelves to be less pretentious and show the person that I am – based on those books I have enjoyed and decided to keep.
I think my books – both read and unread – show that I like a challenge but enjoy creature comforts (you’ll find new authors, classics and prize winners alongside chick-lit and favourite authors) and that I strive for order (unread are alphabetical, read are grouped by author in chronological order). And given the sheer number of books and the fact that they find a home in pretty much every room of the house I think you’ll discover that I am a book collector – I love to surround myself with books and the promise of being transported to some far off place – as much as I love to read them!
What do your books say about you? Post in the comments and then head over to Literate Kitten and let LK know too.
What books would you save from a fire?
Jill at the Magic Lasso has been reading an essay by Anna Quindlen which prompted the question “what books would you save from a fire?” I’m sure this is supposed to prompt us to list out our favourite books – in which case I’d have to suggest anything by Anita Shreve, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult and Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. Then add to that The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.
Of course the problem with this list is that books are replaceable – unless they were given as a gift by a loved one and hold special memories. In which case if there were a fire I wouldn’t give my books a second thought – I’d be more worried about saving my husband, my cats and my iMac – which contains all of my photographs and storytelling pages.
What books would you save from a fire? Head over to the Magic Lasso and let Jill know.
Tags: SundaySalon, Book reviews
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Thanks for the cross post. You listed some good books for fire saving, but the family and laptops (with everything important) definitely outrank.
When Quindlen posted her list, I couldn’t tell if the books were in the fire because the house was on fire, or because there was a “book burning” where people were trying to get rid of scandalous books. I guess that’s up to interpretation. =)
Jill
Yes, like you say I think there are few books I’d rush around to save – even though books are hugely important to me they would be far down on the list. The computer would definitely be musch higher up!
@Jill – that’s a good point – and I did think it as I was typing – Am I rescuing these books from a burning house – or a bonfire? I think if it’s the latter then I’m ashamed to see I’m not sure I’ve read any scandalous books that would need to be burned… will have to think on that one!
@Clare – thanks for stopping by *wave*
I would try to grab my signed book of poems by Maya Angelou, which obviously would be irresplaceable. More importantly I would try to save all my photo albums first.
What a great post, Clare! So much to consider . . .
I do my best to avoid spoilers when summarizing a book, although I know that some people think any kind of summary is a spoiler in and of itself. I always wonder how those people know which books to read then, if they don’t even want to know what the book will be about. I think your idea of adding a spoiler alert so you can discuss the book would work well. I haven’t tried that myself, but it sounds like a good idea!
I just wrote my first review with the spoiler alert – and then published it and realised that actually I’d managed to talk about the book a bit more but hadn’t really included any spoilers at all! This book *exploration* stuff is going to take a bit of practice ;0)
Sometimes what the publisher reveals on the back cover is far more of a spoiler than anything I would ever write in a review. Sometimes too I wonder whether the person who wrote the blurb has actually read the book, or only a few pages here and there.
I am one of those people who considers any summary a spoiler. I don’t read reviews, I scan them. I am looking at the qualities of one or two characters. I want to see them bumper stickered. This is a story about a woman who wants…, who feels…, who is… And then maybe a sentence or two about the plot or setting.
I care much more about how someone feels about a book and how they react to it than what is going on in the story. The reaction tells me if I want to read it, not the content of the story itself.
If you fall in love with the writing, which is usually the reason why I love a book excerpt a piece from early in the story, a point before the reader knows what is going on. Then a person who hasn’t read the book can get a glimpse without spoilers.
I didn’t read the exploration because you said it had spoilers in your review but I think you are on the right track even though you say you need more work.
Write about what you think and feel.
@Kerrie – that’s an excellent point – I’ve been copying the description for the book from amazon – and will make sure in future that it is an accurate synopsis – and spoiler free!
@Megan – thanks for the great feedback – I’m enjoying writing these posts to try and work the book through in my head – I want to be able to encourage people to read the books as well as challenging myself to think about them in more depth. The book excerpt idea is a fabulous one.
I think keeping posts spoiler free is the best way to go – after all the books I want you all to read are the ones I loved the most – and that I plan to re-read sometime in the future – and I don’t want to read any spoilers before I do *lol*
LOL, yes, where else do you keep books but on shelves? Except I keep books practically any flat, level space, including coffee tables, floors, and cabinets.
I might just have to burn with my books. Hubby asked me the other day, are you ever going to re-read any of these books? Probably not. I’d like to, but probably not. But, I can’t bear to part with them!!
Anyway, I tend to skim some reviews for fears of spoilers, but I think reviews need to reflect with your blogging goals/objectives are. I blog so that I can remember what I read (which sadly doesn’t help all the time). I try not to give spoilers, though.
*lol* my husband asks me the same thing everytime I buy a new book. I’m trying to be good and only keep the *keepers*, books I know I won’t read again I offer up for swapping at readitswapit.co.uk – which means I can give it away in return for another book on my wishlist and everyone’s a winner
@LK – do you know what i would love? One of those libraries where you need a ladder to reach the highest shelves – you know the ladders with little wheels on so you can move them up and down the rows. My dream house would have a room big enough to make one of those libraries and stuff it full with thousands of books – and there would be a big fat comfy sofa – big enough for me to snuggle down with a good book and my two cats in front of a roaring fire… *dream*