tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post9098630578919139047..comments2023-12-22T09:04:09.898-08:00Comments on Six Boxes of Books: Buzz Begets BuzzWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-77981794650191913602010-01-10T21:24:05.303-08:002010-01-10T21:24:05.303-08:00I often have the same misgivings about buzz (and w...I often have the same misgivings about buzz (and wonder how much it affects my opinion of a book) and the same desire to be in on the discussion. On the other hand, I need to know something about the books that library patrons are asking for - and as always, balance seems to be the key. My personal goal is to read a wider variety of the books I'm ordering for my library, buzz or no buzz.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16563414055936087654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-73233473725387052882010-01-09T20:36:55.995-08:002010-01-09T20:36:55.995-08:00I agree with what you say about buzzy books, Wendy...I agree with what you say about buzzy books, Wendy. I sometimes feel a little odd about posting a review of something that's already been gushed about at 10,000 other blogs, even if it really is that good. (Of course, whenever I post a review of a lesser-known book, I feel like that person who just discovered the most diviiiiiine little bistro on a back street that you can always get a table at because nobody else knows about it. Yet. I have to admit that's kind of fun.)<br /><br />And when a book about/by POC's does get that kind of buzz, it's often a Very Special Episode kind of book. Did you see Chasing Ray's ferocious post a few days back? Good luck with your new direction, and I'll be watching your blog for recommendations!<br /><br />By the way, I had a look at the Book of the Maidservant at Amazon and went "OooooOOOOoooooooo." Whatever you think of Margery Kempe, she's definitely interesting and I'm going to try to find that book!Bibliovorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642058689885973447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-43281223671341853602010-01-08T19:52:59.858-08:002010-01-08T19:52:59.858-08:00So glad I signed up for comment challenge- it lead...So glad I signed up for comment challenge- it lead me to this wonderful post.<br /><br />Thank you Wendy, for wanting to get beyond the buzz. <br /><br />I am not sure what your tag should be, though I do think Books with characters of color is a better then books by authors of color. <br /><br />Since there are White authors who write good poc characters. <br /><br />Though might I suggest two tags. Giving authors of color their own tag.Dorethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08676911030014718403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-90876085762821289272010-01-08T16:50:27.919-08:002010-01-08T16:50:27.919-08:00I'm new to your site. Thoroughly enjoyed my vi...I'm new to your site. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit.<br /><br />Will pop in again :)Just Wendy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05268645629027109282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-2532768766633394122010-01-08T15:11:44.751-08:002010-01-08T15:11:44.751-08:00This commitment means so much to me, so thanks for...This commitment means so much to me, so thanks for your courage to head away from the buzz to the margins. You're going to find and share some great books. The fact that you're not "primarily reviewing books by people of color" already makes this even more significant and encouraging.mbpbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16081024119047826077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-65109583591419716382010-01-08T09:18:51.639-08:002010-01-08T09:18:51.639-08:00You have quite succinctly told my story as a blogg...You have quite succinctly told my story as a blogger here. I love to read books that have buzz, I love when people come to our blog to read about those books, I love being in the "know". <br /><br />Your challenge to yourself gives me something to think about as well in 2010.<br /><br />So glad I found you through Lee and Pam's Comment Challenge!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06549453373381775445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-41939823414906790892010-01-03T17:57:34.953-08:002010-01-03T17:57:34.953-08:00Thank you! I've edited my post to tell people ...Thank you! I've edited my post to tell people to check thecomments for the summary :)MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-46225158912004190642010-01-03T16:42:01.191-08:002010-01-03T16:42:01.191-08:00I have an ARC, Ari--I'll send you the flap cop...I have an ARC, Ari--I'll send you the flap copy.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-24454674026245414922010-01-03T15:31:42.524-08:002010-01-03T15:31:42.524-08:00Yay Wendy! I would tag them as POC. We could alway...Yay Wendy! I would tag them as POC. We could always use more blogs reviewing books about poc and it really helps if they are being reviewed by white readers since it shows publishers that white readers will read books about poc. Don't worry about how it will look if you crticize a book. Always be honest and it invites discussion :)<br /> I agree wtih Lyn, joining challenges can be really helpful. The 50 Writers of Color challenge is a good one http://community.livejournal.com/50books_poc and so is the South Asian Author Challenge.<br /> Looking forward to continuing to read your reviews and thanks again for introducing me to the book The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle (now if only Amazon would publish a synopsis!)MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-34912677628158223962010-01-02T14:21:53.604-08:002010-01-02T14:21:53.604-08:00Maybe you should sign up for one of the Challenges...Maybe you should sign up for one of the Challenges (such as the South Asian Author Challenge) to keep yourself on task. And one way of being original is to seek out books published by smaller presses, because they are by definition disadvantaged. When my YA novel was published by a small press, I had to overcome not only the lack of buzz due to a financially struggling publisher (which has since been sold to a university press) but the unspoken question, "if it's so good, why wasn't the novel published by a major house?" In fact, my novel was never submitted elsewhere because the small press had an option on it in the contract for my adult novel.<br /><br />A lot of books by and about people of color continue to be published by smaller presses such as Just Us Books, Pinata Books, and Children's Book Press for a variety of reasons that don't have to do with the quality of the book.<br /><br />Hope you have a Happy New Year and great reading ahead.Lyn Miller-Lachmannhttp://web.mac.com/lynmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-12386913556108972602010-01-02T14:13:23.616-08:002010-01-02T14:13:23.616-08:00Hi Wendy,
I am glad that you ask yourself the que...Hi Wendy,<br /><br />I am glad that you ask yourself the questions, that you challenge yourself. I'm also glad when you discuss something I've said on my site. It tells your readers where they can find a different perspective on a popular, classic, or otherwise well-reviewed (or not) book. It'd be good for the field if you and others who have large readerships would link to my site and others like them that offer that different perspectives.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-59736173672306079532010-01-02T13:24:04.596-08:002010-01-02T13:24:04.596-08:00Sigh. As soon as I posted this, I regretted making...Sigh. As soon as I posted this, I regretted making the commitment and continued trying to talk myself out of it, which I think says something in itself.<br /><br />Like, I find myself starting to think "but there are already several blogs primarily reviewing books by people of color"--as if there aren't already dozens of blogs reviewing The Latest Thing.<br /><br />Or, grumbling, I think "I'm going to end up reading books I'm not really that interested in"--as if I EVER would have read, say, Little Brother if it hadn't been on shortlists.<br /><br />Or "if I read a book and think it has Issues, I'm going to feel weird about saying that in a blog review"--as if I don't have that feeling about every book I read and have issues with already.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.com