G’ Mornin’! We are here again! This week has flown by so quickly! I had such great plans of what I would get done earlier this week and now…. here it is Thursday and between work, work outs, and meetings…. yeah. I pretty much have accomplished nothing.
Tomorrow after work I leave for the cities to meet up with Reagan (Miss Remmer’s Reviews) and throughout the weekend, 5 other book bloggers from around the area. That will be fun. We will all be at the Twin Cities Book Festival and just yesterday I received questions from the panel I will be on:
1. What do you see as the biggest change to reading and books of the last 5 years? Please name one good and one bad.
2. Based on that, what is the biggest challenge to what you do each day as a books professional/avid hobbyist?
3. What needs to change for the book business to be all it can be?
4. How do you personally decide what to read next? What is your “reading strategy?”
There are great questions and I would to hear your take on these if you have any. I am excited and nervous to be on this panel. I know it will be a lot of fun and I am hopeful that all the book bloggers I am with have a chance to meet some incredible authors and publishers.
I have to run… this cold, or virus, or whatever I have going on has run me down to the point I am sleeping later and not having as much time in the morning as I usually do to hang out and enjoy that extra cup of coffee. 😛
Book Journey 
Personally, I have only been involved in book blogging for a little over a year, so I have no idea if the huge blogging community that now exists was as complex five years ago…but I’ll bet it wasn’t.
I’m thinking blogging and e-books are big changes in the past five years. There are good and bad sides to e-books. For those who love them, they are a wonderfully efficient and cost-effective way to get books. Personally I like the physical book, but I can see advantages to e-books.
As for blogging, what could be bad??? LOL
I select my books to read based on my TBR stacks—what I have in the “old” stacks that I’m trying to get through, and then there are the newer stacks that include author/publisher reviews.
I also have to consider those tempting books that I find just because I love the author. I try to balance all of these when making my choices.
I didn’t answer all of your questions…I would need to think on some of these.
Have a great trip!
Thanks Laurel 🙂
1. What do you see as the biggest change to reading and books of the last 5 years? Please name one good and one bad.
I think ebooks, definitely. Though that is both good and bad. Bad because it may lead to print books being discontinued and to piracy, but good because it makes reading easier and may encourage more people to read.
And of course blogging. It’s made finding out about books easier because before you had to rely on word of mouth (and if your friends don’t read you’re stuck there) and newspapers that often don’t give enough information.
2. Based on that, what is the biggest challenge to what you do each day as a books professional/avid hobbyist?
I think more while I’m reading, analysing and really thinking about what works and what doesn’t. I’m reading a lot more and because of reviewing I write on a regular basis.
3. What needs to change for the book business to be all it can be?
I reckon more authors should have websites because as time goes on those that don’t won’t be avaliable for online discussions etc and may miss out on a bigger audience. And more books in braille. Audio books are good but there should be more choice.
4. How do you personally decide what to read next? What is your “reading strategy?”
I rarely have one, I tend to choose from my list of books I have to hand or if there’s been a book on my mind for a while I’ll choose that one. If I’ve a book from a publisher for review though, that will generally be highest priority.
And by all means if you’re wanting to use our answers in the panel, go ahead!
And what I should’ve added onto answer 2 to explain it better is that making time and writing thoughts coherently can be very difficult and sometimes you feel pressure to write something thought-provoking.
Thanks Charlie, this is very helpful! I appreciate your thoughts on this.
Yay, so excited! Here are some thoughts:
1. What do you see as the biggest change to reading and books of the last 5 years? Please name one good and one bad.
Time, I think. People have so many options of stuff to do, I think it can be easier to make excuses not to read. But, things like e-readers are making it more convenient to read, so that might help too.
2. Based on that, what is the biggest challenge to what you do each day as a books professional/avid hobbyist?
Similar – finding the time. I make a lot of time to read because I love it, but managing the blog and everything that goes with it on top of just finding time to read is a lot of work.
3. What needs to change for the book business to be all it can be?
Find ways to connect with readers better and more. Support indie booksellers, make bookstores a community space where readers can connect with other book lovers.
4. How do you personally decide what to read next? What is your “reading strategy?”
Part is just mood – what looks appealing. I also have some stacks of “books I want to read right now” that I take from. I try to alternate between my own books, library books, and review books. Review tour dates also dictate when I’ll read a book, too.
I CANNOT wait to see you and the other bloggers this weekend! I’ll probably come find you after your panel, since it’s right away in the morning, right?
Right Kim – I think I am either on the first or the second panel. Way cool! I am excited too. I am hoping to send out an email of a coffee shop meet up in the a.m. near the event for Saturday morning if anyone wants to do that… 🙂
That’d be perfect, since I’ll be driving from my parents house just north of the Cities.
Hmm…
1. GOOD: More books on serious issues like cutting, anorexia, bullying, rape, etc and inclusion of minorities and glbtq characters. BAD: More celebrity ghost written books just for the name, mass produced low level stuff for the masses.
2. Not enough time!
3. Can we actually start publishing books that deserve to be published instead of mass produced junk? (i.e. how many books can Patterson really write in a year if they are to be good quality….)
4. Umm… blogger recommendations, and depends on what my mood is at the time!
LOL to #3 Amy! 😆 So true so true…..
For me, bloggers have made a huge difference in my reading life. I hear of books I would never have heard of before and my reading has expanded exponentially. I love to hear others’ opinions of authors and their books as well. It helps too to have online friends who love reading as much as I do since my friends in my own area aren’t readers.
Barbara I get most of my books to read from blogger reviews. I would say the majority of my TBR is from book blogs I read or books I have seen on twitter.
I totally have been stretched in good ways by the suggestions of other readers.
ebooks are huge…and a good thing for a lot of people…the bad is that “people” try to pit ebooks against paper copies …there is room for both and no need for competition
i am thankful to have access to a computer…and that i stumbled on to bloggers….
love that booksellers…even borders and barnes and nobles…will spoltlight newer authors instead of just having the newest patterson/king
have a great time will be interesting to hear your update
Thanks Diana! 😀
These are some great questions Sheila! Although I don’t have time to answer them right now, maybe I can give you my input over dinner Friday night…I’m so excited to meet you and some other bloggers!
Oh good Jo Jo, I appreciate your input. I will send out an email later tonight where we will meet up for dinner tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night! SSQQUUEEEEE!!!! 😀
1.) I think one of the biggest changes in the past five years has definitely been e-books. I for one like e-books for a several reasons. I tend to be a very environmentally conscience person and I can see the benefits of a “green” publishing industry. Also, I am unable to drive to my local library on my own because of my health so I generally have to get a ride which is a pain and means that I don’t get to do it nearly as often as I’d like to, but our local library is connected to Kentucky Unbound which allows readers to check books out online. I can download books to my computer or read them on my Sony reader. I can also download audio books to listen or music and even videos. I think it’s a wonderful resource so I’d have to say I really like e-books! However, sometimes I still go out and buy the print copy if it’s a book a truly enjoyed and want to have.
2.) My biggest challenge is finding a good balance. I have a lot of freelance journalism work to do as well as book blogging, which I love. I also have a family, a service dog, a house in the country, a great church and a health condition. So, I find it challenging to keep all that in balance and still find time to feed my reading addiction and it’s definitely an addiction LOL…
3.) I think the book business like everything else has suffered due to the economy. People who have to figure out what things they can conserve on, will probably chose to not buy a book as opposed to not buying food. I think the prices for books have become too much for those who are financially strapped. I’m not such what can be done about it, other than lowering the prices, but we all know that won’t happen.
4.) My personal decision as to what to read next has evolved quite a bit since I started book blogging. I have a very tight schedule of reviews that have to be out by a certain time and that has really limited what I read for pleasure. But, lately I’m considering reviewing less of what publishers want me to read and reviewing more of what I want to read. There are some publishers I work with that I pretty much want to read whatever they put out, but others… not so much! So, I’m working on a good balance here as well.
Thanks Deb – balance is so important. I struggle with that too and find I just get up early and stay up late to get it all done which leads to me being really tired. 😀
Those are good questions, but I don’t have any inspiration as to how to respond to them. This sounds like a great meet-up and panel discussion. I hope you have a great time!
Thanks! It will be fun 🙂
You will be a fantastic panelist!!
1. I think the biggest change in reading in the last 5 years is the options we have now – we can even read a book on our phones, for crying out loud.
2. My biggest challenge is getting enough read to post every day. It’s a self imposed pressure, but it’s there just the same.
3. I think the revival of indie bookstores is the answer to improving the book business – there’s nothing like buying from someone who knows your tastes.
4. Unless I’ve committed to a certain date, I generally read whatever calls my name.
I agree with you on #2 Kathy – it is self imposed but I do it all the same. I like your response to #3, and and I am with you again on #4. If I am not in the mood to read, its best for everyone involved that the book waits until I am. 😀
Have fun…the only question I can answer is how I choose what I read…
If I love an author’s work I will read everything that author has written. I only like certain genres and I won’t read out of that comfort zone…I hate memoirs, nonfiction, selfhelp, etc. I read tons of blogs and get tons of newsletters from book sites…that helps me to choose…but I always know what I want to read.
Thanks Patty – good input!
1. Bad & Good: Advertising in books (especially eBooks). Imagine “Johnny went and drank a cool refreshing Coca-Cola from the 7-11 on the corner).
Good because they’ll keep the costs of books down, bad because they’ll be annoying as hell.
2. The biggest challenge for me as a hobbyist is to read my allotted pages per day (100) as well as to make a dent in my “to read” list.
3. The book business needs to start getting into their heads that they won’t make any money “selling books”. The stores need to start selling an experience, hire knowledgeable people, host book clubs, etc.
4. I don’t have a reading strategy but to be honest, I decide what to read next based on two criteria 1) genre 2) page number. If I just finished an 800 page biography, I’ll probably pick a 250 page fictional story.
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
1. What do you see as the biggest change to reading and books of the last 5 years? Please name one good and one bad.
I think the biggest change to reading and books has been the many ways a person can actually read a book. For some that may be good, but for me, there is nothing better than actually holding the book in your hands and hearing the pages turn.
2. Based on that, what is the biggest challenge to what you do each day as a books professional/avid hobbyist?
I’m not a book blogger, just an obsessed reader. I think finding time to sit down and read is the biggest challenge especially when you factor in time spent reading all of the book blogs after I get home from work.
3. What needs to change for the book business to be all it can be?
I think there should be more book stores or gathering places revolving around books. In my area, the public libraries have had so many cut backs, their hours are limited. I have to drive quite a ways to the closest book store…not that I need to buy any more! 🙂
4. How do you personally decide what to read next? What is your “reading strategy?”
I normally decide based on recommendations from friends, family and blogs. Like I’ve mentioned here before, I have read many of the books you have reviewed. Often if I read a really good book by a particular author, I want to read all of their books one after another.
Have a great time at the festival this weekend Sheila. I hope you start feeling back to your normal, energetic self soon!
Thanks Jill – I have been laying down since I got home from work but I really need to get a few things done before I go tomorrow. GAH!
I am hoping to feel 100% really soon.
1. What do you see as the biggest change to reading and books of the last 5 years? Please name one good and one bad.
The Bad – distractions – there are so many options out there for people and their entertainment needs. Also it seems to me there is a greater lack of “stick-to-itness” – if it isn’t entertaining at that moment, people will move on to something else.
The good: The accessibility of books and book talk. From being able to place a book on hold at my library (from my home), to reading an e-book, to being able to see what other people think about a book. I no longer have have someone in front of me to have a bookish discussion.
2. Based on that, what is the biggest challenge to what you do each day as a books professional/avid hobbyist?
Time and discipline
3. What needs to change for the book business to be all it can be?
I think the book industry does a good job of providing what people want. For those that read to escape or to not think – those books are available. For those who want to wrestle (in a good way) with more meat, those books are available. So I would have to say – what the industry needs to do is recognize the need for distraction and at the same time slowly stretch people so they have opportunities to grow as readers. I think they way to do this is to publish works that go outside confines or double up in different confines. Can you have a “chick lit” book or a beach read and have it also be well written? Just because a book may be lighter doesn’t mean it also has to be bad. I think there is room for good writing in all genres (although that isn’t the word I am looking for) we just have to get the publishers to look beyond their narrow definitions and the readers to not be scared.
How do you personally decide what to read next? What is your “reading strategy?”
Right now a key motivator is subject. I am fascinated by the concept of memory – how it works and replays throughout our daily interactions. So I key in on books that have memory as a theme or subject. I also depend heavily on blogger reviews – it use to be there was the LA Times, The NY times, and the New Yorker – that was how we got our book info about what was out there. With blogging, our horizons have expanded and we have a vast amount of information to help inform our choices. What is critical is in how to sift through that information. Key words (such as memory), lyrical novels, family secrets, etc. are my personal filters at the moment.
PB
PB, I tend to read by subject too… thank you for your comments here. I appreciate your thoughts on this!
Those are good questions! It should be exciting and nerve racking all together! The festival sounds like it is going to be a blast! Y’all should have some extra fun for me;) Feel better soon:)
HI Elisha, yes if I could unload the cough and the slight fever…. all would be wonderful 😀