User Profile

WHY?

Reading has, for the most part, always been a major part of my life. And I read so much that I’ve long passed the point where I can easily remember what I read and what I thought about it. So this journal, in part, is a way for me to keep track of what I’m reading, how much, when, and my reactions. It allows me to go back and remember what I thought of a particular writer’s work, or a particular book, and that sort of thing. To be honest, I probably should have started doing something like this years ago.

Another reason I chose to create and use a reading journal is that I need to *consciously* read critically. As a writer, it’s important for me to analyze what I read, figure out what I like, figure out what I don’t, and the why. This helps me define my own craft. I think any writer can relate to that need, whether they formally review stories or not, and I need to get better at it.

But the biggest reason is that I love discussion on books. I love hearing reactions from others who’ve read the same thing, and friendly debates can be fun as well. Sue me, but I’m a geek. :)

WHAT I READ

Everything. Okay, maybe not everything, but I read a variety of genres. While you will mostly find genre-related reviews in here (fantasy), you will also find good deal of modern/realistic/mainstream/literary fiction, classics, and some non-fiction here and there. What I review here then will be all books I read, with an addition here and there of a short story or collection of short stories.

Those who are really sharp will notice that each entry from January 2007 forward has a line at the very bottom just above the tags that will give a number to each book or short story I review - this is a personal record for myself of how many books/stories I've read in the year, and it will start back at 1 for both categories at each new year. For once, I'm thinking ahead to when I'll want to count all these up and won't want to go through all the individual entries finding out.

I won’t review normal periodicals. Also, I won’t review movies (unless it relates to the book), nor will I review anything else outside the written word.

And unless it relates to something I’m reading, don’t expect diatribes on writing or the writing world. With the exception of the occasional list and announcement, there won’t be anything in this LJ but reviews.

THE HOW

Each entry covers the following: how I came to read said item, my thoughts about said item behind a cut, and then my overall, final thoughts where I explain who I’d recommend the said item and why. I don’t like summarizing the book, so if that’s what you’re really looking for, click the link in the title and you’ll be taken to Amazon.com and hopefully to a decent summary. But behind the cut, I will talk about certain events in the story that may be considered spoilery depending on how you look at it. I’m not consistent in “spoiling” books, so you can never know what I’ll say behind said cut. If you’re super-paranoid about spoilers, never look behind the cut. If you don’t care, then don’t worry.

When I review something, I try my hardest to be professional and objective. I’ll acknowledge the things I liked and the things I didn’t. I’ll question the work, just like I would if I were critiquing it. Not fair to critique something that’s already published? Oh well: it’s how I learn. And on the off-chance that the writer reads said review, they might learn something too. Or not. I hardly expect anyone to take *my* advice, but I’m still going to say it because the point of this review journal is to record my thoughts and opinions (even the less flattering ones) on a given work. :)

But what I don’t do is take cheap shots. I don’t believe in calling stories or characters or writers stupid, and while I might disagree (vehemently) with how a writer handles something, I’m not going to resort to name-calling or bashing. I might be snarky, cynical, and critical, but I don’t believe in ripping holes in someone’s hard work for not reason.

COMMENTS

Comments are fun. As mentioned above, I love discussion and even debate, but I do ask that whatever you say, you keep it clean and professional. This journal is not merely for my amusement, as I have friends and colleagues and professors who read this. If you don’t like something, great! I can’t wait to hear why, but be objective. And if you disagree with me, great! I can’t wait to hear why, but be objective. Courtesy is always a good thing.

ACK! YOU FOUND ME!

In the event that an author, editor, or friend of said people happens to read one of my reviews of their work, I feel the need to make one point very clear here.

I’m ambivalent about the majority of what I read. The rest I either love or strongly dislike (I rarely hate something). Just because I criticize something doesn’t mean I think the writer is bad, or that the story is bad. In fact, it would take a helluva lot for me to come out and say that SO-AND-SO is a BAD WRITER. Art is subjective, folks, and just because I have problems with something doesn’t mean others won’t love it. And just because I love something doesn’t mean others will too. So take my opinion with a grain of salt – just because I say that I wouldn’t read a book/story again doesn’t even mean I’ll never read something by that author again, so keep your pants on.

So I may criticize style, story, characters, etc. But I’m not criticizing the publisher for publishing it, the editor for selecting it, or the writer for writing it. I may think something could’ve been done differently, and I’ll say so, but my opinion is one of millions, and I’m firmly aware that my opinion is what it is: my opinion. I’m not everyone’s target audience, and I don’t expect to be. And I’m not going to jump on a high horse and tell people not to read something or not to subscribe to something just because I don’t like it. In fact, I even recommend books I don’t like to people I know who will like them, so please, never take it personally if I’m not a fan of your work.

NAVIGATION

If you’re looking for comments on a particular writer, or for particular books in a genre, use the tag system. I love tags and use them extensively. I try to label everything by author’s name, genre(s), and type.

FRIENDING

It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway.

I have several journals on LJ, and use this one to keep track of writers and writing news. I also keep track of other reading journals like this one. If you friend me, please do not expect me to friend you back unless it’s a reading journal. If we strike up a friendship via comments and I want to read your personal journal, I’ll add do so from another journal. If you’re a writer and we strike up a friendship, I’ll read you from here. Clear as mud? Good. :) If you have questions, let me know. I just want to stress that I cannot and will not friend someone just because they friend me. Too much to do, too little time, and all that jazz.

THE FINAL WORD

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment. Anonymous comments are activated, because I know not everyone who reads this has an LJ. Please note though that not only are all anonymous comments screened, but ISP’s are also logged. I hate doing it, but I’ve been on LJ long enough to understand that I need to anyway.

Also, if you ever have any recommendations for me, I’ll be glad to hear them! Just go here. I love hearing about what others are reading, and I’m always interested in what people think might catch my interest. :)


**Many thanks to calico_reaction for permission to snag most of the above and edit it slightly for my own use. I just couldn't see a better way to say most of it, but we all know what happens to people who don't credit their sources. ;) **

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