Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly series hosted by Rukky at Eternity Books and Danie at Literary Lion. The full list of September topics can be found here.
This week’s topic is The Pros And Cons of Book Blogging. This is a great topic idea and something I think about a lot, actually.
Let’s dive in…
What do you love about being a book blogger?
When I started this blog, I thought I would be the only person on WordPress talking about books. I could not have been more wrong! I love that so many other readers use this platform to share their love of books and reading. I love being able to interact with other readers and read book recommendations. My reading tastes have changed significantly since starting this book blog and I have grown so much both as a reader and as a person.
What do you hate?
It’s taken a few years, but I’ve finally decided that when it comes to my blog, I prefer quality over quantity. I would rather post 2-3 book reviews each month that are meaningful to me, rather than a dozen or more reviews just for the sake of getting a post up. I know some bloggers feel the pressure to post regularly and stay relevant, and I have struggled with that in the past as well. But, since I ultimately made this space for myself, I think it’s important to keep it as “me” as possible. Everyone is going to approach reading and reviews differently, and not comparing yours to others is really important to stay authentic.
What makes you stay in this community, and what’s one thing that could possibly drive you away?
I love to get book recommendations from other readers. With that being said, the obsession with ARC’s and new releases is a bit much for me. Maybe I’m missing something, but I have no desire to get on Net Galley or wherever else just for the sake of getting my hands on a new book. What if I don’t like it, and feel like it was a waste of time? I’d rather stick to books I know I will enjoy, even if it means reading from a series that came out in 1986, lol.
Do you feel appreciated as a blogger?
I’m proud of my content and I genuinely enjoy writing posts. Since I do it for me, I’m not really looking for validation from others, although I definitely enjoy engaging with other readers in the comments 🙂
Are book bloggers given enough credit?
I have no idea, but I think the majority of authors appreciate the work of book bloggers, especially those who utilize various types of social media to share their reviews.
Hannah's Library 
Great discussion! I love the book blogging community!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Thank you! I do too 🙂
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Totally agree. The blog should be for the blogger. Everything else is just ancillary. I admit I do like Netgalley for the ARCs but there is a bit of pressure associated with getting an advance copy and having to review it instead of just reading whatever you want. Sometimes you just want to reread old favorites and not try to keep up with bookstagram trends.
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That’s what I couldn’t handle, that pressure to read and review. Sometimes I enjoy a book more if I know I don’t plan to review it, and vice versa. I think it’s all about figuring out your blogging goals and what works best for you. I agree about re-reading old favorites too! 🙂
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