Tell me about your review process please! I'm mostly curious, but I also need some motivation right now. I've gotten back into the habit of posting, but my reviewing mojo is just not there. So! If you have the time and wouldn't mind sharing your reviewing habits, I would be so thankful. Do you write your review while you are reading, immediately after, weeks or months later? Do you take notes, annotate, have an excellent memory, skim back through? Does it vary?
Here is how my reading week went:
Finished Reading
Last One Out Shut Off the Lights by Stephanie Soileau ⭐⭐★★★ - I read this with my local book club. I used to think I disliked all slice-of-life stories, but I've come to realize I only like the feel good slice-of-life stories. Stories like the ones in Last One Out Shut Off the Lights feel so mundane and depressingly on the nose. I did enjoy the settings since I'm familiar with Louisiana.
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I enjoyed this one! I'm going to try my best to write a review this week.
Currently Reading
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - I've read this so many times, but this is my first time listening to Andy Serkis instead of Rob Inglis.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I think I'm going to start this one today.
Added to the TBR
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers - Yay! A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is here. I'm saving this one for a time when I'm not so busy so I don't feel like I'm rushing through it. I need the hope that Becky Chambers brings so hopefully I can read it at a time that will allow me to savor it.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I am so anxious to read this I preordered it twice! Ooops! Thankfully most of my preorders come from Target so I'll be returning one of them soon.
Currently Watching
I'm still watching Only Murders in the Building. It is delightful!
I watched season one of Dark Winds this week. It feels very much like a Longmire spin off. Zahn McClarnon is once again a Tribal Police Officer, but Dark Winds takes place entirely in the Navajo Nation.
I think Más negro que la noche is the only movie I watched this week. I didn't really care for it. I didn't realize it was a remake of a 1975 film. I probably should have watched the original instead. (Content warning for animal deaths.)
This post is being shared as part of The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz; Book Date It's Monday! What Are You Reading?; and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.
Interesting question about the book reviewing process. i looked back through a couple of weeks of your blog, but I didn't find any actual reviews, just brief publishers' summaries of the books you are reading or planning to read. So I really can't compare what I do with what you do.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I think you missed the point of my question.
DeleteDark Winds is on our list to watch. I loved Zahn McClarnon in Longmire. We also really love Only Murders in the Building! We are just finishing up Stranger Things and hope to start the newest season of OMITB tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys loved Stranger Things as much as we did. I'm still in season one of OMITB, and it's so much fun.
DeleteIn a perfect world (when I'm on my game), I take a few notes as I read a book and then review it withing a day or two of finishing it. That doesn't always happen, though. Or it sure hasn't lately. I'm way behind on reviews because I feel more like picking up the next boof rather than stopping to review what I read. I've been trying to get back on my game, though. It really does help me to review as soon as possible while all my feelings are still fresh.
ReplyDeleteI think this is my best process, too, but I'm not successful at forcing myself to stop and write the review. I think the call of the next read plus the general brain fog and lack of mojo are my big hurdles. It helps a lot to hear you say it, though. :)
DeleteI'm bad about putting off writing reviews. I usually read 3-4 books, and then force myself to write something about them before reading anything else. I prefer reading short reviews, so I try to keep mine short as well. I don't take notes, but that's a good idea! Usually just rereading the blurb jogs my memory.
ReplyDeleteWe're watching Only Murders in the Building too. It's so charming!
That's probably what I tend to do even though that's not what works best for me. Rereading the blurb is a good idea. Yay - I'm really enjoying OMITB.
DeleteI'll admit reviews are a bit tedious for me but because I receive review copies, I think of writing them as a "job." I take notes as I'm reading (highlight in Kindle or use a pencil to mark up my physical copy. Yes I'm one of those!) When I finish I open a Google doc document and go through and type all my notes down. Then I usually write my review at that time so it's fresh in my mind. I use the notes mostly to remember names and story details and the emotions or reactions I had while reading. If I wait too long I lose the motivation to even write a review so I make myself dive in!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't accept review copies. lol. It does really help force you to write the reviews, though... I really would love to start annotating books, but I have such a strong reaction against doing it, I haven't been able to. I think it would be a lot easier for me to mark up an ARC, though. I may try that on the rare occasion that I accept one.
DeleteThank you sooo much for sharing your process. I'm going to try to do this. It's always better for me to write my review right away. For both the details and my voice. I just can't recapture those feelings after time has gone by.
I find my better reviews are written close to when I finish, but I tend to write them the weekend following when the books were read. I try not to let them pile up because then I just feel overwhelmed. I also don't do full-on reviews for every book I read. Sometimes I just capture a few thoughts on GR, and I have even been posting fairly short reviews on my blog. I get to the essence and that's what's important. Everyone is raving about Upgrade. I am seeing stellar reviews everywhere. I hope all your new books are hits for you
ReplyDeleteI know it's the same for me. The closer to finishing the book the better. It's helpful to hear you write them on the weekend, though. I think I need to force myself to not let the weekend go by without catching up on reviewing what I read during the week. I swear I used to know how to do this... lol.
DeleteThanks for stopping by my post! :D
ReplyDeleteI adore Only Murders in the Building. It's such a fun show. I love Steve Martin and Martin Short. And, Selena Gomez is a great add to the trio.
As far as how I review, I usually write my review right after I finish a book. Sometimes, I may wait until the next day, but that's rare. Also, sometimes, VERY rarely, I may take a few days to write my review because I need time to digest how I felt. I don't take notes or annotate while I'm reading. It takes the fun out of it for me. I feel like I'm back in school if I annotate. Although, if I'm reading on a Kindle, then I do highlight my favorite passages. If something is truly significant to me, though, I may make a small note of it so I don't forget to talk about it in my review. I hope that helps.
I wish I could write my reviews immediately, but I don't think that's a realistic goal for me. Definitely something to aspire to, though. It would make my reviews so much better (and easier?) I think. Yes, it does help! Thank you.
DeleteWell I don't take notes as I read, especially not audiobooks. It would be easier if I did. I tend to read 3-4 books a week and usually write the review within 2 days of reading. I do highlight passages in ebooks though. I write medium size reviews and try not to spoil, talking mostly about structural and emotional aspects of the book (for me). I hope that helps a little.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Thanks for sharing. Yes, it does help. Everyone seems to have more success within the first couple of days after finishing the book. Something to think about for sure.
DeleteI generally write my review right after finishing the book, because if I don't it bugs me and is in the back of my mind lol. I do tale occasional notes- especially if there's a quote or something I really want to remember- but I often find I just write the review and often don't even look at my notes! So yeah... :)
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of trying Dark Winds. When you say it's a Longmire spinoff, does that mean it's in the same world? I was watching Longmire a few years ago, so that makes me curious... and I feel the same way about Becky Chambers! I love her work!
Hmm, it bugs me too, but I keep ignoring it. lol. I envy you guys who write the review just after finishing. I want to try that, but I'm afraid I may put off finishing the book. Ha! I think all of the advice to do it right away will probably seep in though. :)
DeleteNo - Dark Winds and Longmire aren't officially tied together in any way (I don't think), it just feels like I'm back watching Longmire.
Loved The Book of Cold Cases too! Oh, I really liked Longmire so I'll have to check out Dark Winds for sure! Is it a spinoff or it just feels like a spinoff?
ReplyDeleteIt just feels like one!
DeleteGood to know! I still need to look it up. My husband just connected up our TV. We haven't had one since moving a month and a half ago. So many things to do still! :)
DeleteBe curious what you think of Upgrade. I've been reading it on and off for a few days and it's not really hooking me like his previous books! I'm hoping some more time will change that.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying Upgrade, but I'm still not done with it. Maybe today!
DeleteOh I definitely want to watch Only Murders in the Building in the future!
ReplyDeleteRe: annotating. I tab or electronically highlight books as I go then try to make sense of everything in my reading journal.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Oooh, a reading journal. I may unofficially have one as I often write my reviews long hand. :)
DeleteHere is my review habit: Immediately after I finish a book, I pull up Goodreads and write down a couple of sentences about the basic plot. (This is mostly for myself, to remind myself of the plot when I look at the review again months or years later.) Then I write down a few sentences about what I liked most about the book. I conclude with a sentence that gives my overall impression of the book. I keep things simple.
ReplyDeleteA Prayer for the Crown-Shy is coming for me soon. I'm looking forward to it.
Thank you Deb! That sounds so simple. I'm going to make a note at my desk of what you do. That's exactly why I want to get back into the habit of reviewing. I love being able to look back at why I liked (or didn't like) a book. I can't really do that these past few years because my reviewing has been so sporadic and lacking. :(
DeleteI write very short reviews, and I tend to start the summary when I'm about halfway through the book, then wait until I'm done reading it to finish up my thoughts. And when I can't face writing a real review, that's when I write a Haiku review instead. But who says you have to write conventional reviews with summaries and impressions? You could write a one-sentence thought about the book, or even a one-word adjective and then rate it. It's your blog. Make it work for you. :D
ReplyDeleteYes!! I have done the midway summary a few times, and it works out well for me. I absolutely love how you do the haiku reviews. I have a review template I use when I can't face writing a traditional review. One of my favorite reviews on this blog was basically me just saying I read it, and "I dug it". You are absolutely right. Thank you!
DeleteI start the review while I'm reading. I take notes of things that I want to remember and write the review right after reading so everything is fresh in my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis method has worked for me in the past! I need to give some thought to doing this again if I can. Thanks, Mary!
Delete