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I have been mulling this over for a while and, much as part of me hates to do it, I have decided not to accept any more books for review. At least for a while.
I am too moody a reader to do well with deadlines, and if I don’t give myself a deadline, I know that some review books will not get read for years. That’s not fair to the authors/publishers/publicists who send them to me.
I might change my mind at some point, but right now, I think the best thing for me, and for the books, is if I just don’t accept any books for review.
Review books already in my possession or on their way to me (I’m pretty sure there aren’t any) will be read and reviewed per my old review policy. Well, I’m a little behind, so I might be a little late, but I am working on my fairly small pile and they will get read and reviewed as soon as I can possibly get to them.
I want blogging to be fun, and it is, but having looming deadlines to get books read and reviewed is starting to make it feel like work.
I will still be reviewing the books I’m reading, whether they’re my own books, or from the library, or borrowed from friends and family, so this does not mean that my blog will change.
If I change my mind, I will write another post. Thank you for your understanding.
5 Comments
Good for you! Book blogging can become consuming–to the point where you find yourself reading for others and not for yourself. Find the books you really want to read and have fun!
I've been tempted to do this, but have never really committed to no review books. I guess I am just too tempted by all the shiny new books coming out on the market.
I hear ya Jen and feel the same way lately.
I totally get this, I've thought about it before myself. I think instead, I've tried to focus on not accepting unsolicited books, and just requesting those I think I'll actually want to read. I'm also not going to be hesitant to not finish books and just state in the review, look, I couldn't read this, it was killing me. In the past, I've always tried to slog through so that I can be thorough in my review and let people know if the book ever picks up. But the fact is, I don't end up reading if I'm in a book I don't like, so it just sits there and I get nothing done and feel guilty, and everything else falls behind. Not worth it.
Blogging is supposed to be fun — enjoying the books and sharing thoughts about them isn't supposed to feel like a job, considering book bloggers are doing this as a hobby only with no compensation! Enjoy your books, and you may return to accepting ARCs, etc. — but only when you're ready! Completely understandable!