Sunday, September 21, 2014

What May Well Be the Worst Bloggiesta Post Ever (Plus...My Week in Books)



It's the last day of Bloggiesta and I'm just getting around to writing my blogging improvement goals.

Something is wrong in Blogland.

I feel great waves of malaise sweeping through my world. Recently I've read posts by some of the blogging greats---Still UnfinishedBookfoolerySophisticated DorkinessEstella's RevengeBeth Fish ReadsRiver City ReadingCapricious Reader---who are all suffering from sort of as-yet-fully-diagnosed book blogging malady. 

Well, folks, here I am to offer a remedy. A home remedy, if you will. (I'll give you some time to grab a pencil. You might want to write this down.)

Here goes:

Blog if you want to. Blog when you want to. 

If you don't want to, don't.

Here is my gauge:  I use what Nabokov called "the tingle in the spine" as my measuring device. If I'm not feeling it while I'm reading, I'm dropping the book. If I'm not feeling it in my blog post while I'm writing, I'm hitting DELETE. If I'm not feeling it while visiting blogs, I stop. And vice-y verse-y.

At least that's my approach. Mind you, I'm not setting out to make a living off this blog. I'm not setting out to do anything, really, but share thoughts about reading.

That's all I've got, friends. But it works for me.



What I Read Last Week

 

I haven't read any Annie Dillard in years and years. But when I saw For the Time Being on a recommended book list a few weeks ago, I impulsively requested it from the library. I'm glad I did. Dillard buzzes around, stopping to rest on a Jesuit paleontologist, Hasidic thought, physical defects, beauty, and, somehow, even God. What a writer!

I picked up The Family Under the Bridge for the recent Travel the World in Books Readathon. (I focused on children's books from around the world during the two weeks of the event.) Most of the books I read were picture books, but this one was a bit longer. What a surprise. A 1958 original copyright date, but a fresh story. Armand is a tramp in Paris who runs up against three fatherless children. The children's mother is working and is unable to care for them during the day. Armand reluctantly takes over. Imagine that. Homeless people. In 1958. A classic.
           





What Arrived Last Week



Boog sells you on his book right from the intro. Children whose parents read interactively with them are six to eight months ahead of other children, he tells us. Reading interactively will push your children's IQ up an amazing six points. And then he shares with us what research has shown is the best way to read with your kiddos.

I've just started this one, but I can tell it's going to be a keeper, a book I share with parents and other librarians.
           







What are you reading today?!


What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 
 It is now being hosted here.


Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. 

36 comments:

  1. I bought A Family Under the Bridge a few months ago, when I read another of the authors books about a pigeon in Paris (I found it at a second book sale somewhere). I haven't got to reading A Family Under the Bridge yet, but have it loitering in the TBR somewhere. That Boog book sounds interesting too- I'm always interested in that sort of book- I hadn't heard of this one before.

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    1. You should take it along on your next trip to Paris. Perfect.

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  2. The Family Under The Bridge looks like a great find. And Garth Williams... hmm. It's nice to know about that one.

    Born Reading looks great too, bet there's a wealth of information there.

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    1. I can't wait to share Born Reading with parents and teachers at my school.

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  3. I definitely agree with your thoughts about blogging...No malaise here, because it is still fun for me. And I have learned to stop reading books I don't enjoy. I am very picky on review books I accept and stopped doing blog tours because the "angsty" feeling I got about those deadlines reminded me of WORK. And I'm done with that...LOL

    Thanks for sharing...and here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES POST

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    1. And I, like you, intend to keep it fun. Fun, fun, and only fun.

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  4. Nice rules for reading and blogging! Takes away major blog stress!

    Right now am in more of a reading mood than a blogging mood, so I have some reviews that I have reviewd on goodreads only.

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  5. I need to figure out a way to get over my blogging malaise - I'm feeling it. Blogging has become more of a job for me lately and I have to find a way to overcome that. For me, it's cutting back on reviews and blog tours. I want to read a book just because I want to - not because it's for a reading challenge, blog tour or a review. Eventually I'll get there.

    Born Reading has a great cover. I bet it's a good read.

    Have a great week!

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  6. I think you found the best remedy!

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  7. This, Post. Yes!!! You are so right. Yesterday I wrote a blog post that I didn't love but wanted people to know more about the book. I'm still going to post it but in the future, I'll press the delete button.

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  8. I hear you, but I have to have some kind of a routine...even if it's only a few posts per week. However, if I'm not feeling "it," I definitely will hit delete. :)

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    1. I'm very happy if I post once a week. I also try to visit ten blogs a week. But I don't sweat it if it doesn't happen.

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  9. I just went through a blogging hiatus myself. I'm pregnant and the first trimester was not fun. But like you said, I just wasn't feeling it, so I just didn't read, and I just didn't blog, for a month. I missed it, but I still wasn't feeling it for that entire month. But now I'm feeling better and back in the game.

    I think people feel guilty. I know I did. And people also feel like if they are gone for too long, they'll lose their following. Which is obviously not the most important thing in blogging but it's sad when you've spent so much time growing your blog and a hiatus can make you lose the people quickly. Although I do think that most people don't really unfollow blogs unless that person has been gone for like 6 months, so I think taking breaks is totally necessary and healthy, and if you don't want to lose followers, just make it less than a few months!

    But anyway, I hope you are still able to get some Bloggiesta-type goals done even though you were starting late! Good luck!

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  10. I've noticed the trend as well and think you have the right solution! I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to do a certain amount of work all the time. Born Reading sounds interesting. I definitely want my kids to be readers because I think life is better if you read. You're more self-sufficient when it comes to entertainment if nothing else. Have a great week!

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  11. I think you definitely have the right plan! I've found myself hitting delete so often recently and it's actually felt pretty great. This is a timely reminder :)

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  12. Add me to the list of bloggers who are evaluating what I want to do with blogging! I've just restructured and I'm no longer calling my blog a 'book' blog. I think a new, broader direction is just what I need to make blogging fun again :)

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  13. Wise advice on blogging. I think it's still fun for me but I don't over-post too frequently. Just when I want to -- is key. Thanks

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  14. I'm currently reading The Stolen Songbird. Have you read it?

    Here's my latest haul :
    Newly Owned to Read! #3

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  15. Totally agree re: blogging - I've got some regular posts (Monday Reads and Friday Finds) but if I don't feel like posting I don't. Like you, I don't aim to make a living from my blog rather I use it as a sort of reading journal in conjunction with my Goodreads profile.

    Thanks for the post :-)

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  16. I had to miss Bloggiesta altogether this time around, and I really did miss it. I'm just coming off a blogging slump myself, and just starting to feel the desire to write a post come back. I never had a schedule I could stick with, anyway, and too many other deadlines and responsibilities took precedence recently. Congrats on freeing yourself up and thanks for sharing the words of wisdom!

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  17. Thanks for the sound advice, Deb. I needed to hear it. I'm filing it under guiltless blogging.

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  18. Awesome advice!!! I am going to remember to gauge the tingle. I need to keep perspective.

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  19. I'm kind of the same way. If I'm not feeling it, I might not do it. I wasn't feeling Bloggiesta. So I didn't get very far. Of course this idea of feeling it wouldn't work on a job. Have a good week.

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  20. I like your policy - I have been following it for a few months now and although the guilt creeps in every so often the rest of my life is much more balanced. Wish I could do it all but that is just not possible! Have a good week!

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  21. Deb, Thanks for your great advice. Have a wonderful week.

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  22. That's pretty much what I'm doing, these days. I gave up blog tours thinking that would help. Then, I stopped requesting books. Then, I stepped away several times. Now, I'm just writing when I feel like it, reading only what grabs me. I'm enjoying blogging, again, and I've been surprised to find that the thrill of reading has returned. After getting used to life without regular parcels, I decided to allow myself 2 ARCs per month, max. That ended up being surprising, as well. I haven't received either of the 2 books I requested in September but I'm excited about them in a way I haven't been in ages.

    This is a pretty terrific blog post, if you ask me. ;)

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  23. The Family Under the Bridge captured my eye. May check that one out.
    I just recetly went thru the blogging doldrums. It feels good to be back and busy but I agree. Don't pressure oneself to post:)
    here is my Sunday Post - http://fuonlyknew.com/2014/09/21/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-79-and-the-sunday-post-now-thats-a-lot-of-books/

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  24. Very good advice, Deb. Blog as the mood strikes. Weeeee!

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  25. This advice is pretty close to perfect for me!

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  26. Love your attitude, that's good advice Deb, I need to stop putting pressure on myself when life is just a bit crazy. Have a great week doing whatever the mood dictates :)

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  27. Great advice. I use to be a "mad" blogger, making sure I wrote at least 3 posts a week, trying to keep the content fresh, and then you get to the point where you realize that you really have to take care of the other things in your life too. So, really feeling the tingle is a good way to help your inner blogger feel better and enjoy what blogging was all about when we started!

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